If you find water damage in your home, don't panic. "Look out for how you report the loss to your insurance company," says Allan Sabel of Sabel & Associates, a Bridgeport, Connecticut-based adjusting firm. "What you say initially can affect the outcome of your claim. Many people believe their house is flooded because it's full of water but it's not a 'flood' by the insurance definition."
This may seem like a minor distinction, but your insurer has a very narrow definition of flooding, which is excluded from homeowners coverage. To an insurance company, flooding means a "general or temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land area from the overflow of inland or tidal waters, or surface waters from any source."

Furniture: What to save? What to throw away? What to save? What to throw away? These are questions facing flood victims.
Here's some advice on salvaging and repairing furniture.

What to save? What to throw away? These are questions facing flood victims.
Here's some advice on salvaging and repairing furniture.

First, decide which pieces are worth restoring based on extent of damage, cost of the article, sentimental value and cost of restoration. Antiques are probably worth the time, effort and expense. If the damage appears minor, you might be able to clean, reglue and refinish antiques at home. Extensive repair or re-veneering should be done at a reliable repair shop.

Solid wood furniture usually can be restored, unless damage is severe. You may need to clean, dry and reglue it. Slightly warped boards may be removed and straightened. Upholstered furniture may be salvageable with a professional cleaning to remove stains. But if you have to replace the padding and the upholstery -- an expensive proposition -- it might be wiser to just buy new furniture.

WOOD PIECES

White spots or a cloudy film may develop on furniture that has gotten damp. To remove the spots: If the entire surface is affected, rub with a damp cloth dipped in turpentine or camphorated oil, or in a solution of one half cup household ammonia and one half cup water. Wipe dry at once and polish with wax or furniture polish. If color is not restored, dip 3/0 steel wool in oil (boiled linseed, olive, mineral or lemon). Rub lightly with the wood grain. Wipe with a soft cloth and re-wax.

VENEERED FURNITURE

Wood veneered furniture is usually not worth the cost and effort of repair, unless it has great monetary or sentimental value. If veneer is loose in just a few places you may be able to repair it. Carefully scrape glue under loose areas. Press veneer back in place. Place wax paper over affected area and heat with warm iron. Remove iron and place weights on area. If veneering doesn't stay in place or is bubbled, carefully slit the loose veneer with a razor blade and apply a good glue. Ask for advice at the hardware store. Cover the glued spots with wax paper and then place something heavy over the area while the glue dries.

WET FURNITURE

If your insurance allows partial reimbursement for flood-damaged furniture, it may be worthwhile to apply the money to new furniture, rather than pay for extensive repairs.

Water damage in your home

By Ross Morrell|

Eight scenarios

"Water damage and homeowners' policies can be a volatile issue in many ways," says Don Griffin of the National Association of Independent Insurers, a trade association for property-casualty insurers.

"Generally, the damage caused by water will be covered, but whatever causes the damage  say, a leaking dishwasher hose may not be," Griffin says. So, although your insurer might pay to replace a carpet damaged by your dishwasher leak, you must pay to replace or repair the hose.

If a sudden, unforeseen problem such as a frozen pipe or hose leads to water damage, your homeowners insurance covers both repairs to the broken pipe and to your home and furnishings.

Here are several common water-damage scenarios and their insurance consequences.

Scenario No. 1: The temperature drops to 10 below zero, causing your water pipes to freeze and burst. Your floor is now covered in 6 inches of water.
Are you covered? Yes, you are covered for water damage from burst pipes, but most policies won't cover you if you've left the house unoccupied and without heat. If that's the case, your claim could be denied because you've failed to perform the necessary maintenance that would prevent the accident.

Scenario No. 2: Water leaks from your backyard pool, ruining your manicured lawn and flooding your basement.
Are you covered? The damages to your basement and your personal property in it are covered, but not the damage to your lawn.
Your lawn is a different story. Coverage for lawns is on a "named perils" basis, which means you are only covered for damages that arise from certain events. Swimming pool leakage is not one of them. The amount of coverage for lawns and plants is small, only up to $500. If your prize-wining orchid is worth more than $500, you may want to speak with your insurance company about special coverage.
Whether or not the damage to your pool is covered will depend on the cause of the leak. For example, a leak caused by a tree falling on the pool would be covered but a leak caused because the water in the pool froze would not. Read your insurance policy for the coverage details and ask your company or agent if you have questions.

Scenario No. 3: Your washing machine overflows, flooding the basement.
Are you covered? Yes, but again, the extent to which you are covered depends on your insurer's view of the problem: Did you fail to maintain the washer properly, or did sudden, unforeseen damage cause the flood?
"Most of the time, if an appliance breaks and water goes all over, insurance covers it. In the case of a washing machine, you might need to purchase replacement parts out of your own pocket because they were not maintained correctly, but the damage to your basement is covered," says Griffin.

