Flooded basement...almost

[SideShow Bob]

Don’t use the word flood if you plan on an insurance claim for water heater replacement and or water damage from it claim.

[Irving]

Don’t use the word flood if you plan on an insurance claim for water heater replacement and or water damage from it claim.

That's generally true, but EVERYONE that files a water loss claim calls it a flood, and it's never denied because of how they describe it. In general, "flooding" is not covered on a standard insurance policy, but "water loss" is.

[Gman]

Oh and the old water heater was installed about 1988.

Sounds like you and the water heater had a good run.

[Irving]

That's generally true, but EVERYONE that files a water loss claim calls it a flood, and it's never denied because of how they describe it. In general, "flooding" is not covered on a standard insurance policy, but "water loss" is.

Now, if you've been through a hurricane, really avoid all that flood language

[eddiememphis]

If you want to be extra careful you can wire an alarm to a solenoid in the main water line. When the sensor detects water, the solenoid closes and shut the water off.

[Jer]

Good thing you were home to catch it but imagine if you weren't home or.. even worse... out-of-town for the weekend. Yikes!

That's why I added a Z-Wave valve shut-off to my smart home setup plus several Z-Wave flood sensors mounted all over our house in wet areas. Using a smart home automation controller (I use a Vera Plus) you can set up a number of "scenes" for various events to do whatever you want. I have mine set so that if any of the flood sensors detect water they will automatically shut off the water main w/o any additional intervention from me. Doesn't matter if I'm home, sleeping, out-of-the-country or whatever. Should this happen, I have it set to notify me as well. This allows me to further inspect (if I'm at home or via camera where possible when away) the alarm trigger and possibly turn the water back on when all-clear. Very useful.

Reading events like this reminds me of how good of an investment on time and money a smart home automation system can be.

[Irving]

Or in your vacation home where the last time someone was there was for Thanksgiving, didn't shut the water down, and showed up for New Years to find a burst pipe had been spraying at full pressure for months.

[MrPrena]

Or in your vacation home where the last time someone was there was for Thanksgiving, didn't shut the water down, and showed up for New Years to find a burst pipe had been spraying at full pressure for months.

That would be horrible. I bet some handyman can make a great $$ just managing houses in aspen/snowmass area.

Great idea to have vacation home at places that doesn't go lower than 32-28f.

[Hummer]

Replace a (China made) water heater every ten years simply on betting odds? I thought you were supposed to wait until it actually fails, and leaks. Our water heater was manufactured in March 1965, for Montgomery Ward. Yep, still works fine, year after year. Paid for long ago. I have high expectations. American made, it should outlive me.

Sure, I'd like to have a high tech system like Jer's and I probably should hire someone saavy to build it.

I recently installed three basement sump pump systems with battery backup and will soon add a sewer lift station for a new bath. When the power goes out I can't pump flood water or run sprinklers to suppress fire. The outage during the 2013 flood and the recent fire related outage makes apparent the need for an auto backup generator. I have a gen set but it won't work when we've evacuated. It has to run automatically off a large propane tank. It's all on the punch list for next spring.