Nobody likes to deal with moisture problems. Owners of an older home are often concerned and keep their eyes open for, for example, rising damp or moisture in the basement. But did you know that renovations pose at least as much danger? Many handymen enthusiastically start insulating without providing sufficient ventilation – with all the associated problems.
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Moisture problems and their causes
Moisture in the walls can have various causes. For example, too much insulation and not enough ventilation is asking for problems. If the balance between fresh, supplied air and contaminated, extracted air is disturbed, you can experience condensation problems. So make sure you don’t make that mistake from the start. Because if a moisture problem can be traced back to an inherent defect in the home, you cannot fall back on insurance coverage. This is also the case with rising groundwater, which is usually due to an inadequate or poorly placed water retaining layer. Fortunately, you can avoid such issues by building or renovating carefully.
For most moisture problems that are beyond your control, such as a leak in a pipe, you can often rely on your fire insurance. So be sure to check the exact cause, because it determines whether your insurance will intervene or not. To find out what type of moisture problems you can count on your fire insurance for, it is best to read the general terms and conditions of your insurance contract. Would you like to know which risks are covered in fire insurance with KBC? Then be sure to take a look at the page that suits your situation:
Choose the fire insurance you need and simulate
- Extensively insured and protected
- Apply online immediately
- File a report via your smartphone
Call a leak detection company
Of course, it is not only important for insurance companies to know where exactly the moisture comes from. In order to solve the problem, you also need to know where exactly the leak is located. Fortunately, you don’t have to knock holes in the walls yourself in the hope of discovering the cause by chance. You can call on a specialized leak detection company to locate the leak for you. Most fire insurers will cover the costs this entails. In addition, the repair costs of the pipe are usually also borne by the fire insurer.
Other water damage
In addition to moisture spots in the wall, you can of course encounter all kinds of other cases of water damage in your home. A leak in the roof, a defective heat pump, your dishwasher or washing machine that suddenly stops working, a bedroom floor damaged by water that has seeped from the waterbed, … These are all examples of water damage against which it is best to insure yourself. In other words, fire insurance is not an unnecessary luxury.
Why you really shouldn’t sweep moisture problems under the rug
Moisture problems often start relatively innocently. One morning you notice a dark spot on the wall that was not there the day before. Maybe you don’t think too much of it, but all kinds of alarm bells should actually start ringing. Moisture problems can significantly reduce the value of your home and negatively affect the air quality in your home. So it is always a good idea to tackle them as quickly as possible.
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