Scenario No. 4: A sewer backs up, flooding your basement.
Are you covered? Probably not. Some home insurance policies automatically include coverage for sewer and drain backups, but most do not. Special endorsements are available, at added cost, for sewers and drains. Read your policy carefully to find out whether you have the endorsement.

Scenario No. 5: Water seeps from the ground into your basement, damaging your foundation and interior.
Are you covered? No. Seepage is considered a maintenance problem, not "sudden and accidental" damage, and is excluded from homeowners insurance coverage.

Scenario No. 6: During a heavy rainstorm, water leaks through your roof. The roof is damaged, as is furniture.
Are you covered? Somewhat. While you might not be reimbursed for roof repairs, because that's a house-maintenance issue, the water damage to your home is covered. The damage to your furniture is not covered, because rainwater leakage is not one of the "named perils" for which the contents of your house are covered.
If something more drastic leads to the roof leak (your neighbor's tree falls on the roof, for example), the damage to your roof, home and belongings is covered. (In the tree example, your policy reimburses you up to a certain amount, usually around $500, for the cost of removing the tree.)

Scenario No. 7: Your bathtub overflows.
Are you covered? Yes. You are even covered, if the bathtub overflowed because you forgot to turn off the faucet.

Scenario No. 8: A nearby lake or river overflows its banks, causing a flash flood in your living room.
Are you covered? No. Flood damage is not covered by homeowners insurance. You must purchase flood insurance from the federal government. You can purchase flood insurance, as long as your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Preventing Water Damage In Your Home

By Ross Morrell

From broken pipes to leaking appliances, water damage can wreak havoc, destroying your home, personal property, and irreplaceable family heirlooms. In many case water damage can be avoided with routine maintenance and assistance from qualified contractors.

It will be well worth your time to take a few extra moments every week to check potential trouble spots in and around your home. Early detection could mean the difference between a simple mop-up job and major construction repairs.

Inside Your Home

Kitchen
Water leaks can happen anywhere in the house, but they occur most frequently in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry rooms. Whether it’s a slow drip or a sudden burst, water leaks can cause extensive damage to your home and personal belongings.

• Dishwasher -- Periodically, check under the sink to see if the hose connection to the water supply line is secure and is not leaking. Check around the base of the dishwasher for evidence of leaks. Look for discolored, warped, or soft flooring materials or water damage to nearby cabinets.
• Refrigerator -- If your refrigerator has an icemaker, check the hose connection to make sure it is securely attached to the water supply line. The wet spot you see on the floor near the refrigerator may be melted ice cubes or it may be a crimped icemaker line about to burst.
• Sink -- Recaulk around sinks and pay attention to slow-draining pipes. This may indicate a partially blocked drain. Check the pipes under the sink for signs of water leaks.

Bathroom

• Showers and Bathtubs -- Discoloration or soft areas around floors and walls near showers or bathtubs may be your first indication there is a leak. Check caulking at joints where the walls meet the floor or the bathtub, looking for cracks or mold. If either is found, clean and remove loose material and apply new sealant. If the shower walls or floor are tiled, a leak may develop if there are cracks or missing areas of grout.
• Sinks -- Check under the sink for signs of leaks from water supply lines or drain pipes.
• Toilets -- Placing inappropriate objects or too much toilet paper in the bowl can accidentally clog toilets, especially “low-flow” toilets now required in homes. Hanging bowl deodorants are frequently the culprits. These objects can lodge deep in the plumbing system, and can block the line or create an obstruction that grease and other materials can cling to – eventually causing blockage. In addition, some chlorine tablet cleaners may corrode some of the internal components, eventually leading to a leak.

Laundry/Utility Room

Washing Machine -- Inspect washing machine hoses regularly for wetness around hose ends and signs of bulging, cracking, or fraying. Replace the hose if a problem is found or every three to five years as part of a proactive maintenance program.
Replacing your washing machine hoses is a fairly simple home repair task. It's as easy as hooking up a hose to a water spigot.

Just shut off the water supply to your washing machine. If there's not a shutoff near your washer, close the main shutoff valve in your house.

Unscrew the old hoses and hook up the new ones.

Make sure you line up the threads and screw the hoses on tightly. When you're done, turn on the water supply and check carefully for leaks.

Washing machine hoses can be purchased at most home repair centers, hardware stores, and plumbing supply outlets. Expect to pay $10 to $20 for a new set of washing machine hoses.

