Water Damage Both Real and Symbolic

Water carries with it a rich symbolic legacy that is as old as mankind itself. When a person is submerged in the waters of baptism he emerges cleansed of sin and a new person. In addition to the cleansing properties of water they are also metaphorically connected with birth. Women speak of their water breaking immediately before a baby begins its short but arduous journey through the birth canal. Anyone who has had the opportunity to witness a birth can attest that water is present in abundance. Water in this context seems to be a positive force however it is quite the opposite when viewed within the context of water damage Utah to a home or other structure.

When a home is damaged by water quick action is required. The homeowner must contact their insurance carrier as well as coordinating contractors to assess the damage and then to clean it up. All this required action is very much rooted in the requirements of the physical worlds and very far removed from the realm of the symbolic discussed in the previous paragraph. It is interesting to speculate and philosophize upon the nexus between these two different but mysteriously connected subjects.

On the one hand water damage Utah to a house or structure is a physical event. On the other hand the symbolic cleansing power of water which washes away the old order in favor of the new seems to be an event on the level of the spiritual. Yet both perspectives describe the same event and both descriptions happen simultaneously. The nexus of course is water which obeys the laws of fluid dynamics independently and seemingly without thought or compassion towards the plight of the humans whose houses and structures it damages. These are weighty issues indeed and their settlement is well outside the scope of a three hundred to five hundred word article.

Insurance and Water Damage Utah

Water can cause untold damage to a house or other structure. Accordingly, homeowners who live in areas prone to floods should take proper precautions to both prevent water damage Utah from happening in the first place but also to know what steps should be taken to mitigate and clean up the damage after the fact. One of the most important steps a homeowner can take to mitigate the negative consequences of water damage to a home is to make sure to purchase a homeowner insurance policy with adequate coverage as well as a separate flood insurance policy. A separate flood insurance policy is often required because many homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover damage resulting from a flood as a standard feature.

When a house has been damaged by a flood or incurs water damage Utah from any source it is important for the homeowner to take action immediately. The first step is to contact all insurance providers with whom the homeowner has purchased coverage policies that could potentially cover the water damage. Usually insurance providers will have people available that will walk the homeowner through the necessary steps in order to repair the damage and provide temporary living accommodations as necessary given the situation. This is especially true if the damage is caused by a catastrophic event such as a hurricane or tornado. Typically the insurance provider will advise the homeowner to contact a contractor to assess and repair the damage. The insurance provider may also dispatch an insurance adjuster to independently assess and appraise the extent of the damage. Furthermore, the provider may also recommend a preferred contractor to fix the damage as well. In this situation the contractor is often in the position to bill the insurance provider directly rather than billing the homeowner and then having the homeowner approach the insurance provider for reimbursement.

Dealing with Water Damage in Utah

The last thing any homeowner desires is to sustain water damage Utah to their house. There is no end to the frustration that water damage can cause. First of all, when a house sustains water damage it is not uncommon for the homeowner to have to find an alternative place to live while the clean up and repairs are being made. Furthermore water damage will ruin personal possessions and undermine the structure of the house itself in some cases. To top it off, mold will almost always develop immediately after the water abates. When mold grows in a house it will sometimes be toxic rendering the house uninhabitable until the mold can be removed. Certainly this process can be both expensive and time consuming.

Fortunately there are many companies that specialize in the clean up and repair of houses that have sustained water damage Utah. Typically these businesses will arrive soon after they are notified by a homeowner that water has damaged his or her house. Upon arrival, the company will assess the situation including the extent of the damage inflicted by the water, devise a plan to clean up and repair the damage as well as provide an estimate as to how much their services will cost.

It is important to note that most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover floods. As such it is very important for a homeowner (especially in a flood prone area) to purchase a separate flood policy to insure their home against this type of water damage. If you are unsure whether your policy covers flood damage it would serve you well to contact your homeowner’s insurance company and ask them. If they do not cover flood insurance you should feel free to ask them if they can write a separate policy. Some insurance companies do not offer flood insurance policies. In that instance you will have to contact a different carrier.

Preventing Water Damage

Water damage Utah from floods can cause significant property damage. There are many remedial measures that can be taken to mitigate or prevent any potential damages in the event of a flood. Damage to electrical systems can be prevented by raising electrical sockets, switches and circuit breakers, water heaters and furnaces by one foot or more above the projected flood level in the area in which it is located. Similarly, any outdoor equipment including air conditioning units, fuel tanks, and electrical generators should also be placed above the local flood level. Certainly, this equipment should not be sitting on the ground itself.

Inside the house from a plumbing perspective it is an easy step to install exterior and or interior backflow valves in order to prevent the accumulations of sewage in the house in the event of a flood. In addition, gate valves should be installed on all pipes that enter the house in order to prevent back flow because the have significantly stronger seals than standard backflow valves.

In many cases it can be informative to observe how any water tends to accumulate in and around a house during and after an average rainstorm. An accumulation of rain water in the street running along the front of a house is something that should be brought to the attention of the municipal or local environmental services department. The local environmental services department will have different titles depending on the particular jurisdiction. Regardless of the title, the service will be able to provide advice as to how to prevent or otherwise deal with an undesirable accumulation of water in order to avoid water damage Utah.

Finally, many home owners choose to install vents in the foundation of the house in order to allow water to flow in and out of the structure. This adaptation serves to prevent the accumulation of water inside the foundation. Typically two vents are installed in each wall respectively.