Maintenance to Prevent Water Damage

1/6/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Castle Rock/Parker specializes in the cleanup and remediation of water damage. 

So, as you might expect, we’ve seen some of the worst possible water damage, from burst water heaters to ruptured pipes to actual flooding. 

What’s remarkable about many cases of water damage is that, often, the damage could have been prevented with proper maintenance. This is something that many home and business owners simply do not know, which is why we’re dedicating this week’s blog post to the basic maintenance you can do to prevent water damage to your home or commercial building. 

[Note: Please keep in mind that these tips are not provided as guarantees against water damage, and every property is going to differ when it comes to maintenance best practices.]

#1: Disconnect garden hoses, especially during the fall and winter months.

We see this a lot: when hoses are left attached to a water source, the standing water within them can often freeze. When this happens, the freezing water expands, and the ice blockage travels inside the building, sometimes causing pipe bursts and subsequent water damage to the property. 

This can happen even when the interior temperature of the building is significantly higher than the outside temperature. As a general rule, disconnect all hoses from their spigots when they’re not in use. 

#2: Perform quarterly inspections of all water-using appliances. 

Every few months, make it a point to inspect the operational condition of the appliances in your home or office. Pay extra attention to the connections between the appliance and the water supply, looking for leaks, corrosion, or loose fittings. 

If your dishwasher, water heater, clothes washer, or other water-using appliance is in need of repair or replacement, doing so sooner than later can help protect you from costly water damage down the line.

#3: Consider installing water detection devices. 

Small, battery-powered devices that detect moisture can be installed near water heaters, toilets, and other appliances. They will emit an alarm when moisture levels reach a certain threshold, giving you the opportunity to get ahead of leaks and overflows before they cause serious damage.

Installing these devices may be overkill for smaller homes, but for those with numerous water-carrying appliances, they can offer much-needed peace of mind. 

#4: Unblock gutters, downspouts, and other external water routing hardware.

It’s tempting to let debris-filled gutters go unattended for months or even years. However, doing so could be setting you up for water damage. 

When the water routing system on your roof isn’t functioning effectively, spillover can wreak havoc on the ground below. Standing water begins to accumulate, and before long, water intrusion starts taking its toll. 

Also, blocked gutters can cause water to collect on the roof. This pooling can freeze in the colder months, causing expansion that can burst gutters and downspouts, causing potentially thousands in damage. 

To address this, inspect your gutters, downspouts and other water runoff routing hardware for signs of blockages, and clear them away on a regular basis. 

#5: Take a water pressure reading.

Most residential and commercial buildings have adequate water pressure regulation, but this isn’t always the case. 

Having exceptionally high water pressure puts a lot of strain on the pipes and valves that are integral to the water transmission system within your home or commercial building. This strain can cause leaking and bursting without any warning whatsoever. 

To take a water pressure reading, buy a water pressure gauge at your local hardware store, install it onto an external water spigot, and then turn the water on to maximum flow. If the water pressure reading exceeds 100 PSI, you’re going to want to install a water pressure regulator (also available at most hardware stores). 

#6: Keep tabs on your water use by checking your bill for spikes.

If your home or commercial building uses a ‘normal’ amount of water most months and then, suddenly, you notice your water bill spike, there could be a leak somewhere. 

Surprise water leaks can be insidious, not to mention very costly. Not only are you paying for the wasted water, but it’s possible the water being wasted is also causing damage to the building. If you suspect this is happening, put on your detective hat and try to get to the source of the mystery water leak. 

Is the Damage Already Done? Contact SERVPRO. 

If your home or commercial building has already been marred by water damage, then it’s time to take action to remediate it. That’s why your local SERVPRO is available, 24 hours a day, to assess water damage and take the necessary steps to repair it. 

To get started, contact us today.

Is Water Damage Covered by Insurance?

11/21/2019 (Permalink)

When you wake up to a flooding basement because of a faulty water pipe, it can be worrying and especially when you realize that the floor is damaged. Among the first questions that you will probably ask yourself is if you have water damage insurance coverage. Water damage insurance is a protection that is provided to most homeowners against accidental and sudden water damage. Insurance does not cover water damage resulting from negligence or lack of maintenance.

