Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - Water Damage and Homeowner's Insurance

I guess I'm sort of on an insurance kick right now...I haven't had any claims, so I'm not really sure why it's on my mind. Actually, what's really on my mind is maintenance and how it affects insurance.

According to The Institute for Business & Home Safety, water damage is the number one cause of homeowners insurance claims. According to the IBHS, the most frequent water claims involve:

• Toilet overflows
• Burst washing machine hoses
• Failed water heaters
• Leaking air conditioning condensation lines and drain pans
• Leaky shower pans

USAA (my insurance company) offers a Checklist For Preventing Water Losses to help you determine what areas to check in your home.

As soon as I finish typing this, I'm printing a copy and going on a tour of my home. I'll let you know how we fare.

(C) 2006 Susan Pruden.