I had a water loss affecting my home (4,200 square foot home). The source was a toilet water supply line from a second floor bathroom. It broke and water flooded the upstairs and rained downstairs. It flooded the carpet. The carpet upstairs had to be cut up so it could be dried out. The carpet downstairs was not cut up, but it looks old and shriveled and would have to be cut into anyway to inspect and replace the pad. The insurer is refusing to replace it and says a cleaning will do the job, which I dispute. My question is: because the water traveled through various spaces, does this become Category 2 Water Loss pursuant to ANSI/IICRC standards? Is ANSI/IICRC the universal standard adhered to by carriers?
Duyen Nguyen asked 5 months ago 1 Answers
Chris Faber Expert answered 5 months ago Hi Duyen,
We are sorry to hear about the water damage to your home and the challenges you are facing with the insurance claim.
Insurance policies provide coverage for damage, and your insurance company must have support of the damage to provide coverage. It appears there is a dispute as to the extent of the damage to the carpet. Your insurance company may not have sufficient information to support replacement of the downstairs carpet.
There is guidance provided by organizations such as the ones you have referenced. However, determination of water damage classification, drying methods, and restoration requirements depend on many factors. These determinations are best made by a certified professional. I recommend consulting with an independent, IICRC-certified restoration company. It may also be beneficial to have a carpet expert inspect the carpet for damage. Information provided by these professionals can be presented to your insurance company in support of your claim.
In addition, depending on the flooring in place throughout the home, damage to the home, the regulations of your state, and your policy coverages, your policy may cover the cost of replacing the downstairs carpet for matching or reasonably uniform appearance. To determine if this applies, I recommend that you review your policy and discuss with your adjuster and/or insurance agent.
If sufficient information has been provided to support payment for the replacement for the downstairs carpet under your insurance policy and the insurance company still refuses to pay, I recommend escalating your concerns to management. If you do not receive a satisfactory response, there may be other resources available to you including through your state regulators or professional assistance.
For additional information on this, visit The State by State Help – United Policyholders page and find your state.
Warmly, Chris
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