Key Takeaways
- People’s properties are susceptible to many threats, from pests to lightning to faulty wiring.
- Property insurance claims totaled more than $90 billion in the U.S. alone in 2023.
- Damages range from mold to crumbling foundations to destruction of a building.
- Regular maintenance of a property and its appliances can avert many problems.
The things that can damage your property are not always expected. Causes of property damage range from water damage to lightning.
In 2023, home insurance losses across the U.S. totaled over $90 billion. There is around one property damage claim for every 18 insured homes nationwide.
Wind and hail are the most common causes of a property insurance claim. Fire damage is the most costly at over $83,000 on average for damaged items.
And it’s not just the home that suffers. One in 50 liability claims to insurance providers relate to personal injury or property damage the policyholder causes others.
However, bodily injury and the causes of property damage can be reduced with some straightforward steps. Homeowner insurance policies are a safety net, but it’s better to avoid things that can damage your property in the first place.
What Are the Most Common Things That Can Damage Your Property?
In it’s water damage. In Florida, it’s wind and hail damage. And in Texas, it’s hurricane and hail damage. These are the most common things that can damage a property.
Areas prone to fierce storms and heavy rains should see homeowners beefing up their flood insurance. That said, the most common things that can damage your property in the U.S. are:
- Water damage and frozen pipes: everything from sewage to leaks
- Wind and hail damage from extreme weather, including structural damage to roofs
- Fire
- Theft and vandalism
- Damage to air conditioning (HVAC) systems
- Mold and mildew
- Pest infestations
How Can Water Leaks Damage a Home?
Many property damage claims are for water damage. And it’s not just from storms and heavy rains.
Hurricanes and associated heavy rains and hail can cause structural damage to roofs, flashing, backyards, and walls. Floods can inundate basements, crawl spaces, and ground-floor living spaces.
Insurance companies also receive many damage claims from more common causes of water problems. Frozen and broken pipes, leaks, and appliance malfunctions can cause havoc. A clean water leak takes as little as 48 hours to develop toxic black waters.
Water damage can begin in unexpected ways:
- Clogged gutters and drains
- Hidden pipe leaks
- Condensation leaking from misfiring HVACs and causing a water build-up
- Degradation to water heaters, valves, pipes, and plumbing fixtures
Mold and mildew that grow in damp, humid, or water-damaged homes can cause homeowners to have health issues and allergies. Furniture weakens, swells, splits, or stains appear. Left untreated, water damage can condemn a house or lead to repair bills running into many thousands.
What Are the Signs of Water Leak Damage at Home?
Classic signs your home has water leak damage include:
- Water stains, mold, or mildew on and around walls, floors, ceilings, showerheads, and taps
- Musty odors and warped or crumbling walls that feel soft to the touch
- Peeling wallpaper or paint
- Dripping sounds behind walls or standing water in the bathtub
- Higher water bills
- Reduced water pressure
How Can I Help Prevent Water Damage?
Be proactive by keeping your home warm enough during cold spells to ensure water pipes don’t burst.
Check attics and basements regularly for water.
Inspect all water-related appliances often, including water heaters, toilets, sinks, dishwashers, washing machines, and refrigerators.
Inspect pipes, lines, hoses, fittings, and connections for corrosion or leaks.
Move appliances to check walls behind for issues.
It also pays to have professionals service your HVAC periodically and change the air filter annually. An annual sump pump cleaning is also good practice. Some homeowner’s insurance policies require these regular checks.
Top tip: People in flood-risk areas should consider raising appliances and valuables off the floor to reduce potential water damage.
What Are the Risks of Not Maintaining Your Roof Properly?
A leaky roof is bad news for any homeowner. Letting rain in doesn’t just cause water damage; it can also lead to mold, mildew, and further problems.
A leaky roof can damage insulation and rot beams. Holes or crooked shingles can also lead to disruptive and costly-to-remove pest infestations. Twigs and branches that fill said holes increase fire risks.
A poorly maintained roof may collapse. Similarly, an unmaintained roof can cause structural damage to walls, disrupting door frames, windows, and the property’s integrity.
One or all of these issues could increase your energy bills. A poorly maintained roof also asks for increased repair bills, as one problem can lead to several more.
Top tip: A dilapidated-looking roof will affect the real estate value of a home and its curbside appeal.
What Things Can Damage Your Property’s Roof?
Damage doesn’t just come from the roof structure. Blocked gutters often overflow during heavy rains. That excess water can pour into basements or pool around walls, damaging foundations. This running water may also harm paint, plaster, bricks, stucco, or stone exteriors.
Tiles, skylights, solar panels, weather vanes, chimneys, and any roof ornament can be damaged during storms, tornadoes, and high winds. If left unrepaired, this damage can lead to further roof deterioration.
Moss and algae slowly erode a roof’s strength over time. More noticeable is the dramatic ice, snow, and hail damage harsh weather can inflict upon a roof’s integrity. The weight can loosen shingles, bend beams, or rip gutters away.
Human intervention, such as vandalism or theft of materials, can also dramatically alter a roof’s ability to withstand the elements or fire damage.
How Does Poor Drainage or Landscaping Affect Your Home?
Landscaping covers everything from blocked gutters to plants and security lighting.
Good drainage prevents standing water from harming foundations and external wall finishes. Property owners can eliminate wet and muddy areas with underground drainage or install French drains to divert water to the street.
