Water Damage Restoration MN
Water Damage Repair and Restoration MN Water damage is one of the most common homeowner’s insurance claims in the country. Most water damages are caused due to frozen, broken or burst pipes, leaky appliances and flooded basements. These occurrences often lead people to discover the details of their home insurance policies. When It Comes To Water Damage, What You Don’t Know Can Cost You! 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. Are You Prepared for Spring Flooding? 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 finally here. 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. Water damage can result in increased insurance rates, decreased resale value of home and property, and even health issues for years to come if not properly – and promptly – repaired. Learn how to protect yourself and your family from water related damage with these quick tips: § React Fast. Time is of the essence. When water damage takes place it is imperative to contact a Minnesota water damage repair and restoration company as soon as possible. Don’t wait until the next morning – search for providers that offer 24/7 support! Mold and mildew can begin growing within 24 to 48 hours! Thus prompt action is important following a water-related disaster or accident. The speed with which you take action to begin the water damage restoration process will determine how much can be salvaged. § Remove. Until all the water is extracted and the humidity levels returned to normal, it may be necessary to remove furniture and other items from the area even if they aren’t in direct contact with the water. High humidity and general unsanitary conditions may contaminate other items. Work with a reputable Minnesota water damage restoration expert that provides water extraction, sewage clean-ups, crawl space drying, structural drying, basement drying, dehumidification, odor control, sanitization, disinfecting, carpet cleaning, debris removal, emergency board-ups and mold remediation. § Report. Extensive water related damages often require the financial support of insurance – after all, that is what insurance is for. Don’t risk the health and security of your family and investments by trying to do it yourself; instead, locate a...
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Water Damage Insurance Claim | Insurance Restoration MN You’ve just returned to your home after vacation to find a flooded basement, perhaps due to a sewer or septic backup or broken water pipe and realize that in order to be able to get your life back on track you will have to have your house repaired. Or perhaps a drain clog caused the water in your sink to back up and overflow, and now your kitchen is a virtual swimming pool, right inside the house. What to do? Look for and bring out that homeowner’s insurance policy because you will have to file an insurance claim for water damage. Water Damage Insurance Claims The aftermath of a water damage event is not the time to discover what is and is not covered in your homeowners’ insurance policy. Too many people wake up to a flood, call their providers, and are politely told that they are on their own. Insurance, as it applies to water damage, is a tricky situation. It becomes of utmost importance for homeowners to learn and understand their insurance plans, knowing what is covered, what isn’t, and making the appropriate adjustments. This is the only way to avoid being caught unawares when that upstairs pipe bursts or the local dam gives way. Find out if your insurance will pay for water damage. Filing a Damage Claim For Water Damage Your responsibilities, as outlined in most residential property insurance policies, include, but are not limited to: • Give prompt written notice to the insurer of the facts relating to the claim • Protect the property from further damage • Make reasonable and necessary repairs to protect the property • Keep an accurate record of repair expenses Your actions should include, whenever possible: • Stop the water leak/flow • Remove standing water and begin drying the area • Photograph the damaged property • Remove water soaked materials • Keep removed materials and move them to a secure, dry and well-ventilated area, or outdoors • Protect repairable and undamaged items from further damage • Keep an activity log, including a record of all contact with your insurance company • Keep all receipts • Don’t throw away removed or damaged materials until instructed by your insurance company • Don’t jeopardize your safety • Don’t make large structural or permanent repairs • Don’t exceed personal capabilities By following these guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to properly taking care of any water damage situation in your home. Creating a Home Inventory Creating a home inventory is one of the most important steps you can take in order to make sure you are adequately insured–and it can make filing a claim in the event of a disaster much easier as well. Now comes the hard but necessary part – computing the damage costs. You’re probably at a loss, and don’t know where to start and how to do it. Here we’ll show you how and what to do step by step. Call the Insurance Company The first thing you’ve got to do is call your insurance company to inform them that you’re going to file a claim. Make Temporary Repairs Next, try to prevent further water damage from occurring by making temporary repairs. Make sure you keep the receipts for any repair work done, as payments for temporary repairs will be among those costs you will file for. What is important is that you’re able to arrest any water damage from further destroying your house. If you need to relocate, bring the receipts with you. If there are any wet areas...
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After the Water Damage: What’s Next? Water damage comes in a variety of ways and quantities, from simple seepage through cracks in the floor or foundation, leaky water heaters, and overflowing toilets or sinks to broken pipes, backed up sewers or septic systems, and outright floods from lakes and rivers. No matter what the source or cause, unwanted water can do enormous damage to your belongings and property. Water damage requires a prompt response in order to clean up the mess, make your home livable, and prevent mold. While the cleanup crews move quickly, the aftermath can seem to take forever. There are many things that demand your attention. You have insurance claims forms to file, bills to pay, and items to replace. In the event of a disaster, a detailed inventory will be imperative for your compensation. Creating a Home Inventory Creating a home inventory is one of the most important steps you can take in order to make sure you are adequately insured–and it can make filing a claim in the event of a disaster much easier as well. After all, it’s the inventory that establishes which items the insurance company will pay to clean, restore, or replace – and it’s the inventory that the insurance company uses to determine how much to pay. With this in mind, thoroughly documenting all damaged items is an absolute must. What should an inventory contain? At its most basic, a home inventory is a list of all of your home’s belongings and their value. Ideally, you will have created a home inventory before any damage occurs. This would give you a good starting point for your insurance claim. Whether you have an existing inventory or not, after a water damage claim, you will need to identify and list all damaged items as part of the insurance claims process. If you have an existing inventory, use it to highlight all damaged items, adding items to the list if necessary. If you do not have an inventory, you’ll need to start from scratch. Separate all water damaged items from the non-damaged items. Your water damage restoration company may have already done this step for you. Next, take photos of each item and list each item on a sheet of paper or in a spreadsheet. You’ll want to note the following: Item name – What type of item is it? For example, TV, antique vase, computer tower, area rug, etc. Item description – Describe the item in greater detail. For example, 55-inch Sony Bravia LCD TV or handmade 12×12 blue and yellow Turkish area rug Value – How much did you pay for the item? How much is it currently worth? Purchase date or approximate age – When did you purchase the item? How old is it? Any special notes – Here’s where you’ll enter additional details. For example, is the item one-of-a-kind? Upgraded? Home Inventory Worksheet Disasters happen. When they do, we will be there. We will keep you operating and get your facility or business back to normal as quickly as possible. We offer complete emergency services through minimizing further damage and restoration of both building and contents. “One Call Does It All 612-331-4454” Direct Insurance Billing | At Your Door in 1 Hour or Less | 24 Hour Service 24/7/365 Emergency Service. Approved by all insurance companies. Fast Response. A Rating with BBB. Done Right Water and Fire Restoration. Call today free estimates....
