With water damage being the most common insurance claim filed by homeowners, it is important to know how to file a water damage insurance claim. This blog post provides water damage insurance claims tips from experts in the industry. It will provide you with information on what water damages are covered by your home policy and which ones need flood coverage. We also cover other ways that water can cause property loss and discuss why you should always call a professional for water extraction if possible.
What are the common causes of water damage?
- Severe weather (Heavy rain/Flooding)
- Clogged gutters
- Leaking or broken pipes
- Clogged Toilets
- Roof Leaks
- Leakage in the water line that supplies a washing machine
- Condensation from AC
- Blocked drains
- Sprinkler systems that are not operating appropriately
- Leaking water heater
- Foundation cracks
8 Water Damage Insurance Claim Tips
1- Document all of the damage
The first thing you should do is begin to document the damage. Take photographs of all damages and keep a record of your expenses for repairs or replacement costs. This information will be needed if you plan on filing an insurance claim, but it may also help speed up the claims process by submitting these documents early on before any mold has grown in your home.
2- Move Undamaged Possessions From Harm’s Way
It’s highly recommended to move your undamaged possessions before it gets wet and to avoid further problems. It will help to begin the drying process and decrease the risk of further moisture exposure that could lead to more problems later on down the road.
Contact a Professional Water Removal Service if Necessary
When dealing with any type of flooding or water damage, it is advisable to contact a professional water extraction service. Taking on the job of removing large amounts of water from your home yourself could lead to more problems and even cause further damages if not done properly. This expense will be covered by your insurance provider and the removal service company can bill them directly.
3- Call Your Insurance Company as Soon as Possible
The longer you wait before calling your insurance company once a loss has occurred, the fewer options you will have for your claim. This means that the longer you wait, the less likely it is to be covered by your insurance provider. It’s always best to call as soon as possible and then submit all necessary documentation once received from a professional public insurance adjuster.
If the insurance claim process intimidates you or overwhelms you, let a public adjuster like American Premier Claims take care of the filling for you.
Before filling a water damage claim you should always check with your insurance agent to ensure you are covered for flooding. Flooding is not always considered an “insured loss.”
A renters insurance policy claim will be a completely different process, most renters are under the impression that they are covered by their landlord’s policy, but this is not the case. You may need to purchase your own renter’s insurance if you want coverage against water damage and other natural disasters.


4- Drain Standing Water To Avoid Further Damage
The next thing you should do is drain all of the standing water from your home. This includes getting rid of any excess moisture and humidity in your house by using fans and dehumidifiers to speed up this drying process and avoid worrying about mold growth later on down the road if possible. As previously mentioned in this article contact a local water removal service company to assist you.
5- Dry the Flooded Areas
After draining the water you should begin to dry the flooded areas. This process should include opening doors and windows, using fans and dehumidifiers, mopping floors with clean water (not dirty floodwater), cleaning up any debris or dirt that has been tracked in after flooding occurred, and taking down wet walls if possible once they have dried out a bit.
6- Keep All Damaged Items
Don’t throw away wet items yet, it may be tempting to throw them out. Keep in mind that most insurance companies want to have the damaged items inspected by a claim adjuster. Depending on your insurance policy coverages it may be possible to have these items repaired or replaced.
Once you have confirmation from the insurance or the adjuster that you can throw away or discard damaged items it’s best to have them removed from your home as soon as possible.
7- Begin the Recovery Process
Once all of the water damage has been cleaned up and dried out it’s time to begin the recovery process. This means that you should contact your insurance provider or public adjuster (if applicable) with an update on what is needed for repairs, replacement costs, etc…
Have a copy of your homeowner’s insurance policy handy most of the questions asked by your insurance company or public adjuster will be relevant to it.
The next step in this process is for you and your insurance company to determine how much of a settlement offer you are entitled to receive after filing a water damage claim. This typically includes receiving an estimate from the contractor of what damages need to be repaired and an itemized list outlining how much each repair will cost.
You can learn the facts and statistics about water damage claims in the State of Florida in this article.
8- Do Not File a Water Damage Claim Alone
Work with a professional adjuster to ensure that your water damage claim is handled properly. A public adjuster like American Premier Claims can help you walk through the entire process over the phone, in person, or over email to ensure it’s done correctly and promptly without having to deal with any of it yourself.
Let our team of experts review your insurance coverage before filing a claim.
Don’t hesitate to contact us here at American Premier Claims if you have any questions about filing a water damage insurance claim or just need some help with the process. We are here to provide our expertise in helping you recover quickly from any type of loss that may have occurred recently.