Having a sprinkler system in your home is a great way to avoid potential issues with fire hazards, but sometimes the sprinkler system can be as problematic, causing significant water damage. Filing a homeowner’s insurance claim can be a pain. One option to help with the amount of damage that can be caused from a sprinkler system gone awry is a sprinkler shut off tool, but if you don’t happen to have one, you can end up with extensive damage that will cost a lot to repair.
What Kind of Water Damage Isn’t Covered By Your Homeowner’s Insurance?
Let’s start by clarifying what kind of water damage is and is not covered by your homeowners’ policy. For the most part, your insurance company will expect you to keep your home well maintained, which means that damage that happens over time due to neglect will be denied. This can include issues such as long-term pipe leakage and seepage from cracks in a roof are not covered. However, accidental breakage or discharge of pipes, sewer backups, storm damage, flooding and sprinkler discharge either accidental or due to a fire are typically covered. What makes the difference is if it’s a sudden influx of water into your property that causes damage.
When to Claim Water Damage on Your Homeowner’s Insurance
If you’ve only got a little bit of damage, such as a few pieces of flooring, a rug that isn’t very valuable, some drywall or similar areas of concern, you may want to wait on filing a claim. Small amounts of damage may not be worth the hassle of filing a claim or may be less than your deductible. Because your insurance is based on risk, multiple small claims may cause your rates to increase, costing you whatever small benefit you may have gained from the claim itself. For this reason, you’ll want to use your homeowner’s insurance in situations where you can’t cover the repair costs above the deductible.
Using a Sprinkler Shut Off Tool to Reduce Your Total Water Damage
If you have a sprinkler system in your home, you probably know that it can accidentally discharge in a range of situations, from smoky candles to oven fires. However, because you can often deal with these issues, you don’t want to have to wait dozens of minutes for the fire department as each sprinkler in your home drops an average of 60 gallons of water per minute. Instead of having to deal with your insurance company, where water damage claims typically average $35,000, a sprinkler shut off tool turns the water off in seconds, minimizing damage.By having a solid understanding of what kind of water damage your insurance will or will not cover, at what point you should claim water damage on your homeowner’s insurance and how you can reduce the total water damage using a sprinkler shut off tool, you can be better prepared in case you need to make a claim. If you’re looking for a quality sprinkler shut off tool for your home, a Shutgun can turn off your sprinklers in seconds, saving tens of thousands of dollars in damage. Pick one up today and keep it handy to help prevent significant damage to your property.