by garysoldcars » Sun Feb 14, 2010 02:30 am
I am in Southern California and we had an amount of rain. Since then every time I went into my bedroom I noticed an usual order but could not place it. Then today I was vacuuming my carpet and noticed a wet spot on the carpet. Then when I got down on my knees to check I noticed that the carpet, wall and baseboard must have gotten wet due to the wind and rain and water had seeped into the wall and got the carpet wet behind my bed. I have tried to soak it up but it is very wet and has creeping under the bed. Would my homeowners cover this? Thank You, Carla Y
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 11:59 am Post Subject:
Most certainly turn it in, but this is really 'iffy'. HO policys (all I've seen anyway), say that the damage must be 'sudden' and 'accident'...and further exclude damage that is a 'gradual deterioration' there are further explaination on most water damage.
Carla, you need to turn in the claim asap, tell them you JUST discovered the dampness (I'd personally leave out the 'I've been smelling something for quite a while" part)..and upon investigaton found this water damage.
Where exactly is the water coming in?
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 06:20 pm Post Subject: wet wall
Hi and thanks for the reply. When I checked out side the stucco was also wet and I think that when it was raining and the wind was blowing and some how the water penetrated through the bottom of the stucco.
The damge is on the side of the bed that I do not use, which is why I did not notice that it was wet.
When I noticed the wet carpet, I pulled the bed away from the wall and that is when I saw the wall was wet about 12" and came to the top of the electrical outlet, the carpet was saturated, my night stand legs were wet .
The first thing I did was try and throw rags and towels to absorb the water. There was some black stuff on the base board which I wiped off. (I should have taken a picture before I did that). The carpet is wet about 8 feet from the wall and about 8 feet along the wall.
I think I have a $500 deductible so I'm not sure if it is even worth reporting to the insurance co.
Thanks for your help,
Carla
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 11:19 pm Post Subject:
This might also be consider seepage or "flood". Some polices will extend coverage for this... but I'm guessing this might be excluded.
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 11:43 am Post Subject:
I've honestly never read a CA HO policy...so, not sure how they read. Again, it doesn't cost anything to turn it in...my bet is it will go over your 500.00...and honey, that 'black stuff' that's mold..and it can be very dangerous....
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 07:42 pm Post Subject:
stucco
I'm guessing that you may have EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finishing System). When was your home built? Much of this material was installed incorrectly in the 80's and early 90' and the results have been disastrous with mold and rot in exterior walls. All of the damage was hidden from homeowners and usually found once the walls began to severly rot and interior water damage happened or mold poked its ugly head. Then again it could be stucco.
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 07:47 pm Post Subject: wet carpet/wall
The house was built in 1957. It was re-stuccoed about 15 years ago. We have lived in the house for over 13 years and have never had this problem before. I did file a claim and am waiting for the adjuster to call. I have fans going and have to tried to dry the carpet but it is still very wet. Am going to go get a wet vac to see if I can suck up more water. Thanks everyone for their advice.
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 11:26 pm Post Subject:
Let us know Gary what they have to say.
Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 12:24 am Post Subject: wet carpet/wall
Still waiting for adjuster to call. I will post what they have to say. Thanks everyone
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 07:43 pm Post Subject: Same exprerience
Hello. I know its been awhile since your last post but can you update us? I have the same experience with the recent rains here in LA.
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 05:02 pm Post Subject:
It is generally not covered unless there is a covered cause of loss and the water/rain damage is contingent to that.
An example would be a tree falls due to wind and punches a hole in the roof or a wall, and through that opening the rain enters. Or a fire starts and the fire department uses water to extinguish the flames. Those water damages are covered.
If your yard fills up with water due to heavy rain, as we experienced the week before Christmas, and it seeps into the house, that is usually considered in the same category as flood damage, and not covered without a NFIP policy. Just ask the folks in downtown Laguna Beach who don't have NFIP policies, and whose businesses were inundated with stormwater and mud.
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