Letter for water damage claim 2024 (guide + free 2 Samples)

This post covers a letter for water damage claim.

Repairing damage from flooding and rising waters can cost you tens of thousands of dollars.

As insured homeowners, you must desire to file a claim to your insurance company to compensate you.

Daunting how to start?

Don’t worry, here I will guide you through everything you need to know about taking your water damage claim to your insurance company- from drafting your claim to getting compensation.

Here you will learn;

• how to write a letter for a water damage claim to an insurance company,
• sample letter for a water damage claim
• water damage insurance claim tips that can make your claim stand out and get the insurance company to pay you as soon as possible.
• etc.

Let’s get started

What is a letter for a water damage claim?

A letter for a water damage claim is a brief statement of facts written by the property owner to the insurance company to claim reimbursement as a result of water damage to the property.

Water damage must be covered by your insurance policy for your claim letter to be valid; otherwise, your claim letter will most likely be denied.

How to write the letter for a water damage claim

A letter for a water damage claim is written in a business letter format, write your address, date, and insurance company address. Start your letter by introducing yourself and stating the purpose of your letter, proceed by providing the details of the property; number, location, etc., and the number of your insurance policy, after that give the facts and evidence of the water damage plus the damages you seek, close your letter by stating your expectations. 

Writing a proper letter for a water damage claim is very important to make your claim stand out.

Your letter for a water damage claim must contain;

• Your name and address
• Your Insurance policy number
• property identification number as mentioned in the policy
• Property Location
• Cause, Damage description, and date
• Your effort to mitigate the damage
• Your contact details
• Supporting documents, Policy certificates, Insurance Policy documents, photographs, repair bills, etc.

Opening Paragraph

in the opening paragraph of your letter for a water damage claim introduce yourself and state the goal of your letter. Give the cause of the damage, the property number and location, the date of the incident, and the policy number.

For example

My name is John Daniel, and I’m writing this letter as my formal claim for water damage that occurred on 10/01/20.. to my property number 1234 located at Hope Road, Downtown, as a result of a broken water pipe, which is covered by you under policy number 0001.

Body Paragraphs

Use the body paragraphs of your water damage claim letter as the platform for providing the facts and evidence of the water damage, as well as all supporting documents and pictures.

If applicable explain your efforts to mitigate the damage, as well as the specific and general damages you seek.

for example

My family and I were at church when the toilet pipe burst. The water flooded our toilet, kitchen, and living room for more than two hours, destroying our carpets, drywall, and parts of our furniture and fittings.

To mitigate the damage, I quickly shut off the main water supply valve and contacted a professional water damage restoration business to try to save as much of our belongings as possible; unfortunately, due to the extent of the damage, some were unable to be recovered.

I claim the sum of $ 13,000 as compensation for the total repair costs.

Images of the incident, showing all damaged properties, as well as other documents supporting my claim, are attached to the letter.

Closing Paragraph

Close your letter for a water damage claim by encouraging the company to clear the matter up quickly.

Include your contact details and give the insurance company an invitation to call or contact you as soon as possible.

for example

I’d like to get this issue fixed immediately. Please call me as soon as possible to arrange for an adjuster to come out and inspect the affected areas.

My cell phone number is 198-200-8898, and my email is johdaniel@email.com I can be reached at any moment. I anticipate hearing from you shortly.

Sample letter for water damage claim

John Daniel
Coast Avenue.
Coast town, CT 40000

1/01/20..

Save Insurance Company
Recover Street
Hope, CT 40001

To Whom it may Concern

Re: Claim for $ 13,000 as compensation for water damage

My name is John Daniel, and I’m writing to file a formal claim for water damage to my property number 1234 on Hope Road, Downtown, which occurred on October 1, 20…, as a result of a broken water pipe covered by policy number 0001.

The toilet pipe burst when my family and I were at church. For more than two hours, the water flooded our toilet, kitchen, and living room, damaging our carpets, walls, and sections of our furniture and fittings.

To limit the damage, I immediately shut off the main water supply valve and contacted a professional water damage restoration company to try to rescue as many of our items as possible; sadly, some were unable to be recovered owing to the magnitude of the damage.

I am seeking compensation for $13,000 for the total repair charges.

With this letter, I attach the images of the incident, including all destroyed property, as well as additional documents supporting my claim.

I’d like to have this problem resolved right away. Please contact me as soon as possible to schedule an appointment for an adjuster to inspect the impacted areas.

198-200-8898 is my cell phone number, and johdaniel@email.com is my email address. I am available at all times. I’m expecting to hear from you soon.

Sincerely

[Signature]

John Daniel

letter for a water damage claim (template)

[Your Name]
[Your Adress]
[City, State, Zip Code]

[DATE]

[Name of the insurance Co.]
[address]
[City, State, Zip Code]

To Who it may concern

Re: Water Damage Claim

I’d like to file a claim for recent water damage to my property number [0003], which is located at [property location] and is covered by you under policy number [001].

The damage happened on 1/01/20… as a result of a leaking roof.

