Home Insurance Articles
Infrared Imaging Water Damage and Your Insurance Rates
2010-06-06
One of the most damaging forces any homeowner can face off against is water, be it in the form of a flood or torrential rainstorm. Not only can these natural disasters cause immediate damage to a house by destroying roofs or siding, or carrying off property, but they can also cause long-term damage which can be hard to initially spot. While an online insurance quote for a home will typically include some protection for water damage, affordable disaster coverage which will protect homeowners in the event of a true disaster is often difficult to find. States which have high rates of flooding or water-related home damage will often have a separate program set up to offer flood insurance to consumers, such as the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Eligibility for this program is based on location and any policy issued will be separate from other home insurance policies, but this type of insurance can be invaluable in the event of a disaster which typical insurance will not cover.
Even with affordable disaster coverage or a reasonable online insurance quote, it can be difficult to assess the level of damage caused by a flood or rainstorm. Once water has been drained from a basement or main level of a home, many of the walls and fixtures may look as though they have suffered little to no damage. Those objects that are obviously water logged and warped are replaced by insurance, and homeowners often go on with their lives, unaware that behind their walls and under their floors there may be unseen and serious structural damage.
For that reason, infrared imaging services have begun to gain popularity, as they offer a quick and easy way to determine if there is water damage or leakage within a home. This technology uses thermal or infrared cameras to look "through" walls by using a longer wavelength of light not visible to the naked eye. These cameras return images based on the heat found within the walls. Areas which have concentrations of water in them will be colder than those surrounding them, and once identified, can then be scanned with moisture meters to confirm the presence of water. If an imaging company is contacted as soon as possible after a flood or rainstorm, they can aid in obtaining an accurate estimate of the damage done to the home, which can be documented and then forwarded to the insurance company.
When it comes to insurance, information is power, and results in a far higher chance of successful claims. Making sure to determine the extent of the water damage in a home, helps to not only obtain a fair settlement, but protect the structure of the home.