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Top 5 Appliances That Leak and Cause Water Damage
4/12/2021 (Permalink)
When appliances leak and cause water damage in your Hunterdon County, NJ home, SERVPRO of Greater Hunterdon County can help.
The water damage caused by leaking appliances can create serious problems in your Hunterdon County, NJ home. Since these leaks are usually hidden, most homeowners don't realize they have an appliance leak until flood damages and mold growth become obvious on floors, walls, or cabinetry.
To help prevent water damage caused by appliances in Hunterdon County, NJ, we will review the appliances that are most likely to leak, how to prevent leaks from occurring, and whether or not homeowners insurance covers appliance leak water damage repair.
Top 5 Appliances That Cause Water Damage
- Hot Water Heater
- Washing Machine
- Fridge
- Dishwasher
- Air Conditioner
1. Hot Water Heater
Since our water heaters are usually 'out of sight, out of mind' many homeowners in Hunterdon County, NJ have no idea of the damages they can cause when they leak or burst.
Holding anywhere from 40 to 120 gallons of water, when water heaters burst or leak your home can sustain major flooding. When this appliance breaks, water will continue to pour out of the water heater as it always does until the source is stopped.
Many water heaters fail due to old age, with 75% failing before they hit 12 years old.
Causes of hot water heater water damage include:
- Loose drain valve
- Too much pressure in the tank can cause it to burst or crack
- Old tanks can naturally deteriorate and leak
- Too much sediment in the tank
- Corroded anode rod
2. Washing Machine
While washing machines hold nowhere near the same amount of water as water heaters, they can still cause significant appliance water damage in Hunterdon County, NJ when they overflow or leak. The most common cause of washing machine water damage is a failed water supply hose, which usually needs to be replaced every 8 years.
Causes of washing machine overflows include:
- Loose or cracked water supply lines
- Overloading the washing machine
- Using too much laundry detergent
- Faulty water inlet valve
3. Fridge
When your refrigerator leaks and damages the kitchen floor, you're not likely to notice until water damage spreads across the floor. This is because fridge leaks usually start small and worsen over time.
While not as extreme as other appliances, refrigerator water damage can still ruin kitchen floors, walls, leak into the floor below, and cause mold to grow.
Causes of refrigerator water damage include:
- Clogged defrost drain
- Damaged defrost pan
- Ice maker line leak
- Excess condensation
4. Dishwasher
Like refrigerators, water damage caused by a leaking dishwasher in Hunterdon County, NJ isn't usually caught right when it happens. Dishwashers most commonly leak underneath or behind the appliance, making it hard to tell when there's something wrong.
Causes of dishwasher leaks include:
- Leaky door
- Loose or cracked water supply hoses
- Overfilling the dishwasher
- Using the wrong detergent
5. Air Conditioner
You may not think about your air conditioning system when you think about appliance leaks and water damage in Hunterdon County, but they can cause serious damages to your home over time. Depending on where the unit is located in your home, a leaking HVAC system can cause water damage to ceilings, walls, floors, or even flood your basement.
Causes of air conditioner water damage include:
- Clogged or disconnected drain line
- Dirty or clogged condensate pump
- Cracked drain pan
- Condensation buildup within ductwork
How To Prevent Appliance Leaks and Water Damage
Water damage from appliances in Hunterdon County, NJ can be avoided with regular upkeep, visual inspections, and taking the following precautions.
- Inspect Water Supply Lines - You should keep a schedule to perform visual inspections of all water supply lines in your home. This can help you identify any signs of clogged, damaged, or deteriorating water lines before they begin to leak and cause damage to your home in New Jersey.
- Note When Supply Line Hoses Should Be Replaced - You should replace all water hoses before the average time that they begin to fail. Replacement hoses can be purchased at your local hardware store and are usually easy to replace.
- Have Your Water Heater Serviced Once Per Year - Over time, sediment and other debris can build up in your hot water heater which can cause the appliance to malfunction and leak. You can follow the manufacturer's directions to flush out the heater tank yourself or call a local plumber.
- Have Your HVAC System Inspected Once Per Year - Since HVAC systems are more complex than other appliances in your home, it may be harder to tell based on visual inspections if something is wrong. Having your system inspected by an HVAC professional once per year can help prevent air conditioner leaks and water damage.
- Follow All Manufacturer Guidelines - You can help prevent water damage from washing machines or dishwashers by simply using the correct detergents and not overloading the appliances, as these are major causes of their failures.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage Caused By Leaking Appliances?
When an appliance leaks and damages the floor in Hunterdon County, NJ - you want to make sure that you can have the damages repaired without paying thousands of dollars out of pocket.
When it comes to insurance claims for appliance leaks, many times the damages will be covered by your insurance company. Your insurance company will cover the cost of water damage restoration and may even cover the cost of needed renovations - But will usually not cover the cost of replacing broken appliances.
Your claim can be denied if:
- Damage isn't sudden and accidental - For example, letting a water heater leak for a year before doing anything about it.
- You wait too long to file your claim - If you don't report your claim soon enough and it causes damages to become worse, insurance may deny coverage.
- You didn't maintain the appliance - If your adjuster stops by and determines that the cause of the appliance water damage is due to poor maintenance, they may deny the claim.
Need Help With Water Damage Caused By Leaking Appliances in Hunterdon County, NJ?
SERVPRO of Greater Hunterdon County is your local appliance water damage restoration company serving all of New Jersey. With over 15 years of experience, you can trust SERVPRO of Greater Hunterdon County to make your appliance leak "Like it never even happened."
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