Categories Insurance Claims, Water Damage

Basement Flooding Caused by a Sump Pump in Indianapolis

This is a real-world flooded basement caused by a sump pump failure near Indianapolis, Indiana.

Our water damage case studies help answer questions about water restoration services, emergency plumbing services and water damage insurance claims.  We hope you find the answers to your questions and if you need help with water damage in the Indianapolis and surrounding areas give us a call.

Need Help with Water Damage? 

Call Now (317) 315-5071

 

 

Flooded Basement Questions we hope to answer.

What caused the basement flooding?

How to get insurance to pay for water damage?

How did the emergency service plumber fix the problem and how much did it cost?

What water mitigation services were needed to remove the water and cleanup the basement?

Was the water damage covered by the homeowner’s insurance company?

How much did the water damage restoration services cost?

What was needed to complete the water damage repairs?

 

 

What caused the Basement Flooding?

When you have water in your basement after it rains 2 inches in an hour or if it rains heavily for a long period of time, typically the water is leaking into the basement because the sump pump is not working properly.

The basement flooding was caused by a sump pump failure.  In this customer’s basement the sump pump failed and a sump pump replacement was needed.  The homeowner did not have a water powered sump pump backup or a sump pump battery backup.  How long to sump pumps last?  Usually it is a good rule of thumb to replace a sump pump every 3 to 5 years.  Below is a picture of the sump pump after it was removed from the flooded basement.

 

basement flooding caused by sump pump

 

How to get insurance to pay for water damage?

An insurance company will pay for water damage for many reasons.  A water damage insurance claim can be difficult for any homeowner to navigate on their own because of all the unknowns and inexperience, you don’t know what you don’t know.

Dealing with an insurance adjuster after water damage can be much easier if you are working with a professional water damage restoration contractor.  An experienced water damage company can help you work through the details of water damage insurance coverage and walk a homeowner through a water damage claim process.

Restorex Disaster Restoration specializes in water damage insurance claims and helping our customers decide if they should file an insurance claim for water damage.  We are able to give our customers peace of mind to let them know what type of water damage is covered by homeowners insurance.

Once the homeowner places an insurance claim, Restorex takes care of the question – “How to get insurance to pay for water damage”.

 

 

How did the Emergency Service Plumber fix the problem and how much did it cost?

A sump pump replacement can cost anywhere from $800 – $1500.  The sump pump cost is about $150 – $300 depending on the quality of the pump you are purchasing and the rest of the cost is the installation by the emergency service plumber.

An emergency service plumber’s hourly rate can range between $100 – $200 per hour during normal business hours.  If they are called out after hours on the weekends, to make a sump pump repair, the cost can be twice as much.  If our customers can wait until normal business hours to make plumbing repairs we recommend it.

 

 

What Water Mitigation Services were needed to remove the water and cleanup the basement water damage?

 

Finding Water Damage

In order to find the what was wet in the flooded basement we used a Survey Master non-invasive moisture meter.  These moisture meters can read the moisture content of the wet building materials to determine how much was damaged from the water in the basement.  The basement water affected drywall about 6 inches high and the wood stud walls.  This basement had a finished concrete floor (no carpet and pad or laminate).  In our opinion, this is the best flooring for a basement that floods.

The basement was close to 2000 square feet and the entire square footage had basement water damage.

Water Extraction

Every water mitigation project begins with water extraction.  The water extraction equipment used to remove the water depends on the flooring in the basement.

When a basement pump is replaced, it will pump a lot of standing basement water out.  Once the standing water is pump out, we will begin to extract the remaining water with our equipment.

This customer had a finished basement and it had wet carpet and pad.   We used a portable water extraction unit to remove the water from the wet carpet and pad.  The water from the extractor is pumped into the sump pump pit and the basement sump pump removes the water from the basement.

flooded basement water extraction

Material Removals

The materials that get removed can be different on every water damage project.

On this particular project, we performed baseboard removals and removed the carpet and pad from the basement.  After the carpet and pad were removed, we tore out the tack strip that was ruined.

Water Damage Equipment

When the removals are complete, we set water damage fans and dehumidifiers designed to dry out a wet basement.  The equipment we use to dry out flooded basements are specifically designed to speed up the drying process.

