CONTRIBUTING FACTORS THAT AFFECT WATER DAMAGE CLEAN UP COSTS

Many things factor into water damage restoration costs seeing as each circumstance is different. It is impossible to gauge the extent of the destruction until the area is thoroughly inspected. The following are contributing factors regarding water damage cleanup costs.

Insurance:

· Depending how the water entered your home will determine if your insurance will cover it or not. Water damage and flood damage are two different types of coverage. Flood insurance will only cover a flood and not water damage. See more information at: http://blogsbynikiramirez.blogspot.com/2014/04/flood-damage-vs-water-damage.html

· If the water enters through your sewer then you need to have a sewer and drain endorsement. See more information at: http://blogsbynikiramirez.blogspot.com/2014/04/understandsewer-backup-waterbackups-do.html

· If the water overflows due to sump pump failure then you need to have sump pump back up endorsement. See more information at: http://blogsbynikiramirez.blogspot.com/2014/03/understand-sump-pump-overflow-sump-pump.html

· The amount of coverage you have for mitigation.

· The amount of coverage you have for building replacement cost.

· Your deductible amount - If the cost of the damage greatly exceeds your deductible then it is worth filing a claim.

· If you do not have insurance coverage then all expenses will be paid out of pocket. If you have a limited amount of coverage you will have to pay out of pocket for the amount that exceeds your   coverage.

· Mold can form as a result of water damage and most insurance companies do not cover mold so you must verify your policy.

Structure:

· Extent of the damage is the biggest determining factor.

· Cost to fix the source of the water issue – Failed sump pump, broken pipe, water heater leak, cracks in foundation, roof, etc.

· Location of the destruction - Some materials are easier to replace than others.

· If the furnace was affected it may need to be cleaned, fixed, or replaced.

· Finished/unfinished basement.

· Building materials of the outer walls - Drywall can sometimes be saved in a clean water loss but   will need to be removed if it has made contact with contaminated water.

· Type of flooring - Carpet and padding, tile, laminate, or hardwood.

· The length of time building materials make contact with water.

· Square footage of the affected area and height that the water rose to.

According to Homeadvisor.com. the average amount spent to repair water damage in Chicago is $3,564. They accumulated this number off of only 33 profiles that submitted their information. This is just a general figure and each person's circumstance is different but this figure shows you that water damage can cost thousands and put a dent in your pocket. 

According to Homewyse, the cost to repair water damage averages $11.08 - $11.69 per square foot in 2014. This Water Damage Repair cost estimate is calculated from average material costs, unit labor productivity rates and national average hourly labor wages. The extent of damage can greatly increase costs. You can expect to pay fees around this bracket or higher for a licensed, bonded and insured contractor. WATER DAMAGE CLEAN UP SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY AN IICRC SERVICE PROFESSIONAL. IICRC.ORG

Equipment:

· Many people think it is simply a guessing game when it comes to how much equipment should be used. The amount of equipment that is needed to efficiently perform a task is determined by the extent of the damage and the square footage of the affected area. Rainbow International uses   a mathematical formula that includes these factors to determine the amount of equipment needed. This prevents the use of unneeded equipment and extra costs.

Type of water loss:

· Category 1 – Clean water, no health risk. Very good potential of saving contents and structural      surfaces.

· Category 2 – Grey water, possible health risk. Affected carpet pad will have to be replaced.
· Category 3 – Black water, major health risk. Most porous objects and surfaces will have to be replaced including drywall and carpet.

 IF YOUR HOME HAS TAKEN ON WATER AFTER A STORM

Severe weather brings a high volume of insurance claims. There may be anywhere from hundreds to thousands of claims being field at this time. Because of this, insurance adjusters may not be able to inspect your property for one to several weeks depending on the order in which your claim came in and the severity of your loss. Many property damage restoration companies also have a waiting list due to the influx of calls. If you seek assistance from one of these companies you will most likely be informed that there is a waiting list and that you should not wait if someone is able to provide service to you sooner. If you do not have coverage you will be expected to pay out of pocket for water damage clean up services.

