What qualifies as water damage?
Water damage describes various possible losses caused by water intruding where it will enable attack of a material or system by destructive processes such as rotting of wood, mold growth, bacteria growth, rusting of steel, swelling of composite woods, de-laminating of materials such as plywood, short-circuiting of …
What is considered a slow water leak?
Add a few drops of food coloring to your tank and wait about ten minutes. If your toilet bowl becomes the same color as the tank, you have a slow leak that's letting the water run into the bowl without flushing.
How do I know if I have water damage?
- Stains on the Walls and Ceilings. …
- Flaking or Peeling Paint. …
- Soft or Swollen Drywall. …
- Warped Walls. …
- A Strange or Musty Smell in the House. …
- Mold on Your Baseboards and Walls.
Does accidental damage include water damage?
Generally, water damage that is considered “sudden and accidental” is covered (like a burst pipe) but not gradual damage, like a leaking bathroom sink. And flooding is not covered, such as damage from storm surge during a hurricane.
Is water damage obvious?
obvious to spot but it is easy to miss the earliest signs of damage. The first signs are bubbling or peeling paint or wallpaper. Cracks may appear in the drywall as water within the walls may cause it to swell and retract without appearing soaked.
How do you know if you have a slow water leak?
Add a few drops of food coloring to your tank and wait about ten minutes. If your toilet bowl becomes the same color as the tank, you have a slow leak that's letting the water run into the bowl without flushing.
How much water is considered a leak?
Take a look at your water usage during a colder month, such as January or February. If a family of four exceeds 12,000 gallons per month, there are serious leaks. Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak.
Will a small leak get worse?
Yes. Just because a leak is small now doesn't mean it won't grow bigger over time. Water leaking out of your pipes or fixtures will eventually cause enough corrosion that even a pinhole-sized leak can grow and potentially cause damage to your home.