How Much Does Water Damage Restoration Cost?
Whether it’s caused by external flooding or an internal pipe leaking, water damage can be disruptive, damaging and expensive.
For businesses, it can mean loss of income and for households, it causes unimaginable distress and upheaval. In this post, we look at how much repairing the damage caused by water could cost and what you can do to prevent such incidents from occurring.
How does water damage occur?
Your property can experience water damage due to an external event, such as flooding from a storm or accidental damage caused during work to the underground pipes. Internally, water damage can result from:
- Clogged gutters leading to rainwater overflowing
- Appliances leaking
- Broken or burst pipe
- Leaking roof
- Air conditioner condensation
- Faulty water supply lines
- Sprinkler systems malfunctioning
- Incorrect installation of equipment
Other ways in which your property can experience water damage include human error, such as leaving taps running or failing to report a leak.
What does restoration and repair work cost?
The cost of repair or restoration work will depend on the extent of the damage. For homeowners, the cost can be between $1,000 and $10,000, with businesses paying far more.
If the water affects the structural integrity of the building, this will be the costliest damage to repair. Other factors which will affect the cost include:
- Type of material damaged – Materials such as hardwood floors and insulation are more difficult to dry and restore.
- Water classification – Water is categorised as clearwater, grey water or black water, with the latter two containing toxic elements (such as chemicals or sewage).
- Drying out time required – This will extend the length of time workers will be at your property.
As well as the restoration work, there may be the cost of repairing or replacing whatever caused the damage.
For businesses, the cost may extend to a loss of revenue and general disruption to day-to-day activities. There might also be damage to neighbouring properties to consider.
If you’ve experienced water damage, it is important to contact your insurer as soon as possible. However, your policy may not cover all your costs, especially if human error or “force majeure” were to blame. Receiving a payout may also be dependent on the work being completed by an approved firm.
How can you prevent water damage?
Of course, prevention is better than cure, especially when it comes to costly repairs. Here are a few ways in which you can prevent an occurrence of water damage:
- Carry out regular checks/assessments – Hiring professionals to check things like the pipework and roof can help to detect any minor issues before more extensive damage occurs.
- Ensure any work is carried out by accredited firms – If you plan to have any work done which could lead to water damage, make sure it is carried out by experienced and accredited contractors.
- Consider a water/leak management system – You may not think about leak detection when investing in a security system. However, a sensor-based system can sound an alarm and shut off your water supply when a leak is detected. This minimises the time water has to leak out, allowing you to fix the problem before any expensive damage occurs.
Prevent water damage with leak detection from Selectron
At Selectron, we specialise in all types of security systems, including leak detection and management. If you want to learn more about how we can help protect your property from the threat of expensive and disruptive water damage, contact us today on +1 441 236 4181.
Selectron Ltd
At Selectron our solutions help you meet the increased challenges of today’s security and surveillance, enabling you to improve safety by reducing and preventing security breaches and accidents. Find out more about us >>
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