Many homes loose power during severe weather. Your home must have power in order to address the standing water or the water will return. If you have no power you can still be proactive by doing the following the things:

•  Prevent electric wires from making contact with water. Avoid standing in water to prevent electrical shock. 
• Turn off the breaker in the damaged are before you unplug or remove any electrical devices located on wet carpet.
• Hook your sump pump and fridge up to a generator. The generator will keep your sump pump running so that the home does not take on any more water.
• Take pictures of the standing water for documentation. Dispose of items contaminated by sewage.
• Make a list of damaged items and the price of the item. This information will be needed for reimbursement of your contents. Please note that you will not be reimbursed for spoiled food if it is less than your deductible. If it is over your deductible and you can provide proof you will still need to pay your deductible in order to be reimbursed.
• Do not open the fridge to ensure it stays cold.
• Wear protective equipment and pick items up off the ground to prevent them from sitting in standing water. The faster you get items out of water’s way, the more likely you’ll be able to save them. Water damage is progressive and items that could be restored within the first 48 hours of the water damage may not be restored if clean up is prolonged.
• Keep the door to the basement shut to prevent mold spores from traveling to other areas of the home.

If power has been restored and the water starts to recede you are still left with another problem on your hands. Standing water that is a result of your sump pump or sewer contains contaminants and is not considered a clean water loss. Because of this, it is best to have a water damage service professional assist your with your clean up. You can do the following things while waiting for a restoration company to assist you:

•  Push remaining water toward the sewer drain. 
• Once the water has receded you are then left with damp items that are often not salvageable. If you want to dispose of these items you must have accurate documentation if you will be seeking reimbursement from your insurance company. Take pictures of these items for documentation. Some insurance adjusters are understanding if contaminated items have sat for days and needed to be disposed of but it is up to the homeowner to provide proof of damage.
•  Mold will form as a result of moisture so the area that had standing water needs to be dried as quickly as possible. If humidity inside the home is not controlled, items that were not damaged from the original water damage could be damaged as a result of absorbing moisture from the air. Your air conditioner can act as a dehumidifier. Dry air helps the standing water evaporate and will slowly draw moisture out of the walls, carpet and other wet areas. In times of severe weather most restoration companies will not have extra equipment that can be rented out.
• Open basement windows if it is not raining. This will improve ventilation.
• Remove baseboards to allow air in.
• Place aluminum foil under the legs of any furniture which is in contact with we carpet to aid in preventing stains on carpet that can be saved.

CAN MY WATER BE CLEANED UP IF THE HOME HAS NO POWER?

We have received a numerous calls after the storm regarding the unfortunate issue of people that have taken on water but still have no power. Many people assume that extraction equipment can be hooked up to a generator. They do not understand why a generator isn't used to actually remove the water and that we use a truck mount for this method of extraction. Extracting the water from the home is not necessarily the issue, having the water return after it is extracted is.

The property needs to have power in order to extract standing water. The reason we do not begin work prior to the source being fixed is because water still has the ability to come back in. We could be extracting while water is still coming in. If the electric is off, the source is not fixed. We cannot run drying equipment for three days off of a generator; electricity is needed for that.

Many homes are taking on water because the power went out and their sump pumps weren't working. If the power is still out, the sump pumps are still not working. This means that homes can still get water in their basement. Once power is restored the standing water can properly be addressed and will start to recede on its own.

Who is going to pay to have a company perform a service that doesn't offer a proper end result? Many insurance companies are not going to pay for water extraction while the power is out because they know it is and endless cycle at the moment and the service bill will far exceed what a bill should be. They know they are basically wasting money to pay a company to to extract, watch water fill back up, extract, watch water fill back up and so on. If a customer signs a contract for mitigation services then they are liable for whatever the insurance company won't cover. Do you want to put yourself at risk to pay out of pocket for this service if the insurance company doesn't cover the bill?

We understand how horrific this situation is for some. We know that this protocol is not what a homeowner wants to hear but this method of operation is honest and transparent feedback. Our company follows protocols in order to provide a efficient and effective service that offers a proper end result. Many other mitigation companies operate this same way.

Please note: Exhaust from generators is harmful to your health.