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Flooded Basement? Water Damage? Broken Pipe? | Take Steps NOW to Prevent Further Damage! When it comes to water damage in your home, you just don’t have the luxury of sitting back and “thinking” about what to do. The longer you wait, the more damage it will do to your home and the more health problems it will cause for you and your family. Time Is Not On Your Side Simply put, time is not on your side, and you need to take action… fast! Cleaning it up quickly will restore your property and protect your health. Most insurance policies require that you do so within 48 hours. This is because molds can begin growing within 24 to 48 hours of a water event. Stopping the flow of water and drying out materials as soon as possible reduces the potential for mold growth. Every delay is only going to make matters worse. Water damage claims that include active mold growth involve significantly higher costs than water damage claims without mold. Most of the damages can be minimized thereby reducing major expenses, by quick and timely action. Steps You Must Take NOW to Prevent Further Damage! If a pipe, water heater or appliance is broken and leaking, locate shutoff valve and shut off water to house. This will prevent more water entering the house. AVOID HAZARDS! Be extremely careful of the deadly combination of water and electricity. Also, be cautious of slippery wet carpets and floors. Stay away from Raw Sewage backups, which contain nasty bacteria and can be harmful to your health. CALL 612-331-4454 for 24 Hour Emergency Services, from our IICRC Certified Water Damage experts. We’ll get your home clean and dry as fast as possible, to return your life to normal! Prevent Further Damage – Wood furniture will leave permanent stains in carpet, so move it to an unaffected area if possible, or put foil under the legs until we arrive! Don’t Gamble With Your Home and Family’s Health! Water Damage Restoration is a complex process. An inexperienced company that rushes through the job can cause more harm than good by drying the surface of your structure while leaving moisture trapped inside the walls and floors. This can lead to microbial growth that can adversely affect your health and that of your...
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Water Extraction, Structural Drying & Dehumidification MN Every homeowner should be aware or familiar with the classes of water losses and categories of water in order to understand the extent of losses and degree of damaged brought about by water into the household structure. Below are summarized descriptions on classes of water losses and categories of water: Category 1 – refers to clean water at source. Category 2 – starts with contamination and may cause sickness and other human discomforts once ingested. Category 3 – means highly unsanitary (since the source is from the sewage) and could cause illness or death once consumed by humans. *Water category 1 or 2 will eventually change to water category 2 or 3 when left unprocessed for a certain period of time. Class 1 – losses which are limited caught in the nick of time and contain few materials that are porous or absorbent. Class 2 – losses that involve high quantities or very absorbent materials like carpet and pads. Class 3 – involves water that comes from overhead, wall frames, ceilings, drywall, insulation and floor materials that are highly absorbent. Class 4 – is the special drying of materials in the form of concrete, stucco, hardwood, masonry, plaster and saturated ground soil. There are actually different techniques that are used for structural drying. One of these methods is the “in-place” drying technique which was used and taught in the early 1980’s. The “in-place” drying method during the past decades allows the drying of structural components without major taking away of furniture and fixtures. However, there were some limitations in the employment of equipment for extraction, evaporation and dehumidification. But in recent years, the “in-place” drying system has made great leaps and advances due in part to the better understanding of psychrometry; making the technique more practical and safer for everyone concerned. Principals Of Drying The use of ‘in-place” drying will depend on several factors that must be meticulously appraised should insufficient drying and secondary damages in the form of microbial growth are to be prevented from occurring. This includes but should not be limited to the following: 1. Qualification of the contractor or technicians who are hired to do the job. This would include experiences and academic training. 2. Availability of equipment that are technologically advanced. 3. The water damage contractor’s knowledge and implementation of the Four Principles of Drying, the Classes of Losses and Categories of Water. 4. Proper documentation of drying conditions and all activities therein, which should include illustrations of work progression. For a successful drying project and reduction of any probable microbial growth, a homeowner must be aware of the four significant principles of drying. which a water damage contractor will determine in the following order: What is Wet? How Wet is It? Are We Drying? Is it Dry? The four principles of this drying approach allows a water damage expert to perform its drying and dehumidification services as thoroughly and efficiently as possible, which greatly reduces the secondary damages of mold. 1. Excess Water Removal This pertains to draining, pumping, absorbing and vacuuming methods applied to remove the presence of visible water. It is said that the excess water removal principle is the most abused principle since some contractors are not willing to invest in proper equipment and time to extract surplus moisture sufficiently. In general, water removal could be done in minutes or seconds as compared to evaporation and dehumidification of the same water quantity that actually takes hours and days to finish. Proper water removal or extraction could cut down the Category 1, Class 2...
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