Do you know your water?

Posted on January 11th, 2012

Large or small, no one wants to deal with the damage to their property caused by water. The damage to your property can sometimes be devastating. There are 3 categories of water damage: clean water, black water and grey water. Let’s first take a look at these three water types.

Clean water is exactly that…clean water. It means that the water is safe to work with during restoration. There are no impurities present that will harm you or make you sick. An example of a clean water discharge is water leaking from a water supply line. Black water is the worse type of water damage and the one that will cause the most problems. It may contain chemicals, bacteria, and/or fungi that can cause harm or even death. This could happen because of a leak from your kitchen drain or a toilet overflow. It should always be handled by professionals who are knowledgeable and have the equipment to deal with it. Grey water contains harmful contaminates that could make you ill when you are exposed to it. Such as a leak from your air conditioning drain line.

These three types of water damage, for the most part, can be prevented if you know the root cause. Getting your plumbing inspected and having a roof inspection can have a huge impact on the avoidance of these problems.

Although water damage can happen on a large scale, there are many times that it can happen on a smaller scale and still cause serious damage. A small leak in the roof inside the wall can or a damaged pipe with a slow drip can cause serious and costly damage.

Another problem can be caused by poor insufficient insulation. When this occurs, water vapors forms inside the attic or walls and cause damage and attract bugs. Installing an attic fan to help circulate the air or applying more insulation can take care of this problem.

It is also a good idea to install an exhaust fan in the bathroom for moisture control when showering preventing water damage. Water vapors form when you shower or bathe which can, over time, cause your wallpaper to peel. Creating the need to replace or repair it often. It also creates an ideal environment for mold to develop.

There are many ways for water to damage your property. Having a pipe burst or storm damaging your roof is not necessary for creating a costly amount of damage.

Do you have water damage? Are there stains on your walls? Has your air conditioner leaked onto your floors? Call Stellar Public Adjusting for a free consultation at 305-396-9110.

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This is a widely popular topic that is explained across the web. Inspiration from – Alladin Restoration / Tampa site These links used as reference, we don’t endorse these companies in anyway.

Tags: black water, clean water, grey water
Filed under Damage Mitigation, Mold Damage, Water Damage | 1 Comment »

What’s proper damage mitigation? Hire your own public adjuster to explain.

Posted on December 13th, 2010

A term that insurance professionals refer to is “proper damage mitigation,” this is an important phrase and worth understanding. When it comes to damages in your home you need to understand that you are the first line of defense. The homeowners have a duty to repair in order to prevent additional damage. This becomes relevant when a small problem occurs that can quickly escalate into a larger issue.

A refrigerator leak often manifest as a small puddle on the floor. Most people that see the puddle will quickly conclude that someone in the home spilled some water or maybe some ice was dropped and melted. These are two viable options to a puddle of water and very reasonable to conclude that either might have caused the water. The problem is not a concern during a one time occurrence; however, if this problem continuously happens this becomes an alert to investigate the source of a leak.

If the puddle was appearing everyday for three weeks and then the pipe burst, the insurance company will likely want to know what was done during those three weeks to fix this problem. Sometimes a pipe burst or a toilet overflows without warning causing water damage. In that case there was not anything to prevent – everything was perfect one moment and then the event occurred. In our example, there was an obvious notification that there might be a serious issue lurking under the surface. Homeowners need to be diligent when there are issues appearing.

What happens after the fact and the water fills the room?

Water moves fast and can soak a room, the rugs, furniture, and other items very quickly. The homeowner should quickly take action to control the source of the damage and to remove the future and other items to prevent further damage. Also, in the case of water, smoke, etc. a mitigation company must be contacted to help cure the future damage that will likely occur. When it comes to water mitigation companies, don’t worry they’re all used to working with insurance claims and most of the time there’s no out of pocket expense. Always call and ask, don’t let the damage fester it will only cause more damage and depending on your policy that collateral damage might not be covered.

Here’s a great Youtube video showing an example of water damage mitigation at a commercial property.

These issues can get very complex and typically it’s best to consult a professional. Contact us today so that we can visit your property and help you understand what steps to take to prevent damage.

Tags: damage mitigation, water damage
Filed under Damage Mitigation | No Comments »