Leaking Water Heaters and Filing an Insurance Claim

For many people, so long as there is hot water at the tap they don’t think much about water heater maintenance, preventive care or energy efficiency. However, water heaters do have a finite life span and many older models consume large amounts of energy.  In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, water heating is the second largest energy use in homes, accounting for 17% of residential energy consumption.

To prolong the life of a water heater, sacrificial anodes are located in many models to help protect it from internal corrosion. Over time, these may need to be replaced according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Many plumbers also recommend that hot water heaters are flushed once per year to help remove sediment or rust that may have built up in the unit.

The building science and insurance claims professionals at Hudson Douglas Public Adjusters provide the following tips that a water heater likely needs to be serviced or replaced soon.

·         The unit makes cracking or popping sounds when heating water.

·         Water takes longer to heat or doesn’t get as hot as it used to.

·         Hot water has a metallic taste or visible rust comes from the faucet.

·         Rust is forming on the outside of the heater.

·         The burner units appear rusty or clogged.

·         There is leaking water below the heater.

“It’s important to pay attention to the condition of a water heater because its failure could result in thousands of gallons of water entering a property that could cause tens of thousands of dollars in damages,” said Tom Allen from Hudson Douglas Public Adjusters, LLC. “People faced with property damage should call their insurance company and then a public adjuster to represent their interests in the claims process.  Relying just on the insurance company could result in some damages being overlooked that should have been covered under their policy.”

Hudson Douglas Public Adjusters also recently sponsored an educational video about water heaters and water damage that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/gXkpCw09cw8

Residential and commercial property owners in Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey can turn to the insurance claims professionals at Hudson Douglas Public Adjusters for expert help. Their team represents only policyholders to ensure that all damages are recognized, documented and properly handled.