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What to watch for when buying a high-rise condo

You move into a new city and purchase a high-rise condo in one of the nicest parts of town. Shortly thereafter, you notice water leaking from the unit above, causing damage to your property. Sadly, this is a common reality for condo owners; water continues to be one of the top perils in high-rise habitational buildings.

The post What to watch for when buying a high-rise condo appeared first on The Cincinnati Insurance Companies blog.

Vacation water leak nightmare… times two

They say that homes that experience one water loss are likely to experience more. A Cincinnati Insurance associate found that was true when two separate water heater leaks occurred in his home while his family was on vacation.

The post Vacation water leak nightmare… times two appeared first on The Cincinnati Insurance Companies blog.

Find your main water valve before crisis strikes

You are in your house. Suddenly you see water rushing out of the dishwasher. You need to shut off the water quickly to stop the flow and prevent damage. Would you know where to find the main water valve?

The post Find your main water valve before crisis strikes appeared first on The Cincinnati Insurance Companies blog.

Low temperature sensor: Smart choice to protect your home

One smart home product stands out for homes in areas that experience freezing temperatures: Low temperature sensors.

The post Low temperature sensor: Smart choice to protect your home appeared first on The Cincinnati Insurance Companies blog.

Why is water damage such a big deal?

Water damage is a common and severe cause of loss to homeowners. Many potential sources of water damage lurk in the home, but the good news is that risks can be identified and prevented.

The post Why is water damage such a big deal? appeared first on The Cincinnati Insurance Companies blog.

More

Water Intrusion

Water damage is one of the most common types of reported claims. The causes of water damage range from broken hoses and clogged gutters to HVAC systems and roof issues. These claims can be costly and time-consuming, but there are ways to help reduce the chance of experiencing a loss.

Preventative Measures:

A water leak detection system monitors the flow inside pipes and detects water in the home using small detection units placed near appliances and HVAC units, under sinks and elsewhere. At the detection of a leak, the system will turn off the water supply to the home.

A water shut-off system uses a sensor and motorized valve to detect unusual flow rates in your plumbing system and automatically turn off the water main to your home, minimizing or eliminating losses due to plumbing leaks.

For homes equipped with an interior sprinkler system, a water flow alarm notifies the central station fire alarm service that the sprinkler head has opened and water is passing through the fire suppression system.

Standard rubber hoses may split and break, causing extensive water damage to the home. Installing wire braided stainless steel hoses to washing machines is a simple, low-cost preventative measure.

A battery back-up system for a sump pump can prevent costly losses during a power outage. The system will engage, allowing the sump pump to continue to expel water when there is a power loss.

Heating system failure can result in frozen pipes and ruptured plumbing systems. Alarm companies can install sensors to existing monitored alarm systems that will signal if the temperature in the home drops below a pre-set level.

  • Maintain a minimum temperature of 60 degrees inside the home.
  • Keep gutters clean to prevent water intrusion.
  • Shut off outdoor faucets and drain the remaining water.
  • Drain pipes when away for extended periods.
  • Let faucets against exterior walls drip to prevent pipes from freezing.
Water falling from a gutter
Our loss control service is advisory only. We assume no responsibility for management or control of customer loss control activities or for implementation of recommended corrective measures. This content was gathered from trade services and public information and does not identify or address all possible exposures. We do not warrant that this information is consistent with the underwriting guidelines of The Cincinnati Insurance Company and its subsidiaries or with any federal, state or local law, regulation or ordinance.
 
To report a claim: You may call us directly, 877-242-2544, to report your claim and provide us with your claim-related information. You may also contact your independent agent to report a claim.

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