Heavy Rains & Storms
Property insurance for the right things
Natural disasters from heavy winds and rain cause millions of dollars worth of property damage annually. For this reason, regardless of where you are located, it is important to be properly insured and prepared to handle any sudden and unexpected damages that may arise. The world of insurance policies and language can be confusing; however we have found that if you ask the right questions, you can really save yourself thousands of dollars in the event of a claim. Below are a few water damage tips in the event you ever need to file a claim and restore your property after a water loss.
ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS - Water Damage Tips
When getting a quote for your property insurance or shopping around for pricing, make sure you are aware of the types of coverages you have and compare “apples to apples”. Many times, a lower premium can mean a higher deductible or forfeiting added riders that would have otherwise covered you in the event of a sump pump failure.
5 Questions to Ask Your Insurance Agent
Mold is commonly excluded in most residential policies. If you have mold coverage, it is usually capped at 5k, 10k, or 20k dollars. This may sound like a lot at first, but with the specialized equipment, necessary containment procedures, lab testing and reconstruction costs, these limits can be exceeded quickly. It’s important to understand your mold – or lack of mold – coverage before running into an issue that can cost thousands of dollars out of pocket.
Typically sump pumps are again, not covered under most residential policies. Depending on how your policy is written, the source of the loss, and particulars of the claim, sump pump damage may be covered under back up of sewers and drains. It really depends on the verbiage in the policy so we highly suggest knowing if this is a covered loss or not. Sometimes, the coverage extended to you in the policy is capped. Again, 10k, 20k, may sound like a lot at first however it all comes out of that limit. You want to make sure you have enough for mitigation and drying, contents replacement and reconstruction.. It goes very fast.
Our team of contents inventory and restoration professionals like to prove a point by asking our Customers, “How many pairs of shoes are in your closet right now? When did you purchase each pair? Do you have the receipts or proof you own them?”. If you can’t prove you own them, chances are you won’t be reimbursed for them. Our team offers a Contents Inventory Service that documents what you own along with the rest of the information an insurance carrier needs to adequately cover the costs for replacement. This can be easily updated once big purchases are made so you always have a list of what you own in the event of a fire damage or larger property damage event.
This is an excellent question for your agent. Depending on your state, the carrier may be required by law to match upper cabinets with lower in order to get you back to “pre-loss” condition. With that said, if you’re not in a “matching” state, the carrier can take a hard stance and refuse to match the old salvageable contents.
The insurance carrier can NOT dictate who you use for fire damage cleanup and repairs. Nor can they control line item pricing for your contractor (price fixing). For this reason, we recommend doing some research before deciding on a company. With that said, insurance carriers and public adjusters have been known to coerce and/or suggest using their preferred vendors for convenience. Most of the time, these options consist of national franchises or TPA vendors (companies that enter into agreements with a third party to receive property damage leads in exchange for reduced pricing and control over the scope of work). This may not always be the best choice if you are looking for quality work and/or a contractor who will put your needs before the needs of the insurance carrier.
Inspection
Structural drying always begins with a site inspection. We use thermal imaging cameras as a visual indicator for hidden water damage. We use moisture meters to confirm water in building materials.
Testing
Sewage or Cat 3 water, Mold, Lead, Asbestos, Electrical Systems and HVAC systems all need to be taken into account before water extraction and drying efforts begin.
Heat Drying
Many times we will use heat to speed up drying. It's important to monitor temperatures, exhaust and power as well as cord management during structural drying with heat.
What Can Cause Water Damage After A Storm
Drains, Gutters, Sump Pumps and more...
Most of the time water damage after heavy rain storms can be the result of clogged drains or overworked and/or faulty sump pumps. Water can also come in from clogged gutters and downspouts. Our team recommends checking drains and gutter systems at least twice a year – once in the fall, and then again in the spring – to ensure they aren’t clogged from fallen leaves or damaged by snow or ice.
React Quickly & Call A Professional
In the event you do suffer from storm related water damage, flooded basements and water damaged crawlspaces, it is important to call a reputable water damage restoration company like Bulldog Cleaning & Restoration. Water damage clean up and restoration companies are available 24/7 at all hours of the day and night. They follow the ANSI.IICRC S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration and can advise you on the necessary steps after a water damage loss. Bulldog Cleaning & Restoration recommends taking swift action after a water damage.