Under most standard homes insurance policies, the water damage that occurs suddenly or by accident from a cause inside like a busted pipe is likely to be covered by the insurance. If the water damage is from outside your home, it won't be covered by your standard plan, though, and you can inquire about special covering from costs related flood with flood insurance. This is a separate plan that can be added to your existing coverage.

There are several types of water damage which might be covered or not covered by insurance like: 

• Accidental or Sudden Discharge
• Water backup or Sewer backup
• Flood 
• Overflow

AND WHEN DOES INSURANCE COVER YOU? 

Insurance will cover water damage in these cases;

• Plumbing issues such as faulty plumbing burst pipes, frozen plumbing, or accidental overflow
• Snow or rainstorm 
• Water damage that can result from extinguishing a fire
• A leaking roof (this coverage might extend just to the interior of the home, excluding the roof)
• An unintended overflow of a piece of equipment (like the toilet, bathtub, washing machine,)
• Mold (only if it is the result of the covered water damage)
• Vandalism

WHEN DOES INSURANCE FAIL TO COVER WATER DAMAGE? 

Water damage is not for all time covered by your insurance if it has not resulted from an accident or a sudden, unanticipated incident. Water damage from lack of maintenance and neglect will mean that you are personally responsible for meeting the cost of repairs. Some of the situations where insurance doesn't cover water damage include;

• Water or sewer pipe backups
• Ground leakage
• Flooding
• Poorly-maintained pipes that make them leak
• Gradual water damages, which happens gradually over causing damage to your property.

Water damage insurance coverage will not cover water damage that results from a flood, also; for that, you will require to buy additional flood insurance and mainly if you live in a high-risk region susceptible to flooding

MOLD FROM WATER DAMAGE

Mold is prevalent, and it usually results from water damages though it is not at all the time covered by insurance. It is costly to get rid of a mold invasion; your insurance may assist in covering the removal of the mold, but this will depend on what caused it in the first place. 

WHEN DOES INSURANCE COVER MOLD?

Mold is only covered if it has resulted from water damage. If molds grow as a result of situations such as AC system overflow or burst pipes, your insurance will cover every or a little of the mold removal fee since the mold is regarded as an extension of water damage. Otherwise, mold infestations are not covered if it has resulted from neglect or lack of maintenance.

Before purchasing a water damage insurance coverage, ensure that you have understood all your insurance policy coverage, and the exclusions, and your responsibilities as a property holder.

For more information on water damage, contact SERVPRO today.

Water Damaged Carpet

3/21/2019 (Permalink)

Have you had a toilet overflow, a pipe burst, a washer malfunction or walk into a basement completely flooded by rainwater? Water can seep into almost every material and cause irreversible damage. When water saturates your carpet or walls, you will need to make decisions and make them quickly! Do not waste time contemplating how to clean up the water, each hour counts when water is involved. The longer water sits in porous material, like carpet or drywall, the sooner bacteria and microbial growth begins to grow.

One of the prime locations for microbial growth to spread is in a humid room with sopping wet carpet and walls. What do you do? Grab a shop vac and suck it up? Grab a slew of towels and cover the floor while dancing on top of them, hoping they will absorb all of the water? Grab all the fans you own and try to set them in just the right places, hoping that everything will dry out in time? Go ahead and try those techniques, but you will have a huge and more costly headache to deal with in a month.

If you choose to call a restoration company, be sure to call one who has the certifications to back up their work.

SERVPROs all over the country are locally owned franchises, and the majority of them are run by the actual owner. At SERVPRO of W. Littleton/Sheridan I know that our project managers, office staff, marketing team and even the owners are WRT IICRC certified. That means they know everything it takes to get water out of your home or business.

We are not magicians; we can not save all carpet and walls. We can certainly extract the water from the affected areas and remove all flooring & walls that are not salvageable, ultimately leaving you a clean, bacteria-free slate to work with. We even have a construction division that can help you get your home back to preloss condition. Do not waste time trying to clean up a disaster on your own or have the local neighborhood handyman clean it up, just call SERVPRO of W. Littleton/Sheridan and we will walk you through the process. You will be informed and updated of the restoration/mitigation process throughout the entire job so that nothing is questionable. We are your go-to! Give us a call even if you just have a question and we will be happy to help.

