Question. Why wouldn't I report this incident to
my insurance company?
Answer. If the damage is severe you should contact your
insurer right away. We all maintain insurance for such
abnormal events which we cannot afford. However, most
water damage repair needs are confined to a specific area. Most
insurance policies have deductibles of $500, $1000, $2000 or
more. In many water damage cases such as leaks and spills,
the cost for restoration and repair may well be under or under
your deductible level. Why file a claim with your insurer
and ruin your record with the insurance company (which keeps
your insurance costs low) when you are only going to get a small
check from them. Save it for the hurricane or the
earthquake.
Question. Can I use my own dehumidifier instead of calling a
water damage restoration professional?
Answer. Maybe if your damage is confined to the area of a small closet or you
happen to own a large industrial dehumidifier which professionals use, you can
try. You would also need several industrial fans to circulate the air in
the effected area in a circle around the room. Otherwise, I am sorry to
say that I would probably call a pro. Why take the chance.
Question. How do I know if I have water leaking in or a
condensation problem with my wall?
Answer. One test of a water leak from a wall is to tape some plastic or
some aluminum foil to the place you think the water is coming from.
Securely tape each side of the plastic or foil. Give it a few days and
check it. If you see moisture on the outside of the plastic or foil then
your basement has a moisture issue. If, on the other hand, you see that
moisture has formed inside the plastic or foil between the wall, you can be
pretty sure that you have a wall leak.
Question. What can I do if my neighbor caused
my water damage?
Answer. If your neighbor leaves their sprinkler
or hose running too long or their water pipe is allowed to get old or clogged or
leak continuously, it could result in water damage to your own property for
which your neighbor is legally responsible. When your neighbor is careless or
acts unreasonably with water causing damage to your property, it is possible to
sue for compensation for your losses. One would hope that the neighbor puts a
stop to the source of the water, but if not, one can also ask the court to order
a stop to your neighbor's actions. Of course, as in all things involving your
neighbors, it is probably wise to save legal recourse as a backup to simply
going to your neighbor's house to talk about the problem.
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