WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION

Professional Water & Flood Damage Restoration Services

Water damage is one of the most common causes of home insurance claims.

According to ISO, water damage claims are the second largest frequent insurance claim, following wind and hail. The percentage of claims due to water damage is also increasing, while other causes of damage have stayed fairly consistent.

Water damage to your home can be the result of many causes both internal (a broken pipe, toilet overflow, leaks) and external (heavy rain or snow, a city-wide flood). What they all share in common is that water damage can manifest over a very short period of time and failing to address it immediately risks even greater damage.

Contacting a professional right away is therefore always the best choice, so long as you can rely on reaching a reliable company who will identify and address the underlying cause of the damage, as well as properly perform the required water damage restoration.

You can rely on our DryCare Restoration experts to provide you with 5-Star Water Damage Restoration, greatly increasing your chances of savings and restoring your home to its former beauty.

Since we are available 24/7, 365 days a year, you can count on us to arrive at your property promptly, carry out the required ameliorative steps, and accompany you on every step of the way to restore your home, eliminate any trace of water damage, and protect against its recurrence.

Moreover, our licensed experts will directly deal with your insurance carrier (and any additional parties), putting your interests first and reducing your stress — financially, emotionally and mentally.

How To Clean Water Damage From Your Home

The process of full water damage cleanup services include identifying, fixing and sealing the source of the water, drying the affected area, and restoring your home to its pre-loss condition.

Typically, the following steps are involved:

Free Inspection
Damage Assessment
Equipment Set-Up and Testing
Packing of Personal and Home Contents
Removal of Damaged Building Materials
Additional Equipment Set-Up if Necessary
Dry-Out Completion
Equipment pick up
Build-Back Restoration

Residential water damage restoration services is our specialty and we take great pride in providing all of our clients in Orlando, Florida with the best service, regardless of the cause or severity of the damage.

We will always will ensure that your home is restored in a timely and professional manner, so you can return to your life and home as soon as possible.

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, we are there for you when you need us most. Do not hesitate to call us in case of an emergency to get an immediate response.

Water Damage Insurance

Given that water damage is one of the most common causes of home insurance claims, it is no wonder people have a lot of questions about what is covered by their home insurance – and what isn’t.

Your home insurance policy will typically define differential coverage, or exclude altogether, water damage based on the cause/type of the damage.

Some coverage will typically be included in a standard home policy like an HO-3; other sources of damage might not be covered unless you add an endorsement to your policy.

The standard homeowner policy will include:

Damages caused by the weight of ice, snow or sleet. This can cause roof collapse or water damage, among other problems.
Discharge and overflow of water, even if it is an accident.
Tearing apart, cracking, burning or bulging of a steam or hot water heating system.
Freezing of plumbing and pipes.

However, if you opted for the least expensive type of policy, or if you’re restricted to a policy like an HO-1 or HO-8, you might have very limited coverage. Unlike other standard policies, these cover a very limited set of perils and will not normally include the items listed above.

In addition to the cause of the water damage, another issue is whether the source of the damage is accidental and sudden, or gradual.

Gradual damage water damage is not usually covered, so although your policy might have water damage coverages, if the reason for the damage is defined by the inspector as “not being sudden and accidental,” then you are likely to be denied in a claim.

That is why it is critically important to contact a professional restoration company as soon as you notice any damage, so that the inspection will conclude that the damage is defined as sudden and accidental, and to ensure that he deals with the root cause of the problem in a manner that will prevent reappearance of gradual damage.

What exactly is the "Gradual Damage" Clause?

Gradual damage is when something happens slowly over time and causes damage to your property. Gradual damage due to water is a common problem when it comes to insurance claims. An example of gradual damage is when something happens slowly, like paint chipping off a wall. It starts with a small chip, then eventually half the wall is uncovered.

Water Damage and Gradual Damage in Your Home

That’s when we try and make a claim. If the damage is not sudden or accidental, but is the result of a long-standing problem that went undetected you will have a problem in a claim – which is why it is important to ensure that any professional you call is equipped and oriented towards carrying out a wholesale inspection of your home.

What Are Examples of Gradual Damage?

Some of the most common examples of gradual damage causing losses or denied claims are:

Plumbing, faucets or pipes leaking causing damage to the walls, ceilings or floors.
Water damage caused by seepage coming in from cracks in the foundation, or at the exterior of the dwelling allowing water to enter your home.
Flashing, tiles, shingles or deteriorating parts on the roof that indicate signs of needed repair.
Mold, rot or corrosion.
Deteriorating electrical wiring.
Poor repairs or lack of repairs to home.

Often, when you try and make a claim for damage that is sudden, but is the result of something that has been happening for a while, the claim is denied.

When Does an Insurance Company Cover Gradual Damage?

This is where things get tricky. You can figure out what an insurance company will and will not cover based on the policy wording.

We can assist in your interaction with the insurance company, optimizing your chance of reaching a favorable resolution.
While all insurance policies exclude wear and tear and gradual damage, there may be some “exceptions.”

Mold: Some companies may allow you to purchase coverage for mold remediation. This varies from state to state and by insurance company. In Orlando, Florida for example, policymakers are pushing to add limited basic mold coverage to policies.
Damage occurring or resulting from a claim: Following a water damage claim that was covered as a result of a tree falling on the roof and creating an opening in which water poured into the home, the opening and roof were repaired by the insurance company. However, several months later the homeowners noticed a funny smell or paint chipping near where the repairs had been done, even identifying newly formed mold where the damage had been… Additional damage may occur after or as a result of a claim, and not be caught. If the gradual damage is identified as being the result of the original claim that was covered, the insurance company may cover it.
Broken Pipe: Often gradual wear and tear leads pipes, water tanks, or a washing machine to break down. The actual pipe or washing machine will not be covered. However, the resulting damage from the sudden breakage may be.

How To Improve Your Chances of Getting Your Water Damage Claim Accepted

First of all, you need to understand that there are several people who represent the insurance company during a claim, and that the decision making process regarding the acceptance or rejection of claims is complex.

Your insurance agent, an insurance adjuster, and the professional contractor inspecting and/or repairing the damage all play a role in crafting the decision. In this process any professional inspector whom YOU, rather than your insurance carrier, chooses is the right choice for you — and you have the right to make that choice.

We know this is a lot to take in, especially when you’re faced with a disaster on your property. We take care of all the heavy lifting for you, so you don’t have any extra headaches to deal with. We know how to talk to all parties involved and get your best interests taken care of.