Prevent Water Damage Before it Happens

8/16/2018 (Permalink)

Prevent Water Damage

1. Be careful where you plant

Some plants and trees, like weeping willows, have pretty invasive roots. If you’re not careful, they’ll grow right into your sprinkler system, drainage field, pipes, and septic tanks. Plan before you plant to keep roots away from any water lines.

2. Clean out roof gutters

You know it’s on your to-do list anyway, so if you can, take a safe climb up to your roof next Sunday and check out your gutters. If you’re seeing lots of leaves, birds’ nests, sticks, and whatnot up there, your gutters may not be doing the job you hired them for. And on a rainy day, a clogged gutter can send water spilling into your home’s foundation, through the roof, or down to your basement. That could cause some serious water damage! So next time you’re doing some seasonal cleaning, make sure those gutters are clean. And if your gutters are too high, be safe and get a professional to check them.

3.  Keep an eye on your water bill

With so many water pipes hidden behind walls and in the floors in your house, you might not know there’s a leak until the damage is done. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep a close eye on your monthly water bill. If you see it starting to creep up, or get one that’s uncommonly high, it’s a pretty good sign that you may have a leak somewhere.

4. Use a drain snake instead of unclogging chemicals

No matter how crazy clean you are, from your shower to your kitchen sink, clogs are going to happen. And chances are at some point in your life you’ve used one of those powerful chemical drain cleaners to get things moving again. But as convenient as they may be, most folks don’t realize those caustic chemicals are also eating away at their pipes (and they might not be too good for you either). If you rely on them a lot, you could be setting yourself up for leaks. That’s why owning a drain snake is a good solution to clear away clogs. They’re pretty inexpensive, you can get them at your local hardware store, and they can cut through most any clog you’ll have without damaging pipes or making your eyes red and teary.

5. Never pour grease down your sink

You’ve probably heard this before, but you should definitely avoid pouring grease down your kitchen sink. It doesn’t matter if you flush it with hot or cold water. It can still congeal and cling to your pipes, and could still cause some serious damage and blockage.

Advise from Farmers Insurance and SERVPRO.

Mitigation and Restoration

8/7/2018 (Permalink)

Reconstruction

Who Can Provide Mitigation & Reconstruction?

When your home or business suffers water damage it’s important to start the mitigation process as soon as possible. The longer moisture sits in walls and flooring, the more damage the structure of your home will suffer. It’s important to call your nearest mitigation specialist as time is crucial.

In most cases, water damage leads to mold growth. Do you know why? Moist and humid surfaces are the perfect breeding ground for mold growth. Time is of the essence in every water loss.

When the mitigation process is complete you are left with a partially constructed home or business. No worries! SERVPRO can provide mitigation reconstruction. Once all moisture is eliminated from the structure and the non-salvageable walls and flooring are removed, reconstruction can begin.

Rather than having multiple contractors in your home or business, have SERVPRO come in and make it “Like it never even happened.”

Is Your Washing Machine Leaking?

4/13/2018 (Permalink)

Don't let your washing machine cause a leak in your home.

•  Replace water supply hoses – Water supply hoses can become brittle and burst. Check them periodically and replace your old hoses with a new hose that consist of flexible plastic tubing encased in a stainless steel braided exterior. Purchase an auto-shut off hose protector that protects against catastrophic water damage by automatically shutting off. If excess water flow is sensed the water supply to the washing machine will turn off.
•  Get a washer floor tray – Replace or repair your leaking washing machine right away to protect against future leaks, slide a water catching tray under your washing machine to catch drips and leaks. It’s an inexpensive way to prevent water damage to your floor from a leaking washing machine.
•  Purchase a single-lever shut off valve – Turn the water off after each load of wash. Replace your dual faucets with a single-lever which control both hot and cold water simultaneously.
• Flood protection device – An automatic water leak detection device prevents flooding by immediately shutting off both the hot and cold water supply to the washing machine when sensors detect a water leak. These devices are quick and easy to install by homeowners and provide 24/7 protection against water damage caused by washing machine floods. Some flood protection devices sound an audible alarm.
•  Automatic Washing Machine Water Shutoff Valve and Leak Sensor – The shut off valve protects against catastrophic water damage. It allows water to flow when it senses that the washing machine is turned on, and stops water from flowing if the machine is turned off. It also stops water from flowing if it senses excessive water flow or detects a leak.

