Water Backup Coverage

Water backups in a home usually happen during the Spring and Summer months.  Many homes in the Midwest, have basements or lower-levels.  Split-Level, Raised-Ranch and homes with basements are all subject to water backups due to their nature.  Having a lower-level in a home, especially in the summer, is great because of the cooler temperatures homeowners (and guests) can enjoy without cranking up the A/C.

How Water Back-ups Happen

Water back-ups can happen due to a number of factors.  The most common are:

1.  Sewer backup.
2. Water over-saturation of the outside soil, forcing water to find an “exit” (in this case, an “entrance” into your home through vulnerable areas such as foundation cracks) into a home’s lower-level.
3. Slab leaks.

One and two are the most common.

Other reasons a homeowner may experience water in their lower-level is:

1. Water heater leaks.
2. Water pipe bursts
3. Winter Freeze and thaw.
4. Tree roots invade sewer line.
5. Clogged sewer line from other factors.

If you’ve experienced a sewer-backup or storm water invasion in your basement, you know that this can not only be a huge pain but very costly.

Nothing good comes out of a flooded basement.  Unless you don’t mind paying thousands of dollars to replace everything.

Things that can happen as a result of a flooded basement:

1. Black Mold invasion
2. Severe water damage of personal belongings
3. Unhealthy air (forces occupants to vacate while they fix the problem)
4. Wallboard destruction
5. Insulation damage
6. Electrical damage and possible electrical fire.
7. Injury to occupants
8. Carpet replacement
9. and a whole lot more…

Water Backup Prevention

How can a homeowner prevent a water backup?

• Do an annual inspection in the Spring for possible slab leaks.
• If you have a persistent “slow” drain, have it rodded or inspected by a plumber.
• Remove all invasive trees that are within a 20′ perimeter of your home’s foundation.
  • Here are some trees that are foundation “friendly”.
• Check and replace all angle stops that are old.  These are a common source of leaks and basement flooding.
• If you have a sump pump, check it (or just replace it, if it’s 5 years or older) for possible issues.
• Install a sump pump.

Sometime basement flooding happens.  If it does make sure you have the appropriate homeowners insurance protection.  Many companies do NOT automatically include this option in the insurance policy.  Call your insurance agent today if you’re concerned or have been thinking about adding water backup insurance to your home.  It’s not expensive and is your only real second line of defense, in case disaster strikes.

Here’s a great video on what to know about protecting your home against a flooded basement during the rainy season.

 

What do you do if your basement is already flooded?

First, call your insurance agent as soon as this happens.

Secondly as your agent for a referral on a disaster restoration company or service provider. You’ll want to deal with this issue aggressively to hopefully prevent any toxic black mold.