When buying a home, you want to ensure you are getting a home that is safe and doesn’t need significant repairs in the near future. This is where a home inspection comes in. One of the types of damage the home inspector will look for is water damage.
Water damage can occur after a weather event such as a thunderstorm, hurricane, or another type of weather event that causes localized flooding. This localized flooding can cause burst pipes or leaking appliances, resulting in water damage inside the home. When flooding occurs, water can enter your walls, floors, and ceilings. Water damage can happen if a leak is ignored or not discovered right away. Wet rot may lead to structural problems, wood deterioration, mold growth, and other health risks, as well as costly home repairs.
Signs of water damage
Here are some signs that may mean your home has water damage.
- Uneven paint color, flaking or peeling paint, or paint that appears to have bubbles
- A bad, moldy, or musty smell inside the home
- Cracks in paint, either small or large
- Drywall that is soft to the touch
- Discoloration in the walls or ceiling or the appearance of a line running along the wall
- The presence of water rings
- Ceilings that sag or bow
- The presence of mold
Paying for water damage repairs
Damage to your home from a flood is not covered by a home warranty or homeowners insurance. To cover direct losses to your house, structure, or personal property brought on by a flood, you must acquire a flood insurance policy from a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) approved agent.
Water damage that is considered unexpected and unintentional, such as a burst plumbing pipe, is covered by home insurance. However, homeowners insurance will not pay for damage if your sink has a leak and eventually ruins the bathroom flooring.
A home warranty doesn’t directly cover water damage. However, it can assist you in paying for faulty home systems like outdated HVAC or plumbing systems that unintentionally result in water damage. The majority of home warranty providers also offer “limited” roof leak coverage, which can either be added on for free or included in the basic coverage options of the plan.
The best protection against water damage in your home is catching damage early before it leads to expensive repairs. A home inspection will check for many different types of damage that may be unseen at first glance, including water damage. Let us give you peace of mind with a professional home inspection. Visit our website at https://rvminspections.social5.net/ to learn more about our home inspection services.