Do You Have Bed Bugs?

4/6/2018 (Permalink)

Bed Bug

Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation 

• Adult Bedbugs are the shape and size of an apple seed.
• After feeding, bed bugs defecate brown stains on porous surfaces.
• Bed bug bites may appear as red welts on the skin. 
• Bed bug can be found on mattresses, box springs, headboards, footboards, bed frames and other furniture near a bed.

Facts

• Bed bugs are easily transported into previously non-infested dwellings
• Bed Bugs can be found in hotels, gyms, offices, schools and stores. 
• Bed Bugs travel on bags, clothes and in vehicles.

Where Bed Bugs Hide

When not feeding, bed bugs hide in a variety of places. Around the bed, they can be found near the piping, seams and tags of the mattress and box spring, and in cracks on the bed frame and headboard.

If a room is heavily infested, you may find bed bugs:

• In the seams of chairs and couches, between cushions, in the folds of curtains
• In drawer joints
• In electrical receptacles and appliances
• Under loose wall paper and wall hangings
• At the junction where the wall and the ceiling meet
• Even in the head of a screw
• Since bed bugs are only about the width of a credit card, they can squeeze into really small hiding spots. If a crack will hold a credit card, it could hide a bed bug

Keeping a clean and uncluttered house can save you time and money by drastically decreasing your chance of bed bug infestation. 

Proven Water Removal Services Residents of Parker Can Trust

12/7/2017 (Permalink)

When standing water is more than two inches in depth, SERVPRO technicians use a submersible pump to extract the water.

SERVPRO Thoroughly Dries and Deodorizes Your Home after Water Damage

You need an immediate response when your Parker home suffers water damage. Inspection of your property is necessary before carrying out water removal to prevent further damage. After extracting the water, drying and deodorization processes follow. That is why we highly recommend working with a certified service provider to restore your property.

Water extraction is one of the first steps that our SERVPRO technicians use to do the water removal when attending to water disasters in Parker. We do this by using extractors - tools that can remove water and clean at the same time. The device has a vacuum system, a pump, and a heater. When removing water, it is only the vacuuming component that operates and all the three work together when we use them to do the cleaning.

SERVPRO technicians use portable extractors when removing water from areas with limited space. On the other hand, we use the powerful truck mounted extractors to remove large amounts of water from easily accessible areas. When the standing water is of substantial depth - 2 inches and above - a submersible pump may be used to do the removal.

When the humidity of the air rises, odor vapors move, and you can smell them. We identify the source of the smell as one of the restoration activities and do deodorization to address both the imagined and real odors. Deodorization agents neutralize the odors and reduce the probability of their reoccurrence.

The use of activated oxygen, wet fogging and dry fogging are the main types of deodorization that we use when restoring your property. The selected technique depends on the kind of odor that we are neutralizing. Our IICRC-certified restoration technicians use protective gear such as respirators when using chemical deodorants to prevent any possible health effects.

SERVPRO of Castle Rock / Parker attends to all mold, water, fire, and storm damage disasters. Discover the available options by calling us at (720) 842-1950 and get served by an industry leader.  

Click here to learn more about the city of Parker.

Drying, Cleaning, and Water Damage Restoration Methods Used In Castle Rock

10/6/2017 (Permalink)

We have the expertise, equipment, and experience to restore your water damage "Like it never even happened."

Are You Familiar with our SERVPRO Castle Rock Water Damage Services?

As you might imagine, it takes a lot to repair water damage found on your CastleRock property. A professional technician uses specific methods to address your situation because every situation is different and requires a unique approach.

