Pittsburgh Water Damage Cleanup

Water damage is one of the most common insurance claims and can be one of the most costly, both for the insurance company, and the homeowner. The longer the leak goes undetected or neglected, the more expensive it may be to mitigate, and less likely it is to be covered by insurance.

Once you discover any type of water damage try to locate the source immediately. If you can determine the source, attempt to stop it. If you can’t, assume you have a broken water line and turn off the main shutoff valve, usually located near your water meter. Open up a fixture on the lowest level of the home. This will drain down the water from the higher floors where the leak may be occurring.

If you cannot locate the leak, call a professional who can. Plumbers are good at locating what may be causing the water damage. A veteran plumber has years of experience locating leaks and can many times can pinpoint the problem without tearing out walls and ceilings.

When the source of the water damage has been stopped it’s time to call a restoration company and your insurance company. A professional restoration company will have equipment such as moisture meters which can determine how extensive the water damage has become. Your insurance company will be able to tell you what is, and is not covered.

Be sure not to delay calling your insurance company, for the longer you wait, the less damage may be covered. This is because mold can begin to grow within 48 hours. Once mold develops, many insurance companies will consider the mold a secondary problem, and may not cover its removal.

In summary, if you discover any water damage in your home act quickly to stop it at the source, and repair the damage. This will lessen your liability and financial burden.