Has your office or house suffered from water damage? Do you need to have your furniture and house repaired? Do you need to file an insurance claim for the same? If your answer is yes, then you need to understand a few terms while talking to your insurance assessor.
Here is a list of terms that your insurance adjuster will bring up during the discussions.
100-year flood level – This is the chance that a flood of this level will happen in 100 years.
Absorb – The ability of any permeable material to hold water.
Submerged – This refers to the area which is under water.
Air Remover, Air Fan, Air Dryer or Air Mover – This is a specially-made fan. It helps in the evaporation of water, which in turn helps in faster drying of carpets, floorings, walls and cupboards.
Back Pressure – When air moving fans are placed incorrectly under wet carpets, rugs and wall openings, the speed of air gets curbed. This leads to moisture getting trapped in places such as cupboards and walls. This is what is known as back pressure.
Base Flood Elevation or BFE – This is the regulatory requirement on which the flood proofing of buildings depend on. The BFE is the height to which one can expect the flood water to go up to during the base flood. Your insurance premium will depend on the elevation of your home in relation to the Base Flood Elevation.
Relative Humidity – This is the ratio between the water vapor that currently exists in the air and the maximum amount of vapor that air can hold at a saturation point.
Black Water – Black water is usually water which comes from sewages, ground surface water, seawater, rivers and streams. It basically refers to unhygienic water.
Gray Water – Gray water is water with a lot of physical, chemical and biological infections. This can lead to illnesses in humans.
Floodwaters – This is the water that flows from nearby streams and rivers.
Groundwater – This is the water that gets collected below the earth’s surface. It starts off as rain and then goes down beneath the earth’s surface.
Clean Water – This is water which is clean and hygienic. It is water coming from a source which is not infected.
Flood Plains – Floodplains are areas which are situated at the border of a river. They are prone to frequent floods.
Floodwall – Floodwalls are walls made of water-resistant material around the building. They extend above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) and help in stopping the flow of flood water into the building.
Molds – These are fungi which grow in places where there is high level of moisture.
Mildew – These are also fungi which can be clearly seen on damp objects such as clothes and food.
Boroscope – A boroscope is a tool with a camera. The camera is placed at the end of bendable snakelike rod. This flexible rod helps in examining tight spaces such as wall crevices, inside ceilings and corners of the house for mold growth. It helps in avoiding the need to use a drill or make cuts in the walls or ceilings.
Dehumidifier – A dehumidifier helps in decreasing the humidity in the air. If used with an air fan, it helps in faster drying of wet material. Since it reduces moisture, it also prevents the growth of bacteria and fungi.
Moisture Meter – This is a tool that helps in finding the level of moisture present in building materials such as wood and bricks.
Personal Protective Equipment – These include all protective gears that are required while making an evaluation of the water damage or while using remediation procedures.
Water Damage Insurance – This is the insurance for protection against water damage. This water damage can be caused due to leakage, overflow of water, clogging of drains, rains and snow.
If you need to file an insurance claim or if you are looking to insure yourself against water damage, it will help you a great deal to be aware of these terms beforehand.
Wendi Watson researches restoration items for homeowners for Sands Point, NY Water damage Restoration Company and Oyster Bay, NY Water Damage Restoration Companies
