Reduce Your Risk of Interior Water Damage

Water damage can be costly and it doesn’t take a lot of water to cause major damage to floors, furniture and cabinetry – not to mention valuable electronics. Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company of Idaho and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) offer the following information to help you reduce your risk of interior water damage.

IBHS conducted a study of closed water damage insurance claims and used that information to identify the leading causes and develop the following solutions.

1.   Plumbing Supply System Failure

This type of failure costs homeowners time and money more often than any other source of water loss, according to the IBHS study. In fact, the average cost of an incident was more than $5,000 after the insurance deductible was paid. A little maintenance can go a long way toward prevention since the majority of insurance claims were caused by corroded and rusty pipes and frozen pipes.

Ways to Reduce Damage

• An increased monthly water bill, banging pipes, rust stains, moisture in the walls or on floor, and signs of wet soil erosion near the foundation are all potential indicators of a plumbing problem.
• Setting the thermostat to at least 60 degrees in winter months, letting faucets drip and insulating pipes are all ways to reduce the risk of frozen pipes.
• As a backup, let technology pay attention for you by installing a house leak detection system.

2.   Toilet Failure

The sour look on a homeowner’s face is not only from the smell of a toilet failure, but also from the price tag that comes with it. Toilet failures in the study cost more than $5,500 per incident after the deductible was paid. One-third of all toilet failures in the study resulted from an overflowing or clogged toilet.

Ways to Reduce Damage

• Be patient after you flush and wait for the valve to completely finish refilling the tank and bowl. If an overflow looks imminent, turn off the supply valve.
• Twice a year, inspect a toilet’s components, such as the fill, supply and flush valves and the supply line.

3.   Water Heater Failure

We all enjoy a hot shower; keep the enjoyment going by giving your water heater some much needed attention. A simple inspection by a plumbing professional at least once every two years – and annually after the warranty expires - can save you thousands of dollars in potential water damage. The most common causes of water heater failures in the IBHS study were a slow leak or a sudden burst in the tank, followed by supply line failures.

Ways to Reduce Damage

• Check the life expectancy and warranty for your water heater and replace accordingly.
• Proper maintenance, such as flushing sediments and inspecting the heater’s anode rod, can increase life expectancy.
• Inspect valves to ensure proper operations, and use ball valves in place of gate valves whenever possible.

4.   Plumbing Drain System Failure

A backed up sewer drain has the potential to ruin your whole day. The IBHS study found more than half of plumbing system failures were the result of sewer backups. The problem was more common in southern states and on average cost $4,000 per incident after the insurance deductible was paid.

Ways to Reduce Damage

• If your home’s sewer system is connected to the city’s sewer system – a particular problem for older homes – or if you are located downhill or below street level, contact a plumbing professional to install a backflow prevention assembly into your sewer system.
• Plant your trees away from lateral drain lines to prevent roots from damaging piping.
• Never pour grease down the drain.

5.   Washing Machine Failure

Sometimes the smallest components cause the biggest headaches. In the case of your washing machine, those rubber hoses that come with every new machine put your home at risk of water damage. More than half of the claims in the IBHS study were linked to washing machine hose failures. Replace these hoses with reinforced braided versions and save time and money in repairs later. Washing machine claims in the study averaged more than $5,300 per incident after the deductible was paid.

Ways to Reduce Damage

• Inspect your supply hose annually and replace very five years.
• When you leave the house for an extended period of time, turn off the hot and cold water supply valve to reduce failure risks.
• Don’t try to cut corners by overloading the machine, and use it only while someone is at home.