After contacting your insurance company and making a call for help, you enter your Castle Rock area home to address water damage, with a professional leading the way. The technicians perform an inspection, checking for hazards and making a detailed list of professional services that can help return your home to a quality condition.

After explaining everything in detail, SERVPRO technicians get to work restoring your home. You may see an entire team on site, each performing different tasks designed to reach a specific goal. Among these are methods of repairing your walls and preventing mold growth that causes severe changes to your home’s living environment.

For SERVPRO technicians to repair your walls properly, we remove baseboard, drywall, and any insulation to prevent walls from sealing moisture inside. The amount of discarded materials depends on the amount of exposure and the condition of the materials used to build the wall. Drywall acts like a sponge, easily drawing water up, beyond the flood water level.

SERVPRO allows wood studs and sills to dry naturally, placing air moving equipment where needed and using microbial treatments to prevent mold growth. There is equipment available such as wall cavity fans, or attachments with tubing that make drying easier. Moisture meters are used to determine which drying method is the most efficient, often combining many methods to complete the job correctly.

Once everything is dry, technicians install new insulation, drywall, and baseboard, putting the finishing touches on to ensure your home returns to a quality condition. We offer full-service solutions and provide quality services that produce fantastic results.

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

SERVPRO of Castle Rock / Parker has IICRC-industry certified technicians available 24-hours a day to provide emergency response services for residents throughout the area. Whether you live in Parker, Tomah, or Westcreek, We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster, call today. (720) 842-1950

For more information regarding the city of Castle Rock, click here. 

Water Damage in Parker Homes can Create Additional Problems for Residents

8/24/2017 (Permalink)

Lyophilization to Dry Documents or Water Extraction to Dry Your Parker Home--Call the Pros from SERVPRO

Removal and Dehumidifying Reduce Destructive Water Intrusions in Parker Properties

Some forms of damage that a Parker home can experience can show suddenly, or slowly, over time. Both types need to be repaired as quickly as possible because existing damage can spread to other areas and also increase in severity.

Whenever Parker residents notice water damage, keeping in mind the possibility that some of these damaged areas to remain hidden and undiscovered can help keep expensive repairs to a minimum. Also, because damage in unrestored areas continues to degrade, repairs are highly likely to become increasingly more expensive as time passes. Professionals like those at SERVPRO know how to restore a damaged home, saving homeowners money, time, and grief because when a home suffers damage, the personal belongings of the homeowner's family are also often affected.
 
Water can create problems in any material it penetrates, and those items that are the most absorbent are the most harshly affected. Paper exists in different forms throughout a home, from drywall covers to books to crucial documents. Once wet, books and other paper items need to be dried by special processes. Lyophilization is one of these methods. While this approach obtains excellent results for smaller items, it is not possible for larger areas, such as walls and ceilings.
 
When saturation happens to the interior of a home, SERVPRO technicians implement standard IICRC procedures. With the use of fans, dehumidifiers, air blowers, and heaters, as needed, speeding up the evaporation process while removing the increased humidity from the air coincides. If carpets have recently become damaged by water, they can often be saved if restorative action is taken immediately after the incident.
 
Our IICRC training provides us with the needed insight to know which process is best suited for each damaging water issue. Knowledge is the basis for our extensive experience and skills, and we put these to work for each of our customers.
 
There are many ways that water damage can take place in a home. If one of these happens to your home, call SERVPRO of Castle Rock / Parker immediately. We are always Faster To Any Size Disaster, and we can be reached at any time, day or night, at (720) 842-1950.

For more information on this city click here.

What To Do in a Water Emergency

3/23/2017 (Permalink)

Before you start to row your boat, follow these tips and call us!

It happens when you least expect it.  You take the steps to the basement, and when your foot hits the floor, you step onto wet carpet. Yuck. You have no idea where the water is coming from, or how long it’s been there.

 But, after the initial shock and confusion, you may find yourself asking, “What do I do now?”. The following steps can help you navigate the process of managing a water loss in a quick, effective manor, reducing the amount of damage to your home, and keeping overall cost to you as low as possible.