6 Tips After Discovering A Water Damage
Stop the water from coming in. Either unclog the drain, check the float valve to the sump pump or turn off the water to the pipe or drain. Stopping the water is always the first step to restoring your home after an unexpected water damage.
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Taking photos of the damage is extremely important. You may need to prove particular items or contents were in the damage location in order to to be reimbursed by your insurance carrier. Our team likes to say “If its not in a picture, it never happened”. So take wide angle photos of the entire space, individual photos of high value contents and furniture and try to locate and photograph the source of the water.
At Bulldog Cleaning & Restoration, we employ IICRC Certified Master Water Restorers. Unfortunately, this industry does not require Master designations or specific trainings or licenses to perform water damage cleanup and drying. Many companies, even large national companies, do not hold the same accreditations or certifications and they are not required for them to join carrier vendor lists. For this reason, it is important to vet the water mitigation company before hiring them to perform the emergency service. Also, ask for a quote. If the company can not give you an estimate prior to the start of work, think twice before letting them proceed. Our team will always review the scope of work and pricing prior to start, allowing you to make an informed decision based on the parameters of the project. All of our emergency service proposals are based on “visible and accessible” damages and will outline what is necessary per the ANSI.IICRC S500 Standard of Care.
Depending on the damage, filing a claim may be appropriate. A professional water damage cleanup and restoration service can help you make that determination based on moisture readings and the results of the initial inspection.
Always ask for a copy of the agreements you will be signing. Many water damage clean up agreements include a direction of pay and/or assignment of benefits, allowing the insurance carrier to pay them directly. They should also outline what is included in the scope, the pricing and roughly how long things should take. Bulldog provides a Personal Client Portal for all customers, allowing them access to all the job documents and photos for as long as they keep the link. This makes organizing claim information effortless.
Like anything else, insurance is a business and although they are looking to be fair and reasonable, some adjusters will slash invoices or refuse payment for things your policy should absolutely cover. The more involved you are, the more familiar with your coverage, the easier it will be to catch discrepancies and make sure you are getting what you are owed under your policy.
Our team is experienced in water damage clean up and restoration and we know our way around the insuranc claims process. Our company has built a reputation for quality and we look forward to proving it is well deserved. Give us a call in the event of your next water damage and let us help you when “Minutes Matter Most”
Soot Removal
Soot clean up after a fire or as a result of a puffback can cause major damage to your home. Our team has the experience to locate and remove hidden soot and odors caused from carbon build up after a fire, furnace, or chimney puffback.
Water Damage Tips
In the event of water damage it is important to take immediate action to prevent further damage and ensure the health and safety of everyone involved.
Advanced Structural Drying
Bulldog®️ is a water damage restoration company offering professional water removal and structural drying services for both commercial and residential properties. The team uses advanced techniques and industry-approved equipment to mitigate water damage, remove water from substrate and building materials, and dry structures to match their original “dry standard”. Services include site inspections, testing, heat drying, sewage management, mold and contaminant reduction, and preparation for reconstruction. Bulldog®️ offers 24/7 support, transparency, and reliability.
Mold Inspection & Testing
Mold inspection and testing is important to improve indoor air quality. Our Certified Mold Inspectors can locate hidden mold and perform air quality testing, direct fungal exams and remediation protocols
Basement Water Damage
Bulldog Cleaning & Restoration, a professional water damage restoration and clean-up service based in Bucks County, PA, provides 24/7 services to respond to and remove basement water damage. Services include water removal, damage inspection, categorization of water for proper control, remote drying progress monitoring, and insurance claim support. The team anticipates common causes of basement water damage, formulating effective solutions. Bulldog’s expertise is underscored by its certified experts, state-of-the-art damage detection tools, and prompt response times for both residential and commercial properties.
Bucks County Mold Removal
Our team of certified mold removal technicians service all of Bucks County, PA. We provide emergency mold cleanup you can rely on.
Transparency
Our process is built around transparency, giving you access to project information 24/7
SUPPORT 24/7
You can call, text or email Bulldog® anytime and a representative is always available
RELIABILITY
Bulldog® stands by our work 100%. We take pride in reliability and accountability