After the kind of cold spell delivered by the “Beast from the East”, the number of burst water pipes skyrockets. This is because pipes can crack when they freeze, and water starts to flood out when they thaw.
If your home or business premises has been flooded, it’s vital to get the drying-out process started as soon as possible, and your insurer’s Loss Adjuster should be arranging that. The trouble is that everyone else is claiming at the same time, and it could take up to four weeks from making your insurance claim till the Loss Adjuster gets round to dealing with it.
Even when the drying-out process does get under way, you need to be sure it’s being done properly. If only the most obvious damp places are dried, it could mean trouble further down the line.
Drying Out Your Building
If water has leaked upstairs and seeped through to the lower storey, the wooden joists under the upper floor and the timber frame in the partition walls are likely to be saturated. Similarly, if the floor at ground level has been flooded, the water will be lurking in the sub-floor void and affecting the timbers there. Failing to dry these out thoroughly can result in dry rot developing, which can create serious problems later.
Unfortunately, even when the Loss Adjuster does bring in a restoration company, they may just install heaters and dehumidifiers that only dry out the surfaces and interior finishes of walls and ceilings. You as policyholder need to insist on seeing a complete specification of the work any contractor is going to carry out as part of your insurance claim.
Of course, it’s not always easy for an individual policyholder to stand firm against the Loss Adjuster, especially if you’re not completely sure of their rights. And that’s where an independent Loss Assessor like Allied Claims comes in. Not only will we get things moving in the first place, but we’ll also insist on full specifications and make sure they cover the hidden damage, as well as the obvious.
If you need to make an insurance claim for water damage or dry rot, get in touch to find out how Allied Claims can help you.