To Reduce The Chances of Failure…

• Make sure there are at least four inches (or 11 centimeters) between the water connection and the back of the washing machine. This space will help reduce the chances that the hose will kink.
• Check that hose connections are secure, including the drain hose.
• Make sure everyone in your household knows where the water shutoff valve is and how to open and close it. Shut off water at valves if you will be away from your home for several days or longer.
• Consider installing or having a professional plumber install a single-handled valve that makes it easier to turn off the water supply to your washing machine.
• Water heater -- Most water heaters last 10 to 15 years. Wet spots on the floor or a rusted tank may signal a problem. Hot water heaters should be installed on the lowest level of the home and always located next to a floor drain. If installed above or adjacent to finished spaces, the hot water heater should be placed inside a drain pan with the drain pan piped to the floor drain.

Air conditioning -- At the start of the cooling season, have the A/C system serviced by a qualified contractor. Make sure their service includes inspecting and cleaning the air conditioner condensation pan drain line to keep it free of obstructions. Change the air filters on a regular basis.

Sump pump -- Sump pump systems assist in keeping unwanted water out of your home. Battery-operated back-up sump pumps can offer a degree of protection against power failure or failure of the primary pump. A generator can also be used to power the pump in case of a power failure. Test the sump pump before the start of each wet season to ensure it is in working order. Sump pumps are not intended to last more than 10 years and must have some components replaced or serviced within those 10 years.

Sometimes water still gets in. Items stored in basement areas should be shelved or kept off the floor. Furniture should be on casters or shims and arranged away from floor drains.

General Tips

• Check for hidden leaks by turning off faucets, all water-using appliances, and not flushing toilets for one hour. Record the water meter reading. If the flow indicator (triangular or diamond-shaped rotating button) is spinning or the meter reading has changed while no water is being used, a leaking pipe may exist.

Know where the main water shut off valve is located in your home and check it frequently to make sure it is operational.
Outside Your Home
The devastation isn't limited to the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry rooms. Leaking roofs, poor drainage, and clogged gutters and downspouts can also lead to significant water damage inside your home.

Maintenance

• Keep roof, valleys, gutters, and downspouts free from buildup of leaves, twigs, and other litter preventing proper drainage. Leaves, debris, and dirt near roof edges or outside the gutters may impair drainage and lead to deterioration.
• Proper roof and eave ventilation may help extend the life of the roof by reducing the buildup of heat and moisture in the attic.
• Preservatives available for some types of roofs may help limit weathering effects of moisture and retard growth of molds and mosses.
• Avoid walking on a roof to limit wear and tear. Only necessary repairs or inspections should warrant walking on the roof.

Keep trees trimmed to prevent them from rubbing against the roof or from providing excessive shade.

Warning Signs

• Missing, curling, cupping, broken, or cracked shingles.
• Damage or deterioration around the flashing at chimneys, vents and other junctions.
• Damage or deterioration in valley areas of the roof.
• Water stains on your ceiling may signal a leak in the roof. If possible, check your attic around flues, plumbing vents, and chimneys.

Pooling or ponds of water that fail to drain from flat or low sloped roofs may indicate low areas and inadequate drainage.

Gutters/Downspouts

• Clean debris from your gutters and inspect them regularly.
• Consider purchasing gutter shields if your gutters frequently fill with debris.

Downspouts should extend several feet away from the house to carry water away from the foundation.

Other Outdoor Items

• Disconnect garden hoses from all spigots before the start of winter.
• Fill in any low spots around the house so water drains away from the foundation.
• Inspect caulking around windows and doors and replace as needed where cracked or deteriorated.

Repaint wood siding as needed.

Hardware that can Help
To reduce or prevent damage from plumbing leaks, homeowners should be vigilant and check around the home frequently for signs of leaks, be alert, and take action immediately. Proactive maintenance is also important. But with today’s busy lifestyles, it’s impossible to keep watch for signs of trouble 24-hours a day. Fortunately there are water leak detection systems that can help.

Water Alarms

• These systems are typically battery-operated, stand-alone units. They are inexpensive and easy to install.
• A moisture sensor is located on the device and will activate an audible alarm when it senses moisture.
• Water alarms can be placed on the floor or they may be wall mounted.
  The water alarm should be located in high-risk areas such as under sinks and near appliances and equipment that use water.
• Water alarms range in cost from $8 to $45.

This device is only beneficial if someone is inside the home, hears the alarm, and takes action to stop the leak.

Individual Appliance Systems

• These systems are installed on a specific appliance and will automatically shut off the water supply in the event of a leak.
• Depending on the type of device, you may be able to install this system without any special tools. However, in some cases, a qualified plumber may be needed.

Individual appliance systems range in cost from $50 to $150.

Whole-house Systems

• These systems feature a shut-off valve that is installed on the main water supply piping. When a leak is detected, the system will automatically shut off the entire water supply.
• Some models can be integrated with a local or central station security system.
• If you travel often, this type of system could offer you additional peace of mind while you are away from home.

Whole-house systems typically take between four and six hours to install. They cost between $500 and $1,500 depending on labor rates and the size of the system.