Exposing your home to excess water can be damaging in more ways than one, leading to a host of problems such as mold growth, wall deterioration, ceiling leaks, and poor structural integrity. Homeowners can file a claim for restoring water damages, but keep in mind that the insurance company may have a different definition of what it entails. 

Seeing as the compensation strives to replace everything the water touches, the root cause of the damage will completely alter the insurance coverage. After all, not all water damages are the same, so understanding how it’s different from similar issues like flood damage can help shed light on the best solutions for it moving forward. 

What is the Difference Between Water and Flood Damage?

Many people think that water and flood damage are interchangeable, but when it comes to filing a claim to your insurance company, there are distinctions that will alter the policy in many ways.

What Causes Flood Damage?

When understanding flood damage, the National Flood Insurance Program would associate it as an overflow of inland or tidal waters that take up two or more acres of dry properties. It will be considered as flood damage if there is a sudden increase in water level in your area, such as flash floods coming from any source.

Other devastating effects such as mudflow will also fall under flood damage, along with the occurrence of a collapsed land due to strong currents. Any flooding event that happened due to natural disasters like heavy rainfall, storms, or hurricanes will also call for flood damage insurance, which should financially cover any physical losses. 

What Causes Water Damage?

A home can experience flooding, but it doesn’t immediately call for flood damage insurance since the cause may be due to a burst pipe, faulty roof, broken refrigerator, poor drainage from the HVAC system, or any other plumbing issues. 

It can be just as devastating as experiencing a flood due to inclement weather, especially since it’s defined as water that occurs long before it reaches the ground. Some scenarios that lead to water damage include rainstorm water leaking through the roof, along with burst pipes, and bathroom overflows.

All this would fall under the homeowners’ insurance, though it’s best to check with your insurer to brush up on what your policy will cover. 

The Bottom Line: Choosing the Right Restoration Services Depending on the Type of Water Damage 

Different forms of water damage will need the right insurance and restoration services, so the guide below should help you determine what you’re dealing with so you have a clear definition of the next best course of action to take in the future.

How can we Help Restore your Home?

Dealing with the aftermath of water damage – be it due to leaks or floods – can be emotionally, physically, and financially draining. If you’re looking for a Utah flood restoration company that can help you survive the aftermath, our company can help deal with water damages with our flood removal services in residential areas in Salt Lake City. 

Get in touch with us today to see how we can help with your flood damage repairs, or even how to prevent future flooding in your home!