Stopping The Source

Stopping the flow of water is the first step to getting on the right track. Shutting off the water to the appliance or area that is leaking is important to being able to fix the leak. If you are able, shut the water off to this area, or to the whole house if you are unsure of where the water is coming from.

Once the leak is identified, or even if you are unsure of the cause, calling a Licensed Plumber to identify and fix the problem is highly advisable. This ensures that the leak is fixed correctly, and/or that the appliance in question is properly repaired or replaced.

Keeping Damages to a Minimum

Once any amount of water has leaked into your home, there will be damage. However, you can keep this damage to a minimum by calling SERVPRO as soon as possible. The sooner we arrive, the sooner we can begin to clean up and minimize the damage, potentially saving you thousands of dollars in home repairs.

Also, the less time the water spends saturating the materials in your home, the lower the likelihood is that your home will develop mold and microbial growth.

Sewage

Water leaking into your home is never desirable. Sewage leaking into your home can be considered a nightmare, especially when it affects a large area or multiple levels in your house. Exposed Sewage can create a risk of mold and microbial growth, as well as illness for those in the home. Prompt clean up and neutralization of contaminates is the first priority.

When sewage backs up through drains or toilets, the first thing to do is call a Licensed Plumber, or your city Water and Sewer Provider. Finding the source, and ensuring that there is not another sewage loss in your home is key to preventing multiple mitigations from being needed, and ultimately keeps the cost to you to a minimum.

Mitigation

Once SERVPRO is on site, an initial assessment will be made of the damages and projected time needed to dry the structure. Also, an assessment will be made of the materials affected, and it will be determined if those materials can be dried, or will need to be removed.

If your contents, such as furniture, boxes, clothing, and decorative items cannot remain in place while drying, SERVPRO provides moving and pack out services for on site or off site storage while mitigation is taking place.

The average mitigation takes about 3 days, but could take less or more time depending on the level of saturation and the scale of the loss.

SERVPRO Technicians and Crew Chiefs use a variety of equipment and tools to ensure proper drying, included but not limited to Dehumidifiers, Air Mover Fans, and Non-Invasive Moisture Monitors.

After Mitigation

Once ensuring that your home has met dry standard, SERVPRO Crew Chiefs and Technicians will remove all equipment and remove any items brought into your home. If materials have been removed, SERVPRO will be happy to refer you to a Contractor for rebuild services.

If no rebuild is needed, you should be able to return to normal life in a clean dry home.

These steps can help guide you through the stressful time of water loss in your home.

Feel free to call SERVPRO at any times with questions about mitigation, water damage, or clean up services.

Water damage is never pleasant, but with SERVPRO you can assure a professional and quality cleanup.

Water Damage and Flooring

3/2/2017 (Permalink)

Often times when a large amount of water has spilled onto hard surface flooring, it can feel dry on the surface after it has been mopped up with towels. You may wonder why you would need to call SERVPRO. The answer lies below the surface of the flooring. Most flooring types are porous or semi-porous materials, which means that they can absorb and retain water. These would include carpet, non-glazed tile, concrete, and wood. The trapped moisture between the floor and subfloor needs to be extracted. Even flooring such as laminate (pergo) or linoleum can keep moisture trapped under the surface because the moisture cannot penetrate underlayments or vapor barriers associated with these types of flooring.The trapped moisture between the flooring and subfloor creates a perfect environment for mold growth. Because of this, it is always a good idea to have SERVPRO do a moisture check. We have specialized meters that can detect the invisible moisture your flooring may be holding. Based on the assessment and readings by a certified technician, we can formulate a drying plan tailored to your needs and prevent further damage. The quicker you act, the less damage there will be. 

How Insurance Can Help with Holiday Disasters

12/12/2016 (Permalink)

Did you know that some personal property insurance covers stolen presents?

Behind their charming facades, our homes hide an inner holiday Grinch. Flickering candles? Fire hazard. Snow-dusted walkway? Think slip and fall. Pyramid of presents? Burglary bait.  Here's how homeowners insurance helps you recover financially.

House fires

From dehydrated Christmas trees to overworked outlets, the halls are decked with fire hazards this time of year. Candle fires, in particular, hit their annual peak on Christmas, New Year's Day and Christmas Eve, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

Allstate's median home fire claim during the holiday season is about $70,000, says Glenn Shapiro, the company's chief claims officer.

