After you’ve experienced Rhode Island Water Damage, you may find yourself asking a lot of important questions.
What do I do now?
What happens to all of my stuff?
Will this be covered by my insurance?
Who should I call?
Water damage can come from a number of things. A small leak in your roof, an appliance that malfunctioned, an overflowing toilet, or even a massive flood. No matter how the damage happened, it’s important to know all of the facts to determine what the next steps are. To answer all of your burning (hopefully not literally) questions, here is everything you need to know about Rhode Island water damage!
Rhode Island Water Damage Is A Ticking Clock
After you first discover water damage at your property, there is one decision you need to make right away: Should I Call A Restoration Company?
Most of the time, the answer is yes and right away. Water damage, if left untreated, can be a serious threat to your health. You can determine this by the following observations:
- Signs of mold
- Type of water
- If the water touches anything electrical
You can learn more about these things by clicking here to read our previous blog about when to call a water restoration company in RI.
Water damage can quickly turn into mold (within 24 hours) so it’s important to start the remediation process as soon as possible and by professionals.
The only time water damage should be cleaned up on your own would be if the damage is extremely minor. But then again, you won’t truly know the impact of water damage unless it is assessed by a professional so it’s better to be safe than sorry. Most restoration companies offer free quotes to assess the damages.
All Kinds Of Water Damage Are Not Created Equal
Like we have said in past blogs, there are three kinds of water.
- Category 1/Clean Water
- Water that comes from a clean source and will not be detrimental to your health.
- Category 2/Grey Water
- This contaminated water comes from pipes in the shower, bath, or kitchen sink that can hold oil, soap, hair and skin particles. Particles may not sound like much but overtime it can build up and actually cause the water to become heavier and cause more damage.
- Category 3/Black Water
- The most dangerous form of water. It can include fecal matter, bacterial diseases, and chemicals that can harm you.
Depending on the source of your Rhode Island water damage, you could face serious health concerns if you don’t get it properly cleaned.
Water Damage To Your Contents
Contents are classified as all of the personal belongings within your property. Your furniture, clothes, electronics, art, and whatever else is not the structure of the property. When you have water damage, depending on the severity, it could be affected.
It could be as simple as category 1 water touching your clothes: you just throw them in the wash. Or when category 2 water touches your rug: you get a restoration company to properly and safely clean it. But what happens when category 3 water touches your $3,000 sectional? You go through your insurance company (if it is a covered peril) and hire a public adjuster to fight to get your couch replaced. Category 3 water damaged contents cannot be cleaned, only replaced due to the health issues associated with the type of water.
Not All Rhode Island Water Damage Is Covered By Insurance
You pay so much money every year or month, and when you finally have to use your insurance, sometimes it isn’t even covered. That’s why it is vital to read and understand your homeowner’s or business owner’s insurance policy when you purchase it. But just to run down a few things, here is what is not covered on a standard policy:
- Flood Damage
- Unless you have flood insurance, a standard policy will not cover you in case of a flood or flood damage-related incident.
- Mold Damage
- If you have water damage and neglect to get it properly cleaned and it turns into mold damage, you won’t be covered.
- Gradual Water Damage
Regardless of the damage is covered by insurance or not, you should always use a restoration company for your water damage issues.
The Secret To Fixing Water Damage
You came here to learn about all things Rhode Island water damage related, and part of that is learning the secret to fixing water damage…
Call A Trusted Rhode Island Water Damage Restoration Company!
DIY-ing water damage clean up or hiring a subpar water damage restoration company will only hurt you. You could risk causing more damage like mold or other incidents. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
we offer 24/7 water damage clean-up, restoration services
Call us today for a free quote to begin the water damage restoration process.