We used a XXL Low Grain Refrigerant dehumidifier and a Large Low Grain Refrigerant dehumidifier and air movers distributed around the basement in order to increase the rate of evaporation.  Every water mitigation project needs to have air movement, heat and dehumidification to get the basement structure back to its original moisture content.

The drying process does not stop until all the wet building materials are returned to their original moisture content.

 

 

Was the water damage covered by the homeowner’s insurance company?

Yes.  The homeowner’s insurance policy covered the water damage restoration services, including the water mitigation services and water damage repairs.

Does homeowner’s insurance cover water damage from rain?  The answer to this question is Yes and No.  Below are some water damage insurance claims tips:

  • Yes, basement water damage is covered by insurance if the policy includes drain backup or sump pump backup coverage.
  • No, if the water came in through a window, wall, or door.
  • No, if the insurance policy does not include the writer to include drain backup or sump backup coverage.

How much does insurance pay for water damage?  There are some water damage scenarios that can have limits.  In this scenario the customer had $10,000 in coverage.  This was enough to pay for the water damage insurance claim for our customer.

We recommend that any homeowner that has a finished basement, carry at least $10,000 in drain backup or sump pump backup coverage.  

 

How much did the water damage restoration services cost?

The cost of water damage restoration services varies on every project.

Xactimate is an estimating software that uses individual line items to estimate all water mitigation services and water damage repair services to very detailed accuracy.  Restorex Disaster Restoration uses Xactimate to work directly with our customer’s insurance companies.

This water damage restoration project had 18 line items for the water mitigation and cost approximately $4,700 for the water mitigation services.

The homeowner’s insurance company paid for all the water damage restoration services and our customer was only responsible to pay their insurance deductible.

 

What was needed to complete the basement water damage repairs?

Restorex did not complete any basement water damage repairs on this project.

If you need help with a flooded basement, water damage or a water damage insurance claim give us a call (317) 315-5071.

Categories Insurance Claims

Washing Machine Water Damage

Does Insurance Cover Water Damage Caused by a Washing Machine?

Yes. a Homeowner’s Insurance Policy does cover Water Damage Caused by a Washing Machine…

A Washing Machine can either overflow, supply lines break lose, or the drain line can be misplaced…. either way you are covered for water damage from a Washing Machine.

 

Washing Machine Overflow

Washing machine overflow or leaking is another common way water damage is caused by a washing machine.  This can be a manufacturer’s issue and covered by warranty.

Many times our customers will place a homeowners claim with their insurance company and then the insurance company can work to collect from the manufacturer if they are at fault.

 

Supply Lines Break

We see a lot of homeowners who can accidentally break a supply line when they are moving a washing machine or the drain line is not secured when it is installed.   Many service providers do not like taking supply lines off washing machines for this reason.

CPVC pipes are common water pipes that have issues with cracking because after awhile the pipes get brittle and are very fragile.  If you twist them too hard they can have the potential to break.

 

Misplaced Washing Machine Drain Line

A misplaced drain line is another way water damage is caused by a washing machine.  Many times an installer will use a zip tie or another fastening device to ensure the drain line will stay in place.  When the drain line is not installed properly, washing machine will discharged the water after the cycle instead of the water entering a drain it will flow onto the floor.

Regardless how the water damage occurs by a washing machine, it will be covered by a homeowners insurance policy.  The Insurance Company will cover the Emergency Water Mitigation Services and Repairs up to policy limits.

If you need help with a water damage insurance claim give us a call (317) 315-5071.

Categories Insurance Claims

Water Damage Caused by a Bathtub Overflow?

Does Insurance Cover Water Damage Caused by a Bathtub Overflow?

Yes…. a Homeowner’s Insurance Policy does cover Water Damage Caused by a Bathtub Overflow.

A bathtub overflow is the not the most common type of water damage we see, but these accidents do happen.  When a homeowner has a bathtub overflow, it is important to understand the reasons for the overflow.

When a bathtub overflows, it can be considered an Accidental Overflow, which provides insurance coverage up to the limit of the policy, or a Drain Backup, which normally has limited insurance coverage.

It is important we a homeowner is experiencing this type of water damage to get a professional water remediation contractor involved to inspect and assess the source of the water damage before you call your insurance company.  It is also important to get a licensed plumber to evaluate the source and reason for the bath overflow.

