Flood and Water Damage Restoration MN
Flood and Water Damage MN – Wondering About Your Insurance Coverage For Water & Flood Damage? The spring thaw may seem a long way off. But it’s not. It is often said about Minnesota that we have two seasons—winter and road construction! With spring rains and spring flooding just around the corner, and there are things people can be doing today to help ensure they’re as prepared as possible should flooding occur in their area. The first thing people should consider – even those in low-risk flood zones or areas which have never flooded before – is purchasing flood insurance. According to an interactive tool on NFIP’s website just 2 inches of water could cost you $7,800 in cleanup. And over the past 10 years, the average flood claim has amounted to over $33,000. Flood Safety Awareness Week is March 12-16 Learn more about flood risks and what steps you can take before, during and after a flood. You may figure that if you are in a serious flood that federal disaster assistance will pay for your damage, right? Wrong! Federal disaster assistance comes in the form of a low-interest loan, not a grant, and only if the President formally declares a disaster. You are eligible to purchase flood insurance as long as your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program. Check the Community Status Book to see if your community is already an NFIP partner. Consumers should be aware that flood insurance policies generally take 30 days to go into effect. For more information on flood insurance, and to find out your flood risk, visit www.floodsmart.gov. FLASH_Insurance_Guide Does Homeowners Insurance Cover a Flooded Basement? Here’s a question thousands of homeowners and renters will be asking now that Spring is just around the corner. Will insurance cover the water damage in my basement? Unfortunately for most the answer is “probably not.” Standard Homeowners’ insurance does not cover damage from flooding, so unless you have a specific flood insurance policy, you will have to foot the bill for any water damage from the recent rains. The Insurance Information Institute offers this rule of thumb: water that comes from top down (ice dams, for example) is generally covered, but when water comes from the bottom up, such as in flooding, it’s not covered. Homeowners Insurance Is Not Flood Insurance! Only Flood Insurance Will Cover Your Flood Losses If an individual relies on a homeowners insurance policy to cover whatever flood damage occurs, the result will not be favorable to the property owner. Only flood insurance will cover such losses. Because flood insurance has a 30-day waiting period, property owners should not let an imminent flooding force a decision to obtain this insurance. There are two basic insurance policies that deal with a homeowner’s damage due to water — a flood insurance policy and a homeowner’s insurance policy. Losses not covered by one of these policies may be covered by the another policy. Knowing the losses to which your home could be exposed will help you decide whether to buy one or both of these insurance coverages. While insurance policies may differ in the coverages provided, often there are basic features common to all policies. The homeowner should ask his or her insurance professional about the specifics of one’s specific insurance policy. In the meantime, the following general information is based on standard insurance policies. Flood Insurance As the name implies, a standard flood insurance policy, which is made available by the National Flood Insurance Program, provides coverage up to the policy limit for damage caused by flood. The dictionary defines...
Read MoreMinnesota Water and Flood Damage Equipment Rental St Paul MN
Minnesota Water and Flood Damage Equipment Rental At Your Door Within 1 Hour Direct Insurance BIlling | At Your Door in 1 Hour or Less | 24 Hour Service Having a reliable water damage emergency service prepared to respond to your call can give you the peace of mind that you know who to call in case a water disaster strikes. There are times when you have plenty of time to gather your bearings and find the best company there is to help you with the cleanup, repair, and restoration of your home. However, there are also many possible circumstances that can put your house at risk of sudden water damage. For example, a blown pipe can flood an entire floor of your house within a few hours if the flow of water is not stopped immediately. Non-stop heavy rains that go on for hours can also cause the same disastrous effects. The worst part is that you cannot control both causes; you won’t know when pipes will suddenly break for one reason or another, and you won’t know when the raining will bring some flooding with it. This is why, in most cases, water damage catches homeowners by surprise. Find A Reliable Water Damage Emergency Service Nowadays, your first source of water damage companies is the Internet, but you can also look for them in your local phone book. In case of an emergency, even though you don’t have a lot of time to choose and compare different companies, this does not mean you can just choose the first company listed on the phone book. Your water damage expert should at least meet the following basic criteria. Choosing the wrong company can be more costly for you in the end. 24-Hour Emergency Water Damage Repair and Restoration 24-hour water damage emergency service. Not all water damage companies in the phone book offer 24-hour emergency service. In case of an emergency, you need to find a company that can send experienced people to your house as soon as you call them up. Do not settle for a company that promises to send their water damage experts in a few hours. If the emergency happened at night or in the wee hours of the morning, the ideal contractor should nevertheless be there regardless of the time. This way, the repairs and restoration can start as soon as possible to keep the damage from getting worse. A few hours of delay can already make a huge difference in the amount of damage water can do to your home. When your basement has flooded, getting the water out of the air isn’t just the best option, it’s the only option. High humidity in a flooded room can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your walls and ceiling. Whether it’s a busted pipe, a plumbing leak, sump pump failure, a severe storm or a flood; water damage is a huge headache that can use the help of a trained expert. Restoration Experts are highly trained to provide you with quality equipment and know how to dry your damaged room quickly and at the lowest cost possible. Water and Flood Damage Equipment Rental Water and Flood Damage Cleanup is a big job that is best left to the pros. If the water damage is extensive, your best bet is to call a Minnesota Restoration Expert that can get your home, assess the problem, and remove the water before any additional damage can be done within 1 hour or less. They will have the right kind of equipment for the job that can save...
