Water damage in your Florida home can cause more harm than just about anything else, leading to moldy, warped, and rotted structural problems. Common causes of water damage in Florida include:
- Burst pipes
- Sewer line backups and toilet overflows
- Roof leaks
- Water heater breakdowns
- Flooding due to hurricanes and storms
The ensuing damage can range from a minor inconvenience to a catastrophe. Central Florida Restoration Solutions’ water damage remediation teams can help prevent the stress and expense that accompanies extensive water damage.
Why Is Water Damage Such a Big Concern in Florida?
Aside from the physical damages that come from water damage, Florida homeowners have some of the highest property insurance costs in the nation. Water damage claims in the state have skyrocketed over the years, and insurers have been forced to adapt their policies’ language to keep insurance premiums affordable.
One clause that’s been added is the “Limited Water” provision, which reduces policy benefits in two critical ways:
- Claim payouts are limited to $10,000.
- The water damage’s source must be from an appliance or plumbing feature, such as a water heater or air conditioning unit. Other water damage, like a leaky roof, is not covered.
The problem is that many water damage claims often exceed the $10,000 limit. For instance, you might not be covered if you have a limited water policy and water damages your home’s wood or high-end flooring, or if a burst pipe destroys your kitchen’s flooring, drywall, and cabinetry.
In addition, many insurers in Florida impose a time limit on covered water damage, limiting claims to “sudden and accidental” damage, with damage that occurs past 14 days excluded. The problem with this provision is that it’s often difficult to determine when water damage begins and when a homeowner notices it.
Understanding how a filed claim might be affected is essential to you taking steps to understand, mitigate, and manage any water damage in your home as quickly as possible. CFRS’ restoration services prioritize your safety and eliminate water damage regardless of any limitations placed by your insurance company.
Water Damage: A Florida Homeowner’s Worst Nightmare
You have a variety of options available to avoid significant water damage in your Florida home. But first, let’s look at why water damage can be so devastating.
How Water Affects Your House
When most people think of water damage, they envision problems caused by catastrophic events like floods and hurricanes. But even a leaking pipe can result in substantial moisture issues in drywall. And because mold growth begins within 24 to 48 hours after a water incident, you could end up with significant mold damage that leads to health and structural issues that impact your home’s value.
Expensive to Repair
Florida homeowners spend on average over $4,000 to repair a single instance of water damage. Not only that, but they also spend up to $6,000 to remove mold, and that doesn’t include related medical expenses. Because even a single leak can have a tremendous impact on your home’s value, it’s always good to seek help from a professional water damage restoration and remediation instead of attempting to do the repairs yourself. Plus, you can get guidance from experts with years of experience on how to avoid water damage in the future.
Can Happen Anytime
Sometimes, water damage occurs from a little summer storm; other times, it happens during Florida’s hurricane season. Pipes can weaken and break at any time, causing tremendous flooding. No matter the cause, unexpected water intrusion severely damages furniture, walls, flooring, ceilings, and more. Eventually, mold and mildew appear throughout your house.
What To Do After Water Damage in Your Florida Home
Taking quick action can lessen long-term water damage. These five steps help you handle a water damage emergency:
- Protect people and belongings: Start the cleanup process immediately after a water incident to mitigate the extent of any damage. If safe to do so, turn off the electricity and unplug devices. Exit the property and when you reenter, wear waterproof boots, rubber gloves, and protective clothing. If possible, remove your most valuable items, like documents, photographs, and electronics.
- Stop the water damage: Identifying and stopping the water source prevents further damage. Use your shut-off valves to stop water from flowing into broken pipes or appliances.
- Contact your insurance company: Once you’ve taken steps to protect your family and possessions, call your insurer as soon as possible to set in motion any potential claim.
- Dry things out: The sooner you can start drying out your property, the better, as completing the processes within 24 to 48 hours can virtually eliminate the growth of mold and mildew. Open windows and doors to get air flowing through the house to speed up the drying process.
- Clean and restore your house: Water damage can take a lot of time and effort to address. That’s why turning to experts in water damage restoration, repair, and remediation is so helpful.
Central Florida’s Most Trusted Water Damage Remediation and Restoration Professionals
What seems like a negligible amount of water can do tremendous harm to your home and belongings. In fact, a mere inch of water can cause damage severe enough that it requires repair and restoration services.
With over 20 years of experience, CFRS is Central Florida’s premier water damage, mold damage, fire damage, and smoke damage expert. You can rely on us to take care of any water damage restoration services needed to restore your home to its original condition.
Contact us today to learn more.
