Adjusting Services
Water Damage Adjusting
Compared to fire damage, water damage can be the most difficult to detect. One small area indicating water damage may actually be more extensive than it appears to the eye. It may result from storm damage, pipe breaks, sewer backup or sump pump failure.
Water damage can be devastating. It damages both the structure and personal property. In fact, water damage may cause the building owner to vacate the premises in order to mitigate and restore the property.
We mitigate, restore and clean up all damages.
We have experts that can detect where the water damage originated from and how extensive it may be. We are also able to restore the property and handle any person property damage.
Water Damage Insurance Claims
Water damage is the hardest loss to see and the easiest for an insurance company to underpay. A stain on the ceiling can mean a soaked attic. A damp corner of carpet can mean water under the whole floor and inside the wall behind it. By the time the damage is obvious, mold has started. Michaelson & Messinger documents water losses with moisture meters and thermal imaging so the claim reflects what is actually wet, not what is visible.
The Coverage Question
Water claims turn on one question: where did the water come from? The answer decides which part of your policy applies, and the difference can be the entire claim.
- Burst pipe, failed water heater, appliance leak, or ice dam: usually covered in full under the dwelling coverage
- Sewer or drain backup and sump pump failure: usually a separate endorsement with its own limit, often small
- Surface water and rising groundwater: usually excluded from a homeowners policy and covered only by a separate flood policy
- Long term seepage or a leak the carrier says you should have found: often disputed
Insurance companies know this, and the first thing a company adjuster does is assign the loss to the cheapest category. We document the source before that happens.
Common Water Claims We Handle
- Frozen and burst supply lines in unheated additions, bonus rooms, and rear porches
- Sump pump failure during a storm or power outage in a finished basement
- Sewer backup through floor drains and basement fixtures
- Water heater and washing machine hose failures
- Dishwasher and refrigerator line leaks that run for weeks under flooring
- Roof leaks and ice damming
- Firefighting water after a fire
What We Do
We identify and photograph the water source. We map the wet area with moisture readings so the carrier cannot limit the scope to what is visible. We document flooring, cabinetry, drywall, insulation, and contents. We check your policy for sewer backup limits, mold coverage, and code upgrade coverage before we talk to the carrier. Then we prepare the estimate, meet the company adjuster, and negotiate.
Drying and Restoration
Our own crews do the emergency water removal, drying, and demolition, then the rebuild. Acting in the first 48 hours prevents mold and keeps the claim clean. Our work carries a written warranty.
Call Before You Clean Up
Stop the water, then call 630.654.2600. Do not throw anything away and do not let a cleanup crew remove the evidence before it is documented. The first visit is free.
Frequently Asked Questions: Water Damage Adjusting
Is sewer backup covered by my homeowners policy?
Usually only if you bought a separate sewer and drain backup endorsement, and the limit is often five to ten thousand dollars. We read your policy before the claim is filed so you know what is available and how to present the loss.
Is mold covered after water damage?
Many Illinois policies cap mold at a small limit or exclude it unless it results from a covered water loss. Fast drying prevents most of it. We document the water source and start drying the same day so mold does not become a separate fight.
What if the insurance company says the leak was long term and not covered?
Carriers use the long term seepage exclusion to deny slow leaks. We document when the leak started, why it could not have been seen, and what damage came from the sudden event. Many of these denials are reversed with proper evidence.
Should I tear out wet drywall and carpet before the adjuster comes?
Stop the water and remove standing water, but do not demolish before it is documented. Photograph everything and call us. We map the wet area with moisture readings so the scope cannot be cut to what is visible.
Does insurance cover a frozen pipe that burst while the house was empty?
Usually yes, if you kept heat on or shut off and drained the water. Policies deny if the house was vacant without those steps. We establish what was done and present the claim accordingly.
How is a sump pump failure handled differently from a burst pipe?
A burst pipe is a sudden discharge covered under the main policy. A sump failure is treated as sewer and drain backup and paid only under that endorsement. The difference can be the whole claim. We document the source correctly.
What is the deductible on a water claim?
Your standard policy deductible, often one to two thousand dollars, or a percentage on newer policies. It is subtracted once from the total settlement, not from each part of the claim.