Read MoreBasement Water Damage Repair Plymouth Minnesota
Plymouth Minnesota Flooded Basement Cleanup and Repair Leaking basements are a common problem, that affects 60 percent of homes and usually develop within 10 to 15 years. Unfortunately, a leaky basement can be very expensive to repair; costing homeowners thousands of dollars. Wet basements can also buckle basement walls and cause structural damage. It is advisable to fix your basement early before the expensive damage has been done. The signs of a wet basement include musty odors, minor water leaks and efflorescence (aka.”white powder”). The two common causes for a wet basement are condensation and runoff. Whether your basement is flooded, or there is mold growth on your walls, getting the water out of the air isn’t just the best option, it’s the only option. High humidity in a flooded room can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your walls and ceiling. Restoration Experts are highly trained to provide you with quality equipment and know how to dry your damaged room quickly and at the lowest cost possible. Dehumidification Dehumidifiers play a huge role in preventing mold and mildew growth when there has been a flood or some other form of water damage. Many people think that simply allowing the water to dry from a flooded room will remove the problem, but that only solves half of the problem. Placing an industrial strength dehumidifier in the room, as well as professional strength air moving equipment can help you to dry out your valuables and save money. A standard household dehumidifier will typically remove 2-5 gallons of water per day. Professional strength dehumidifiers remove 10-30 gallons of water typically per day. Industrial Strength Dehumidifiers also are capable of at least 50% more water than household dehumidifiers. A high-powered and portable Phoenix 200 MAX LGR Dehumidifier can remove up to 30 gallons of moisture from the air in a day, all while using minimal electricity. You might think this seems excessive, yet with concerns of mold and bacterial activity, time is of the essence. A Professional Dehumidifier has the size and strength needed to dry the job Done Right! Minnesota Flooded Basement Cleanup and Repair Once a building has been exposed to a large volume of water, it becomes extremely hazardous as water causes both health and structural risks. When it comes to your flooded basement, it is critical that it be done immediately. To prevent even more costly water damages from occurring it is vital to have the water cleaned up and structures dried immediately. Water and Flood Damage Cleanup is a big job that is best left to the pros. If the water damage is extensive, your best bet is to call a Minnesota Restoration Expert that can get your home, assess the problem, and remove the water before any additional damage can be done within 1 hour or less. They will have the right kind of equipment for the job that can save most of your valuables. 24/7 Emergency Service and Water Damage Equipment Rental If you decide to take on the mess alone, make sure you have the proper state-of-the-art Water and Flood Damage equipment to do the job yourself. Some of the equipment they rent: Fans Dehumidifiers Air Scrubbers Ozone Machines Aquadry Systems...
