PuroClean Disaster Response Services It is a serious problem when you are faced with water damage in your commercial or residential property. Despite numerous efforts that you might put up to protect your property, there are problems that you can’t prevent. They include a burst pipe, heavy rain, a flood, backed-up drains, frozen plumbing lines, or other weather-related events.
However, there are other water damage issues that you can check and prevent from causing extensive damages, such as hidden water leaks, a roof leak, different plumbing issues, clogged gutters, and other issues. These preventative water damage issues can also help lower your water bill.
If left unchecked, these water damage issues can lead to mold growth, damaged insulation, floors, walls, and other problems. That’s why you’ll need to be proactive, and one of the best ways is to identify and pick the top water damage restoration company in Cary, NC.
That being said, below are commercial and residential water damage statistics that will make you understand water damage problems in the United States.
Rates Of Water Damage Incidents And Claims Are Rising
Water damage is an ever-existing issue for Americans, and it has worsened over the years. According to insurance companies’ reports, insurance claims for property damages and water damage incidents are on the rise, and today’s issues surpass the past issues.
Check These Statistics On The Rates Of Water And Property Damage Claims
- Every year, one in 50 insured homes in the United States submit an insurance claim, according to Insurance Information Institute or III.
- Property damage represents 98% of the insurance claims
- Water damage ranks as number two after wind and hail damage as the most common type of insurance claim.
Water Damage Claims Are More Expensive Today Than The Previous Years
- Since 2015, water damage insurance coverage claims that exceed $500,000 have more than doubled.
- Since 2015, water damage insurance coverage claims that are over $1 million have tripled
In some cases, these water damages claims are not necessarily covered by the insurance companies or the insurers. The rising cost of water damages is making homeowners with adequate coverage pay more through their insurance premiums.
Plumbing Supply System Failures Are The Number One Source Of Water Loss
Plumbing supply system failures are the leading source of water supply loss by 48% more than the second most common type of water supply loss, system material failures. The average cost of these types of failures is around $5,092 per incident after deducting insurance.
A majority of these plumbing supply system failures, roughly 65%, are caused by damages to the supply system material. Cracks and frozen pipes represent about 1/5 of plumbing supply system failures.
Property Owner Attitudes Towards Water Damage Risks
Many Americans have misconceptions that influence their attitudes when it comes to water damage issues. Below are findings that a top insurer conducted from a national survey.
- Only one out of five respondents said they perform routine water damage preventative maintenance.
- 90% of homeowners said they had confidence they could independently discover potential damage or maintenance issues in their homes
In conclusion, the survey findings indicated that most Americans wait for major weather events like storms before attempting any water damage preventative maintenance.
Also, most homeowners believe weather reporters exaggerate when they talk about impending storms, and they, therefore, don’t trust what they say. It makes them ignore or delay any water damage preventative measures.
Homeowners Underestimate Water Damage Costs
Additional survey results indicated that homeowners also underestimated the water damage impact on their financial costs.
On average, homeowners estimated that the damage caused by plumbing or appliance leaks is less than $5,000, while the actual cost is around $10,849.
According to another insurance company, most water damage issues cost higher than what Americans might think. On average, a water leak might cost more than $55,000 for repair, while water backing costs up to $45,000.
What most homeowners don’t know is that ignoring preventative measures can be very expensive. Homeowner’s insurance claim can be denied if the plumbing maintenance is neglected.
Insurance companies normally cover flooding, mold growth, leaking pipes, and other types of water damage.
Washing Machine Supply Lines Usually Fail Around The Average Age Of 8.7 Years
Supply lines for washing machines are not always visible, and that’s why people are always advised to change them before their average lifespan elapse. These supply lines can wear and tear due to cracks over the years, which often leads to potential water damage and water leaks.
You should have your water machine supply line checked now and then to avoid costly damage or immediately contact an expert if you suspect it has a crack.
75% Of Water Heaters Fail Before The 12-year Mark
Water heaters, just like washing machines, are not always visible because they’re mostly located either in the basement or outside the house. It is the reason why they’re easy to forget about them in doing routine maintenance or repairs.
According to Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, water heater failure is among the biggest threats to water damage in America and is among the top five.
Over the years, as the water tank wear and tear or erodes and the property owner fails to conduct routine check-ups or maintenance, it gets a burst or slow leak. These specific causes amount to over 69% of water heater failures.
250 Gallons Of Water Can Leak Out Of A 1/8-inch Pipe Crack
Just to provide you with some accurate perspective, a 1/8-inch pipe crack is roughly equal to half of the 6mm diameter of a standard number two pencil eraser.
It means if the crack were equal to the size of the pencil eraser, 500 gallons of water would be lost. If that crack widens, the water damage would be extensive, and it will be more costly by far. If you detect or suspect a pipe crack, it is important that you immediately contact a water restoration company to replace it and possibly look for other hidden water leaks.
January and February Maybe The Moment With The Highest Amount Of Water Damage
According to a study done in 2014 and 2015 across America, January and February were the months with the most water damage claims representing 316,174 and 314,271 claims, respectively.
One of the main reasons for this is because these two months are the coldest. In colder states, it is easy to have a cracked or burst pipe due to freezing temperatures.
However, the study indicated that California, a west coast state, topped the list despite a warmer climate.
Experts believed that this could be the aging homes that have moisture barriers that are poorly built. Another reason is that the pipes in California are more susceptible to wear and tear since they’re located outside because of their warmer climate.
What Can You Do To Prevent Some Of These Types Of Water Damages
- To avoid burst pipes, turn on portable heaters next to them during cold winter
- Check for leaks in all your faucets on a periodical basis
- Teach your household members how they can switch off water shut off when the water leaks
- Clear clogged gutters to avoid water from spilling and even mold growth
- To prevent wear and tear of your pipes, have them located in the basement
- Carry out routine appliances maintenance-replace your water heater tanks and washing machine supply line
- Check for water stains on the walls, ceiling, and floors
Why Choose PuroClean For Your Water Damage Restoration Services
At PuroClean, we are a certified water damage restoration company in Cary, NC, with highly trained, experienced, and detail-oriented staff. We will provide you with quick, reliable, and professional repair and maintenance services.
Contact us and let us take care of all your water damage services’ needs at any time. We also have experience in dealing with commercial and homeowners insurance claims.
We can help advise you on how to deal with your insurance company and get quick compensation for your water damage claim.
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