Falling tree limbs and branches might cause considerable issues to a property, damaging the roof, flashing, shingles, and gutters. Even worse is the potentially fatal scenario of a fallen tree crashing through a building. Landscaping requires regular tree inspections and trimming to thwart any threat.
Backyard and patio furniture, such as barbecue grills, chairs, tables, and trampolines, can become potential property wreckers during storms and high winds. Avoid them becoming flying missiles or blowing away by anchoring or storing them before bad weather strikes.
Well-planned outdoor lighting and timers help houses look occupied while a homeowner is away. Trimming bushes and shrubs near windows thieves may use as hiding spots further reduces the risk of vandalism and theft. Consider personal property insurance coverage if you have valuable items at home.
And finally, landscaping can also help prevent pest infestations.
What Pests Can Cause Significant Damage to a Property?
Property losses can run to thousands of dollars with pest infestations. Many homeowner insurance policies don’t cover problems caused by pests, so here are methods to prevent property-damaging critters from taking over.
Termites
Homeowners face $5 billion annual property damage from termites in the U.S.
Termites are among the most prevalent destroyers, and East Texas is one of the most at-risk areas in the country.
The subterranean termite is the most common type. It loves moist areas caused by roof damage and water leaks and often swarms on warm spring and summer days after rainfall.
Preventing termites requires a watertight roof and building with no cracks or holes that allow entry. Drips and leaks need to be fixed to avoid moisture, and trees and bushes near a property should be kept well-trimmed.
Termites can infest a home and cause property and structural damage by eating wooden structures, furniture, and foundations.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants also bore into wood, but unlike termites, they use the material for their nests, not food. They love moist, moldy wood, plus food sources like crumbs and pet food.
Look for small piles of frass and sawdust near floorboards or wooden-framed doors or windows. Carpenter ants hollow out wood, making it weak.
Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees don’t live in colonies. Instead, individual carpenter bees burrow into wood to safely shelter their eggs.
While this initial puncture isn’t hugely damaging, the problematic opening of your home’s structure to damp and moisture is. A small, half-inch carpenter bee burrow could lead to costly mold or rot. It’s a welcome mate to termites and carpenter ants.
There are paints and citrus sprays that discourage carpenter bees from nesting.
Property Damage From Fires and Lightning Strikes
Fire damage is the most costly property damage claim in the U.S., with an average claim of $83,000 for fire-damaged items.
Homeowner insurance often includes fire damage. It’s one of the most destructive forms of property damage. House fires start for various reasons, including:
- Lightning strike
- Electrical faults, including cables, wiring, appliances, and heating systems
- Cooking accidents
- Overloaded electrical outlets
- Defective appliances
- Power surges
Flames and smoke make fires one of the most dangerous types of property damage. Lightning strikes can shatter glass, crack foundations, and blow out plaster walls. The replacement costs for fire-damaged appliances can run into many thousands.
Of course, large house fires can engulf the entire property. Energy audits can help identify weaknesses in fire damage protection.
Things That Can Damage Your Property: HVAC and Appliances
Appliances and HVACs make our lives easier. However, forgetting to keep appliances in top-working order might damage a building.
A faulty dishwasher or washing machine might flood a room. Frayed or damaged cords are a fire and electric shock risk on any electrical appliance. Malfunctioning appliances may also overheat, damaging walls and nearby furniture. Blown fuses, cracked sockets, and burning plastic create fire risks.
HVACs can damage property or people in multiple ways. Moldy filters spread spores that might damage the lungs or cause allergies. Dodgy ductwork and air leaks could open the door to pests or water from outside. Regular inspection by professional HVAC inspectors reduces the risks of HVAC issues.
How Does Humidity or Poor Ventilation Damage a Home Over Time?
Poor ventilation at a property often leads to humidity. High humidity and condensation may lead to mold, health hazards, and structural damage to homes.
A home with poor ventilation in the summer means warm air lingers, requiring more cooling. The opposite is true in winter, with more heating required to warm a building. Both mean higher energy bills. Excess mold spores also pose a risk to the home’s inhabitants, and a damp smell may pervade rooms, furniture, and clothing.
Structurally, humidity will warp wooden furniture, stucco may crumble, and paint will bubble. Stains can appear on walls and ceilings, and wooden beams and frames may rot and expand. Even metal supports may rust and weaken.
Guarding Against Things That Can Damage Your Property
The list of things that can damage your property is, unfortunately, long. Water, fire, and pest issues are common types of damage, alongside appliance malfunctions, humidity, and drainage issues.
Properties can suffer superficial and structural issues from these sources, from peeling paint to cracked foundations and destruction. Root causes could be anything from a simple carpenter bee to a dramatic tornado or a winter storm, like the fatal one that hit Texas in February 2021.
Keeping on top of repairs is crucial to reducing the risk of property damage. Homeowner insurance may protect cherished possessions and homes for extra peace of mind. Check the terms and conditions: policies may or may not cover flood damage, earthquakes, water damage, or personal property losses.
And remember that where there’s blame, there’s a claim. Some people add tort insurance. Tort insurance protects a homeowner when someone is hurt on their property and decides to sue because of a break of legal duty. Tort compensates the victim.
In short, almost everything in your home is susceptible to damage. Insurance, good maintenance, and monitoring issues are the best ways to avoid heartbreaking harm.
Brought to you by amigoenergy
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