I have attached photographs of the incident, including all destroyed items, as well as supporting documents to my letter.

I’d like to have this issue rectified as quickly as possible. Respond as soon as possible to arrange for an inspection of the affected areas by an adjuster.

My cell phone number is 100-300-2000, and my email address is myname@email.com. At all times, I am available. I anticipate hearing from you shortly.

Sincerely

[signature]

[name]

An insurer denied your claim? learn how you can successfully appeal against that decision here

Water damage insurance claim tips

According to Insurence Information Institute (iii), about one in 50 insured homes has a property damage claim caused by water damage or freezing each year.

Further, the [iii] stats show that water damage claims took 29.4% of all insurance losses in 2019 in the US.

The following are insurance claim tips for water damage that can make your claim stand out and get the insurance company to pay you as soon as possible

Take photos of the scene

You should take photos and videos of all the damage as soon as you notice water damage in your home. This means you must capture any standing water and any items that have been harmed by the water.

You should also photograph any items that require cleaning or replacement.

Water damage causes more than just wet goods to be lost.

Moldy objects in drawers or closets should be professionally cleaned as well.

You might be eligible for reimbursement for such costs.

Your house restoration crew will most likely take photos of the damaged area, but you should take your own as well. You don’t want to be pursuing this company for documentation if you decide to end things with them later.

While determining how much water damage you have may b e difficult, taking photos of everything might help you counter any damage that remains unaccounted for during the claims process.

Take immediate action to mitigate the damage

Take immediate action to stop more water from running where it shouldn’t if you’re sure it’s safe. This could imply turning off your home’s main water supply valve or a separate water supply valve, often known as a “stop.”

To stop the flow of water, turn off (clockwise) the stops leading to your dishwasher, toilet, washing machine, or icemaker by hand.

You should also transfer any of your undamaged belongings out of harm’s way so you don’t end up with a bigger problem than necessary.

If you’re making a water damage claim, you’re likely to have a lot of damaged stuff, so saving those items before the water gets to them will cut down on your claim and your troubles.

Moving undamaged items out of the way makes it easier to determine what’s damaged and what isn’t. Even with little water damage, it’s likely that goods near the water damage may need to be fixed or replaced.

The other step that you could make is to hire a professional to clean the house.

Unfortunately, some water damage and restoration companies may try to take advantage of a situation where you want immediate assistance. Learn how to hire a reputable water damage and restoration company by reading this guide from pods.com.

Make sure water damage is covered under your insurance policy

Water damage is usually covered by homeowners insurance if it occurs suddenly or accidentally.

Water damage is caused by a lack of house upkeep or neglect, for example, a roof that hasn’t been repaired in 2 decades is not covered.

Flood water damage is not covered either unless you have a separate flood insurance policy.

Water Damage Covered by Home Insurance

• Unexpected plumbing or appliance problems
• Pipes froze and burst
• Ice dams
• leaking roofs
• Vandalism

Water Damage NOT Covered by Home Insurance

• Groundwater getting  into your basement
• Floodwater or thawing water entering the basement (unless you have flood insurance)
• Backup of a sewer or water line (unless you have a sewer backup endorsement, which is simple to add to any homeowner’s policy)
• Leaks from deteriorated, ancient pipes
• Roof leaks from an old, neglected roof
• Long-term leaky faucets or unfixed toilets cause damage.
• fungus, rot, or mold (unless it resulted from a covered cause)

Report the damage to your insurance agent as soon as possible

Time is of the essence when it comes to water damage.

When you observe any water damage in your house, the first thing you should do is contact your insurance provider.

If the flood caused the water damage, you’ll need to file a claim with your flood insurance company.

Remember that they may be dealing with a large number of comparable claims (especially if the water damage was caused by a strong downpour, melting snow, or flooding), so they’ll probably work on a first-come, first-served basis.

The sooner you make a claim, the sooner an adjuster can inspect the damage and issue you a check for the repairs, allowing you to resume your usual life.

If you can’t clean and dry the area fully on your own, you should contact a water damage/restoration company very soon.

Insurance companies may be hesitant to recommend a specific water damage firm, but they should be able to point you in the right direction.

While some insurance companies will accept a claim over the phone, the best option is to write an insurance claim letter.

Meet and talk to your Adjuster

The insurance company will assign an adjuster to your home as soon as feasible.

He or she will assess the damage, photograph it, and take measurements.

The adjuster will also inquire about the cause and timing of the damage.

His objective is dual.

First, he’s attempting to calculate the cost of repairing the damage.

Second, he’s trying to figure out who was to blame.

Following his assessment, your adjuster will offer you a written estimate of how much it will cost to restore your damage.

He’ll probably make a list of labor and material line items (drywall, paint, insulation mortar, tile, etc.).

He may also issue a check for all or part of this amount, depending on the extent of the claim, so you can get started on repairs.

Read also

• Insurance experience letter (guide + free example)
• Letter to the insurance company for claim settlement (3 samples)
• Insurance claim process
• Meaning and type of insurable interest