Covered by: Within homeowners insurance, dwelling coverage pays for home repairs and personal property insurance covers belongings.

Wrap it up: Ask your insurer for help pinpointing your home's rebuilding cost. "It could be years since you bought the policy, and building costs may have increased," Shapiro says. If the reconstruction cost exceeds your dwelling insurance amount, boost your limits accordingly.

Stolen presents

Theft is a common source of holiday homeowners insurance claims, Shapiro says. In some cases, our own behavior fuels the problem. For instance, two in three people have gifts delivered despite not being home to receive them, according to a 2015 Allstate survey.

Covered by: Personal property insurance covers stolen items. This can include packages plucked from your stoop, says Chris Hackett, senior director of personal lines at trade group Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. To make a claim, you'll need to file a police report.

However, if only a couple of items go missing you might not benefit from a claim, Hackett cautions, because the payout could be less than your deductible.

Wrap it up: Consider lowering your personal property coverage deductible. Although your rates would increase, your insurance would stretch further if you need to make a claim.

Injured guests

Say you undercook dinner and send relatives to the hospital. Or maybe someone breaks a hip on your icy walkway. You could end up on the hook for medical costs when you host holiday get-togethers.

Covered by: The medical payments coverage within home insurance pays for injuries that guests sustain on your property. You also have liability insurance in case you're sued, Shapiro says.

Wrap it up: Insurance limits for medical payments are usually low when you buy your policy, Hackett says. A bare-minimum policy pays about $1,000 per person, making this good coverage to beef up before welcoming the holiday herd.

Water damage from frozen pipes

Leaving home can be as problematic as playing host. As an example, Shapiro points to insurance claims involving frozen pipes. If an unoccupied house gets too frosty, water freezes and expands inside the pipes, increasing chances of a burst.

Covered by: Water damage from burst pipes is covered by standard home insurance, Hackett says, including damage to your house and soaked belongings.

Wrap it up: Check the fine print in your policy regarding frozen pipes. You might need to take certain preventive action before vacations to make a claim, such as shutting off your water or leaving the heat on.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage?

12/1/2016 (Permalink)

Water damage caused by a pipe burst in Littleton, CO.

What's Not Covered?

Why You Should Hire a Professional to Find Your Leaks

3/15/2016 (Permalink)

Article Credit: enlightenme.com

https://enlightenme.com/hire-professional-find-leaks/

Whenever you have a problem with your home, the first impulse is usually to tackle the problem yourself. Sometimes this can be the right choice, and the problem’s easy enough to solve on your own. Other times it’s much safer and smarter to call in the pros from the beginning.

Tracking down tricky leaks is one of those times. Sure, some leaks are easy to track down, but water has a way of traveling odd paths. So once finding a leak gets tough, then it’s time to call in some help. And here’s why:

They Know Where to Look

Water can travel strange paths before it finally comes out into your home, and you might be surprised how far it can come. That discolored spot on your basement ceiling could actually be caused by a leak in your roof, or your wall on the opposite side of the house.

Professionals have tracked down hundreds, even thousands of leaks over the years. That experience gives them a wide variety of usual suspects to check, and a good number of unusual ones, too.

They Know What to Look For

That slight, turquoise line along your copper pipe? That’s where water has run along the outside and caused the copper to oxidize. It’s a sure sign that a leak is sending water traveling on the wrong side of the pipes.

Pros know these and dozens of other signs. What looks like a bit of dirt to you might indicate a serious leak in your roof, foundation, or wall. Or it might just be some dirt. A professional will be able to know the difference for certain.

They’ve Got the Right Equipment

Most of us can only use our eyes or sense of touch to lead us to water, but not the professionals. They have a wide variety of specialized equipment that can sense moisture and humidity through walls or probe underground for water deposits using ground penetrating radar.

This equipment can be expensive to buy and tricky to use. They have years of experience using the equipment, and know how to put it to good use.

By using a professional in the first place, you remove that step from the process, saving you money and getting the leak repaired sooner.