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FAQ: Water Damage Restoration in New Jersey
7/27/2021 (Permalink)
The water damage restoration process can be overwhelming and confusing - But our team can answer any questions or concerns.
As your local water damage restoration company in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, our team fields many questions about the restoration process, insurance coverage, costs, and more.
To help local home and business owners, our team has answered the most commonly asked questions about water damage in New Jersey!
Want to speak with a representative? Call our office 24/7 - 908-788-8770
Answering Your Water Damage Questions
Q: Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?
A: There’s many cases where water damage in New Jersey is covered by insurance.
Generally, damages are covered if the cause is sudden and accidental. But, coverage may be denied when the damages are determined to be your fault. This can be the case when damage is caused by unresolved maintenance issues that could’ve been easily avoided.
There are also other scenarios where flooding or water damage will not be covered. Flood damage caused by storms, heavy rains, or surging rivers is not covered by standard homeowner policies unless you purchase additional flood insurance.
Examples of covered water damage losses include:
- Leaking appliances
- Burst or leaking hot water heater
- Burst pipes
- Leaking plumbing
- Sewage backups
- HVAC leaks
Q: Does renters insurance cover water damage?
A: Renters insurance only covers your damaged property - Not your landlord’s damaged building.
Renters insurance coverage is similar to homeowner’s insurance, in that it will cover sudden and accidental losses to your personal property, but will not apply in cases of flooding from storms or natural disasters.
Q: How much does insurance pay for water damage?
A: This is completely dependent on the limits of your individual insurance policy as well as the extent of damages to your home or business.
You can easily look at your insurance policy to see what you’re covered up until for repairs and restoration. As long as you don’t go over your policy limit and your damages are covered, insurance should pay as much as needed for your water damage restoration in New Jersey.
But - your insurance company may still choose to not pay for certain things, such as repairing the pipe that caused the water damage.
Q: Does SERVPRO accept insurance?
A: Yes, SERVPRO of Greater Hunterdon County works with all insurance carriers. In fact, SERVPRO is a preferred vendor for many major insurance companies.
Once your claim has been filed, our team will take over the insurance process for you. This means that we communicate directly with your insurance company to approve work, handle paperwork, and settle payment.
Q: How long does water damage restoration take?
A: The timeline for water damage restoration services in New Jersey is dependent on the extent of your damages.
For a flooded unfinished basement, the entire process may take only 3-5 days. However, when water damage is affecting multiple areas, building materials, or has caused the growth of mold, this timeline can take much more time.
Your Project Manager will clearly explain the entire water restoration process in your home or business along with a specific timeline.
Q: How does SERVPRO restore water damage?
A: Our team at SERVPRO of Meriden creates a specialized plan for every water damage project.
However, the general process remains the same. Our team closely inspects your property using advanced moisture detection equipment and quickly begins the restoration process.
Step 2: Inspection and Damage Assessment
Step 3: Water Removal/Water Extraction
Step 4: Drying and Dehumidification
Q: Should carpet be replaced after water damage?
A: It’s generally recommended to replace carpeting after water damage, especially if the carpet has been wet for longer than 72 hours.
This is due to the likely presence of mold, mildew, or bacteria in the carpet or the pad underneath.
However, when fast action is taken it is possible for SERVPRO of Greater Hunterdon to salvage and dry a wet carpet. In these cases, our team extracts water from the carpet, takes out the padding, and sets up fans blowing underneath the carpet to dry it and the subfloor below.
Q: How do you prevent mold after water damage or flooding?
A: The best defense to prevent mold is to immediately address flooding, water damage, or excess moisture in your property.
Mold can grow and spread in as little as 48 hours after water damage, so without fast action it’s growth is highly likely. If mold does develop, our team of mold remediation specialists in New Jersey can help.