Water Damage Insurance Claims

Water losses get messy fast. A “small leak” turns into hidden moisture, mold, and torn‑out finishes; a heavy rain exposes roofing and window failures; groundwater pushes in and insurers call it a flood. Each cause has different coverage triggers, exclusions, and proof requirements. Haystack Claims builds the claim the right way—from cause to scope—so you’re paid to actually fix the problem, not patch it.

Pipe Bursts & Plumbing Failures (Sudden/Accidental)

Typical scenarios: frozen/burst supply lines, failed fittings, slab leaks, appliance failures, sprinkler discharges.

Coverage keys we document and argue:

• Sudden & accidental vs. wear/tear. We tie origin to a specific date/time and mechanism.

• Tear‑out & access: opening walls/floors to reach failed plumbing is often covered even if the pipe itself isn’t.

• Dry‑out to IICRC S500: proper mitigation (containment, negative air, dehumidification, moisture mapping) with daily readings.

• Materials beyond “clean and paint”: wet insulation, drywall, base, door jambs, flooring systems, subfloor/decking, cabinets/toe‑kicks, and finishes that can’t be restored.

• Asbestos/lead protocols where required by law—often missed in initial estimates.

• Mold/fungi limits and Additional Living Expense (ALE) / Business Interruption when areas are uninhabitable.

• Code upgrades (Ordinance & Law) after removing wet, non‑compliant materials.

Rain & Storm‑Driven Water

Typical scenarios: wind‑driven rain through roofing/siding, window and door failures, overwhelmed gutters, ice dams.

Coverage traps we navigate:

• Opening requirement: many policies pay interior rain damage only when wind or hail first creates an opening. We prove wind damage (lifted/creased shingles, failed flashing, impact points) with slope‑by‑slope evidence.

• “Maintenance” denials: carriers call it wear/tear. We separate pre‑existing conditions from ensuing sudden water damage, which can still be covered.

• Hidden paths: chimney chases, kick‑out flashing, parapets, decks, and balcony doors—documented with photos, borescope, and moisture meter readings.

• Matching & uniform appearance: consistent materials across elevations and rooms, not piecemeal patches.

• Interior scope tied to moisture readings—not just visible staining.

Groundwater, Sewer, Sump, and Flood

Not all “water on the floor” is treated the same. Wording matters.

Common buckets:

• Sewer or drain backup / sump overflow: usually endorsement‑based with strict sublimits. We confirm categories of water, affected areas, and required sanitization under S500.

• Groundwater intrusion/hydrostatic pressure: commonly excluded unless a specific endorsement exists. We identify cause precisely and preserve evidence.

• Flood (overflow of a body of water, surface water, mudflow): generally excluded on standard policies—requires a separate NFIP or private flood policy. If flood applies, we pursue:

  • Building vs. contents correctly categorized

  • Debris removal, elevation/ICC (Increased Cost of Compliance) where eligible

  • Concurrent causation arguments when wind created openings before floodwaters arrived (important in windstorm events)

What Carriers Commonly Miss

• Full mitigation scope: equipment runtime, daily psychrometric logs, cavity drying, removal/rebuild of wet assemblies (not just “dry and seal”).

• Flooring systems: underlayment, adhesives, transitions, continuous flooring replacement for uniformity.

• Cabinetry: swollen boxes/toe‑kicks, delamination behind finishes, and detach/reset labor.

• Electrical & mechanical impacts: wet receptacles, GFCIs, low‑voltage systems, water‑exposed HVAC components and duct liner.

• Contents handling: pack‑out, cleaning, deodorization, and non‑restorable items with market‑accurate replacement pricing.

• Code compliance: GFCI/AFCI updates, vapor barriers, mold‑resistant boards where required, hand‑applied waterproofing in wet areas.

• ALE/BI tied to real timelines from mitigation through rebuild—not just a few days of hotel time.

Our Process

1. Cause & origin proof (photos, videos, moisture mapping, meter and thermal readings, plumber/roofer statements).

2. Mitigation plan aligned to IICRC S500 with documentation carriers accept.

3. Comprehensive estimate (Xactimate/Symbility) including demo, mitigation, rebuild, code, contents, and ALE/BI.

4. Negotiation & policy application (limits, sublimits, deductibles, endorsements, mold/fungi caps, Ordinance & Law).

5. Settlement strategy that funds a complete, code‑compliant restoration—not a cosmetic patch.