Water Damage Classes and Your Claim
If you’re wondering how to get your insurance to pay for water damage, it’s important to understand how insurance companies classify it. As Missouri public adjusters, our team has found that many property owners are unfamiliar with these classification systems, which can lead to inadequate settlements or lengthy settlement timeframes. This guide will help you understand the four classes of water damage recognized by insurance companies and how they will affect your claim settlement.
Why Water Damage Classification Matters
Before diving into the specific classes, it's important to understand why these classifications matter for your insurance claim:
Claim Value: Different classes of water damage require different levels of restoration, directly affecting the value of your claim.
Scope of Work: The classification determines the appropriate mitigation and restoration procedures.
Time and Resources: Higher classes will require more extensive restoration time and resources, and will be more costly to remedy.
The Four Classes of Water Damage
The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) has established four classes of water damage, which insurance companies and licensed restoration professionals universally recognize.
Class 1: Limited Water Damage
This type can be identified by minimal water absorption, with less than 5% of the area affected. Water is contained in a small area with minimal carpet and no wet drywall. An example of this would be a small overflow from a bathroom sink.
Class 1 water damage typically results in smaller claims but can still require professional drying equipment. Don't let adjusters dismiss these claims as minor—even limited water exposure can lead to mold and structural issues if not properly addressed.
Class 2: Significant Water Damage
Class 2 water damage affects an entire room. In these situations, moisture has penetrated carpet and structural materials. An overflowing washing machine that soaks your laundry room is an example of class 2 water damage.
Class 2 damage requires more extensive drying equipment and time. Insurance companies may try to underestimate the affected areas. Documentation of moisture readings in walls and subfloors is critical to ensure proper coverage.
Class 3: Extensive Water Damage
Class 3 water damage is extremely serious. In these cases, water has saturated the entire area, including walls, ceilings, insulation, carpet, and subfloor. Broken water pipes are a common cause of this type of damage.
Class 3 damage results in significantly higher claims due to extensive material replacement and restoration work. Insurance adjusters often underestimate the extent of damage, particularly to insulation and structural components. Professional moisture mapping is essential to know exactly how far the water has spread within the structure, as the extent of water spreading may be unknown without the proper tools.
Class 4: Specialty Drying Situations
This is the most severe type of water damage. When class 4 water damage occurs, water has saturated materials with low permeability or porosity, such as hardwood, concrete, stone, brick, or plaster. This can be caused by disasters like severe floods.
Class 4 situations are the most complex and expensive to restore. These claims often face significant pushback from insurance companies due to the high cost and extended restoration time. Expert documentation and sometimes third-party engineering reports may be needed to support your claim.
Water Categories and Their Impact on Classification
It's also very important to note that water damage is also categorized by the level of contamination:
Category 1: Clean water (rainwater, overflowing sinks)
Category 2: Gray water (washing machine overflow, toilet overflow without feces)
Category 3: Black water (sewage backup, floodwater)
The water category can significantly impact your claim, as Category 2 and especially Category 3 water will require additional decontamination procedures regardless of the damage class.
How Our Public Adjusters Can Help
If you’re dealing with water damage, you probably have many questions like “Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?” and “What type of water damage is covered by insurance?” At Edwin-Claude, our team is here to answer your questions and help you navigate this difficult process. Our team can create proper documentation of your losses, challenge misclassifications by your insurance company, identify unseen damage, and provide other critical services to maximize your water damage insurance claim payout.
Take Action Today!
If you've experienced water damage, don't leave the classification to chance. Contact our team at Edwin-Claude at 314-993-2266 for a free consultation. We'll help ensure your water damage is properly classified and documented, maximizing your insurance claim and ensuring the proper restoration of your property.