Read MoreMinnesota Water Damage Repair and Restoration Minneapolis St Paul MN
Minneapolis and Saint Paul MN Water Damage Restoration Whatever the cause and type of water damage, nowhere does the term “the right tool for the job” have as much, meaning that a thorough and complete job requires the right equipment. Insurance adjusters who do not authorize and approve the use of HEPA-filtered Portable Air Scrubbers (PAS) on all water loss jobs may want to rethink their position. Any water loss poses a significant opportunity for particle contamination and for microscopic bio-pollutants such as fungi (molds) and bacteria that thrive in wet indoor environments to proliferate. Even smaller water leaks or overflows of sanitary water can ultimately trigger fungal growth if wet materials are not promptly identified and thoroughly dried. The Importance Of Using The Right Equipment For Water Damage Restoration Why Insurers Should Approve the Use of Portable Air Scrubbers on Every Water Damage Remediation Job It is very important to note that the very activities undertaken to remediate the problem can increase the risks of air contamination. For example, as forced-air drying evaporates water from surfaces, carpet and other materials, contaminants such as fungal spores and ultra-fine dirt and dust particles are likely to be released into the air. Once aerosolized (suspended in air), workers exposed to these pollutants can inhale them. Particles stirred up during remediation also create housekeeping and cleanup issues that can increase the cost of the cleanup. ANSI/IICRC Standard S500 The Institute for Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC) has developed an ANSI-approved standard for water damage remediation. Now in its third edition, ANSI/IICRC S500-2006 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration places water hazards into one of three contamination categories based on the quality of the water after it comes in contact with building materials: • Category I – Water that originates from a sanitary source and does not pose substantial risk from dermal, ingestion or inhalation exposure. • Category II – Water with a significant amount of contamination and the potential to cause discomfort or sickness if ingested by humans. • Category III – Grossly contaminated water that can contain pathogenic, toxigenic or other harmful agents. Types Of Indoor Air Pollutants The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) places air pollutants into three general categories: particulates, bio-aerosols, and volatile organic compounds (VOC), all of which may be released into the air during or following a water loss event. Particulates Particulates from building materials are primarily released into the indoor air after the event or during the remediation process as opposed to during the water loss event itself. These commonly include dirt, drywall, VCT and concrete dust, fiberglass, carpet and asbestos fibers, sawdust, smoke particles, and metal fumes. Larger, visible particles and smaller particles that agglomerate (clump together) will likely settle onto surfaces within minutes and remain there until physically removed by cleaning or vacuuming. These particles are not generally a respiratory health issue, because they are too heavy to remain aerosolized for very long. Studies have shown, however, that more than 99% of the particles suspended in air are ten microns (0.0004 inches) or less in size. That’s five to 10 times smaller than a human hair and smaller than we can see with the naked eye. Particles and allergens this tiny are typically light enough to remain aerosolized for long periods of time and can readily spread through a building or home on air currents, and they are easily re-aerosolized when they do settle onto surfaces. They also pose the greatest potential health threat: “While larger particles (those greater than 10 microns in diameter) get caught in the nose...
Read MoreWater Damage Cleanup Repair and Restoration Minnetonka MN
Minnetonka, Minnesota Water Damage Restoration Water Damage to Your Home Water damage is one of the most common reasons for claims against insurance policies. Does your homeowner insurance policy cover you against the most common types of water damage? Many homeowners only find out what their insurance policy doesn’t cover when they make a claim. Homeowners Insurance: Is Your Home Insured Against Water Damage? Will My Insurance Cover It? Yes. No. Maybe. The single most confusing element related to water damage is what is and is not covered. Find out what you have, or don’t have, and learn what you need when it comes to water damage and your insurance. Many homeowners only find out what their insurance policy doesn’t cover when they make a claim. Here are some of the most common types of water damage, and what you can expect if you need to make a claim. 1. A pipe bursts in your home and floods the living areas. Are you covered? It depends on the circumstances, but generally the answer is a qualified yes. Your homeowner will usually cover the damages to your home and furnishings, but not the cost of repairing the burst pipe. The repairs to the pipe are considered a home maintenance issue rather than an unforeseen circumstance. There are some exceptions, since your insurer does expect you to take reasonable care and caution with your property. You may not be covered, for instance, if you left your home unoccupied and unheated for several days in the dead of winter and a pipe bursts as a consequence. 2. A sewer overflows, flooding your finished basement with water and sewage. Will your homeowner insurance cover the cleanup costs? Unless you have a special endorsement or rider covering damage from sewers and drains, you may be on your own. Many, if not most, homeowner policies specifically exclude damage caused by sewer backups and overflows. If your home has a finished basement or a basement workshop, a sewers and drains rider could be worth its weight in gold. Often, the cost of repairing the damage after a sewer backup goes far beyond replacing the carpet. You could be faced with massive cleanup and decontamination costs. 3. Your washing machine breaks, and the flood of water damages your living room carpet. Will your insurance pay to clean the carpet? Generally, the answer is yes. A standard homeowner policy will cover the cost of cleaning or replacing the carpet when an unexpected appliance breakage damages your property. There may be exceptions to this, however, especially if your insurer determines that your washing machine hasn’t been appropriately maintained. 4. Your roof leaks during a heavy rainstorm, soaking your daughter’s bedroom walls and furnishings. Will your insurance cover the damage? Your homeowner policy will usually cover the damage to property caused by the water, but not the cost of repairing the roof. That could include the cost of repairing and repainting or papering the walls, replacing damaged furniture and cleaning draperies, bedding and clothing. If the leak was caused by something more drastic, say a tree branch crashing through your roof, the insurance will also cover the cost of repairs to your roof. 5. Your bathtub overflows, and the water damages the floor and the ceiling below. Can you make a claim? Yes. Even if the overflow was your fault because you forgot to turn off the faucet, your homeowner policy will usually pay to repair the damage. 6. Your swimming pool leaks and the water damages your garden and lawn. What will your insurance cover? Usually, nothing. Damage to your...
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