Michael Aponte
When you’re a homeowner, there are a few things you should know when it comes to maintaining your home and protecting it from damage. Water damage refers to any damage caused by water, whether it’s from a leaky faucet or a structural issue inside of the home. Flood damage, on the other hand, is damage caused by a natural disaster, such as a hurricane or a flash flood. Keep reading to learn more about the differences between the two.
What is the difference between water damage and flood damage?
Water damage and flood damage are two different things, even though they often occur together. Water damage is damage that occurs when water escapes from its intended place and seeps into something else. Flood damage, on the other hand, is when water overwhelms an area. There are many potential causes of water damage, such as burst pipes, overflowing sinks or toilets, roof leaks, and natural disasters like hurricanes and flash flooding. Water can also cause damage through corrosion and mold growth. Flooding is most commonly caused by heavy rains or storms that cause rivers or streams to overflow their banks. Flash flooding can happen quickly when a storm dumps a lot of rain in a short period of time. Flooding can also be caused by malfunctioning levees or dams, broken sewage systems, and failure of backup generators at hospitals or nursing homes.
What should you do when your home is damaged due to water?
Water damage and flood damage can cause a lot of issues to your home. You’ll want to call a remodeling service to help fix up your home and make it look new again. They can help fix up the walls, the floors, and everything else that may have been damaged. They can also help get your home back to normal so you can live in it again. For example, if you bought an older home and had a burst pipe, then you’ll want to call a St. Petersburg bathroom remodel service to get it fixed up. Remodeling can make your bathroom feel like new again. And you can consult one of their bathroom pros for advice on how to best go about these issues.
When should you report damage to insurance?
There are a few things to consider when deciding which type of water damage to report to your insurance company. The first is the source of the water. If the water is coming from inside your home, it would be classified as a household flood and you would report it as such. However, if the water is coming from outside your home, it would be classified as storm damage and you would report it as such. Another thing to consider is whether or not any personal property was damaged as a result of the water. If so, that would also be reported to your insurance company. Finally, if there is any structural damage caused by the water, that too would need to be reported. If you live in a flood zone, then you likely will be able to report it to an agency for flood insurance.
As you can see, the main difference is that water damage is caused by a sudden, unexpected event such as a burst pipe, while flooding is typically the result of prolonged exposure to water. For example, if your roof leaks for a period of time, the ceilings and walls in your home may suffer from water damage. However, if a river overflows its banks and inundates your neighborhood, that would be considered flood damage. Flood and water damage are both huge issues. You’ll want to know how to prepare for each circumstance as a homeowner.
