Water Damage Services: Restore Your Space
Of all potential disasters a homeowner can face, water damage is easily one of the worst. Not only can it be exceedingly costly to fix, but it can also render parts of your home uninhabitable until it is restored. On top of all this, it requires a significant amount of time and planning to repair, which not everyone has.
Often, water damage issues are made worse because homeowners do not know what to do or who to contact to get repairs underway. If this sounds like you, then read on, as the following article will answer several questions regarding the most common type of water damage, the average associated cost of each, and how to find the right repair/mitigation company.
Water Damage, The Basics
As the name implies, water damage occurs when an uncontrolled amount of water leaks into a home and causes either surface or structural damage. In general, most water damage issues will fall into one of two categories: weather-related and non-weather-related.
Non-Weather Related Water Damage: Nearly 20% of all home insurance claims result from non-weather related water damage, making it the second most common type of claim. Although water damage can occur from many different issues, most non-weather-related water damage issues result from burst pipes, appliance failures, water backup issues, and sewer clogs.
Weather-Related Water Damage: Accounting for 11% of all home insurance claims, weather-related water damage is roughly half as common as non-weather-related water damage and is typically caused by local floods, large quantities of rain, or burst pipes due to freezing or snow.
Different Types Of Water
Not all water damage is equal, and the severity can depend largely on the type of water that has leaked into the house or foundation. When talking about water damage, there are three kinds of water to take into consideration.
White Water: If you experience water damage, the best-case scenario is that it turns out to be caused by white water. White water comes from a hygienic source, such as a waterline, rain, or melted snow. The average cost per square foot to fix water damage caused by white water is $3.75.
Grey Water: Greywater is any water that is at least partially contaminated and can cause illness to those exposed to it. Common sources of greywater include dishwasher and sump discharge. The average cost per square foot to fix water damage caused by greywater is $4.50.
Black Water: Black water is highly contaminated and may contain toxic or pathogenic substances. Common sources of black water include sewage and toilet backflow. The average cost per square foot to fix water damage caused by black water is $7.00.
Average Water Damage Costs
Water damage repair costs can vary greatly, and it all depends on the source of the issue and the severity of the leak. However, years of insurance claim data have made it possible to derive an average cost for some of the most common causes of water damage, which are listed below.
- Water Heater Leak: $3,642 - $4,218
- Washing Machine Leak/Failure: $4,218
- Water Supply Line Leak/Failure: $5,825
- Burst Frozen Pipe: $8,189
- Appliance Leaks: $13,467
- Faulty Plumbing: $17,250
Aside from the cause, repair specialists also look at how many inches of water have piled up when assessing how much it will cost to repair the damage. On average, 1 - 4 inches will cost upwards of $17,000, 9 - 12 inches will cost close to $19,000, and anything over 18 inches of water can leave the homeowner with a bill of over $26,000.
What To Do After Experiencing Water Damage
If you happen to notice your house has succumbed to water damage, how you react within the first few minutes will significantly impact the size of the repair bill. The longer water is allowed to flow freely into the basement, ground level, or foundation, the worse the damage will be. When leaks or water damage is identified, there are several actions all homeowners should be ready to do.
- Shut Off Water Main: The best way to stop a water leak is by stopping all water coming into the house, which can be done by shutting off the water main.
- Turn Off Utilities: If the leak is substantial, the risk of electrocution is always present. Because of this, it is advised that all utilities be turned off.
- Mop Up Excess Water: Once the water and utilities have been shut off, it is time to get to work mopping up any excess surface water before it does any further damage.
How To Choose The Right Restoration Company
Most cases of water damage will require hiring a qualified restoration company to conduct repairs and bring the house back to its pre-flood condition. However, not every company is the same, and some are far better than others. When choosing a restoration company, there are many factors to take into consideration.
- Bonded, Licensed, and Insured: Sometimes mistakes happen, which can lead to costly repairs for the homeowner. When this occurs, it usually results in the homeowner filing a claim against the company to cover the cost of the damages they caused. When a company is bonded, licensed, and insured, it means it will have access to funds to pay you if such an event were to occur.
- Good Reputation: Restoration work is not easy and requires experienced and trained employees to deliver quality results. The simplest, and most effective way, to determine which companies are good at what they do is to look at reviews of past customers, which can be easily found by performing a Google search on the company’s name.
- Has A Detailed Restoration Plan: A company that comes to you with a detailed restoration plan is much more preferable than one that does not. Not only does a plan show forethought and planning, but it can also give you confidence that they know what they are doing.
- Navigates The Insurance Claim Process With You: In the aftermath of water damage, dealing with insurance claims can be very time-consuming and challenging for those who have not gone through the process before. A good restoration company will guide you through the process and work with the insurance company to get the most money out of your claim.