We say this from experience. Many homeowners are in a panic when they are dealing with a water disaster and when they are talking to their insurance company, may not understand all in’s and outs of the claim process, coverages or what is actually happening in their home.

A professional water damage company can help them understand these details so they can properly relay the message.

They may say one wrong thing and the insurance representative could misunderstand the homeowner and deny them coverage unjustly.

Drain Back Up vs Accidental Overflow

A Drain backup is a common type of water damage found in basements or a lower level of a home.  When heavy rains cause sewer systems to back up or if there is a clog in a main drain line, these are common drain back up scenarios.  Flooded basements caused by sump pump backups also fall into this category.

A drain back up is normally limited in coverage.  It is common to see $5000, $10000 or $25000 in coverage for a drain backup.

Accidental overflow is when a drain is broken or accidentally covered due to a mistake.  This can cause a lot of water to flow out of a toilet, sink or bathtub resulting in significant water damage.  An accidental overflow has coverage up to the limits of the policy.  This is much better coverage than a Drain Backup.

 

 

Categories Insurance Claims

Does Insurance Cover a Flooded Basement Caused by a Sump Pump?

The quick answer is Yes, a homeowners insurance policy will cover a flooded basement caused by a sump pump.  But it depends…

Flooded basements are one of the most common water damage disasters homeowners face in Indianapolis.  High water tables, mixed with seasonal rains and tired sump pumps can lead to an inch or two of water in a basement.

The 2 most important things to consider when making an insurance claim for a flooded basement are:

  • Do I have Coverage for Drain Backup or Sump Pump Backup?
  • What is my Insurance Coverage Limit?

 

Do I have Coverage for Drain Backup or Sump Pump Backup?

Many insurance companies require sump pump backup or drain backup to be added to their standard homeowners insurance policies.

It is up to your insurance agent to make sure you have the proper coverages and if you have a finished basement they need to know so they can add the coverage in case you have a flooded basement…

A sump pump is the most common cause for a flooded basement.  If water flows through a window, wall or door this is considered flood water.  This is not covered by a standard home owners policy.

I repeat….If water comes through a window, wall or door this is considered flood water.  It is not covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy.  

 

What is my Insurance Coverage Limit?

Most flooded basement insurance coverage is limited to $5000 or $10,000.  So its good to check on your coverage and limit before you hire a water damage contractor to cleanup the damage.  Depending on your coverage it may be best to have a plan before starting the work.

An insurance agent can be your best resource in some of these scenarios because they can give you the information you need to make an informed decision with a remediation company.

Good questions to ask are do I have a limit and how much is my deductible?

 

Does Insurance Cover a Flooded Basement Caused by a Sump Pump?

 

 

Categories Insurance Claims

Will My Insurance Company Pay for a Hotel?

 

Will My Insurance Company Pay for a Hotel during a Water Restoration Project at my Home?

Have you ever dealt with water damage in your home? If not, ask someone who has. They will tell you it can be a very invasive experience. The way Restorex Disaster Restoration dries out properties is by using a combination of heat and air movement, which can be uncomfortable if this is in your main living spaces.

Typically, rooms affected by water damage in a home can be as hot as 85 or 90 degrees, while 5 to 8 air movers blow loudly in the background. If that area is in your basement no sweat, pun intended. Just close the door and carry on with your daily routines. If the damage affects your main living area, (Like your kitchen…) it can be a lot more uncomfortable.

 

Insurance Company’s Point of View

Your insurance company understands that during a water damage mitigation you are inconvenienced. If our company foresees that conditions are going to be too uncomfortable, we will discuss getting a hotel room with our customer.

Some people don’t want to leave, and if they’re willing to ride out the hurricane-like conditions, more power to them.

However, if a customer would prefer to stay in a hotel during the dryout, that option is available to them. It’s as easy as reaching out to the insurance adjuster to explain the situation and get approval.

 

Hotel During Water Damage Bottom Line

To be honest it often works out better for both the homeowner and our company when the house is vacated. In those cases, Restorex can do the work necessary to cleanup and dryout the property without worrying about inconveniencing the occupants.

In turn, the customer can avoid the temperature and noise of our drying equipment slowly driving them toward a mental breakdown.

NOTE: The insurance company will not pay for you to stay at the Ritz Carlton if we have 4 fans and a dehumidifier in 1 of your bedrooms. Hotel stays are only approved during “significant” water damage situations.

Click To Call