Water Damage is the damage done to any property caused by water, either from an inside source or an outside one. It can be slow and barely noticeable or it can be sudden like a flood.

There are many reasons why this type of damage can occur besides flooding: overflow in household appliances such as dishwashers, broken pipes and clogged toilets, cracks in the foundation and bad weather such as heavy snowfalls and rain.

There are three categories of damage, classified by the level of pollutants present in the water and the threat they pose to health and safety. Category 1 is where the water is clean and free of any contaminants. Category 2 is grey water and it does have significant levels of contaminants such as urine in water. Black water is Category 3, seriously contaminated water which presents an immediate threat to human health.

Water damage can also cause serious health problems by way of mold. Anything from chronic coughing, wheezing, breathing problems and rashes are all symptoms of mold induced illnesses.

The largest group of claims filed is water damage claims that people file to their insurance companies. It is only during this process that they discover exactly what their policies cover and do not cover.

Proper maintenance of the plumbing system and other water drainage systems in your home can make the difference on whether or not your claim gets settled or rejected. For example, the pipes in your house freeze during a cold spell and burst. You are covered for the damage but not the replacement costs for the pipes. However, most insurers will not pay the claim if you left the house unoccupied and unheated and then the pipes froze. You were negligent and therefore must pay for both pipes and the damage.

When dealing with the insurance company, it is very important to describe exactly what happened in the most truthful manner. What is said at the beginning of the claim process can affect the outcome of your claim. Remember that the insurance company has a very narrowly defined meaning of what a flood is. To the adjuster, a flood means an overflow of water from an outside source such as a river, lake or stream. If the pipes burst in your basement, then what happened was not a flood. Neither is sewer backup or seepage from a septic tank, which is considered a fault of poor maintenance.

Remove all belongings from the flooded area and document with a video camera the extent of the damage. Contacting your insurance agent is the next step but this is where it can get tricky. Some financial advisers recommend not filing a claim if you afford to pay for the damage yourself. Some consumers who have made water damage claims have actually lost their insurance coverage simply because they have made a phone call to their company. These insurers, meaning no amount of money can buy coverage because your home has been blacklisted, have put some properties on a no-insurance watch list.

Any calls about claims are entered in a database called the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange and all insurers have access to this information as well. Some companies will cancel coverage even if one claim of this type has been filed by the homeowner.

If the claim amount is under $1000, it is recommended not to contact the insurance company. Clean up is still a top priority since mold can set in as early as 24 hours after the water damage has occurred. Water damage cleaning companies specialize in this type of damage and they are usually available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Keep all receipts, keep your fingers crossed, read your policy thoroughly and then contact your agent.

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