Water Damage Basics

6/18/2021 (Permalink)

According to the Insurance Information Institute, one out of every 50 insured homes in the United States files a water damage claim each year. Water damage is one of the largest contributing causes of homeowner’s insurance claims, and includes losses caused by weather events such as storms or hurricanes, pipe leaks, etc. Damage caused by water continues to increase, causing thousands of dollars in claims each year.

If a homeowner has never experienced a water damage loss before, they might wonder what the restoration process entails, and how costly water damage restoration is. The price will vary depending on the extent of the damage and the type of water involved. A “clean” water pipe burst that doesn’t cause standing water will be much less expensive to take care of than a toilet overflow that causes damage to a finished basement. 

There are three categories of water a homeowner should be aware of:

1. Clean water damage (Category 1): Caused by water that is “clean” from a pipe burst or rain. The cost averages about $3.75 per square foot, and is the least expensive to clean up.
2. Gray water damage (Category 2): Caused by water coming from an appliance. This type of water may include soaps or chemicals that need to be treated as part of the cleanup. The restoration cost for this category of water averages about $4.50 per square foot.
3. Black water damage (Category 3): Caused by water coming from a contaminated source such as a toilet overflow or sewer pipe, or a natural disaster flooding an area,  such as a hurricane. These types of water damages are health hazards, and need to be cleaned immediately and by a water restoration professional. Cleanup of black water damage averages about $7.00 per square foot, being significantly more expensive than the previous categories.

If you experience a water damage loss in your home, there are a few steps you should take to get your home restored as quickly as possible:

1. Fix the source! The very first step to take when water damage affects the home is to contact a professional to help repair the cause. That could involve contacting a plumber to fix a pipe burst or toilet overflow, or a roofer to repair a damaged, leaky roof. This first step is a necessity, as drying and cleaning up the water is redundant if it will continue to come back. Save yourself time and money, and fix the cause first.
2. As soon as the cause of the loss has been repaired, immediately begin the water restoration process. Waiting to dry out a home affected by water damage will increase the cost significantly, and potentially lead to secondary damage such as mold growth.

When water damage affects your home, call SERVPRO of Media and SERVPRO of Central Delaware County. We will take a look at the affected area, develop a detailed estimate of the work that needs to be done, and begin drying your home and its contents. SERVPRO is also able to provide full-service restoration. This means that not only are we able to remove the moisture, but we can repair and replace any wet drywall, ceilings, or floors that were removed during the water mitigation process.