The Internet of Things: A Cutting-Edge Strategy for Preventing Water Damage in Midlothian, TX

12/17/2021 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: SERVPRO of Waxahachie / Midlothian, a full-service property damage restoration company, explains how technological solutions can help homeowners detect and prevent leaks.

The water damage restoration professionals at SERVPRO of Waxahachie / Midlothian understand that water damage to Midlothian, TX, homes can have many different causes, from weather-related water intrusion to cracked plumbing. Water damage that originates from inside the home can often be the most frustrating since there may be little to no warning signs. Homeowners may also be discouraged by the feeling that they could have acted to stop the damage before it spiraled into an expensive disruption.

What Is the Cost of Non-Weather Water Damage?

The Insurance Information Institute reports, “A Best’s Review article reports that the average homeowner’s water damage claim is now over $6,700. Large losses (over $500,000) have doubled in number over the past three years. Non-weather water damage is now costing insurers (and their policyholders) billions in losses every year. This is happening for several reasons. Our housing stock is aging, as is our infrastructure. More houses are being built and they’re getting bigger – many houses now have extra bathrooms and second-floor laundry rooms, which means more piping.”

The good news — and in some ways, the bad news — is that many non-weather water damage incidents could have been prevented if the homeowner had implemented regular inspection of the plumbing system and maintenance of home appliance water lines. However, inspection and maintenance take time, time that not all homeowners have. Best’s Review notes, “Less than half of the homeowners say they periodically check appliance hoses or conduct water heater maintenance, and only 19% have installed a water shut-off device, according to Chubb’s 2018 Homeowners’ Water Risk Survey.”

Homeowners would do well to seek out leak detection solutions that minimize the amount of time needed for their piping and appliance upkeep routine. As the Insurance Information Institute explains, “That’s where the internet of things (IoT) comes in.”

How Does the Internet of Things Make Leak Detection Easier and More Effective?

Technology has solved and continues to solve many of life’s difficulties, both large and small. When technological solutions are applied to the problem of leaking pipes and appliances, homeowners may find that leak detection and prevention is not so difficult after all.

IBM defines the internet of things as “the concept of connecting any device (so long as it has an on/off switch) to the Internet and to other connected devices. The IoT is a giant network of connected things and people – all of which collect and share data about the way they are used and about the environment around them.”

According to the Insurance Information Institute, “Smart devices and connected sensors installed on piping can detect leaks before they occur or before they cause too much damage. They’re basically smoke detectors, but for water. And they work. Best’s Review noted that installing IoT devices can reduce water losses by up to 93 percent. The Review quoted an IoT company CEO who claimed that leak detection devices could save insurers and their customers $10 billion every year.”

Best’s Review interviewed an insurance executive who provided the following recommendation for IoT device installation: “When those devices are used, it’s also important to ensure that enough devices are in place. A 4,000-square foot home, for instance, should have at least 10 or more sensors to be adequately protected. Also, the installation of smart thermostats can be programmed to keep homes at a steady temperature year-round…”

Why Water Damage Restoration Is Still an Essential Service in Today’s Technological Age

Despite the best advances in leak detection technology and weather forecasting practices, homeowners will still face internally and externally caused water damage at some point in their homeowners journey. However, property owners can put themselves at an advantage by prequalifying a water damage restoration company. By asking the right questions beforehand, the homeowner can have full confidence in the restoration company that he or she has selected. This confidence relieves stress and anxiety when a water damage disaster strikes. A full-service property damage restoration company will be able to remediate water damage and storm damage, address secondary damage such as mold growth, and provide repair and reconstruction services.

To learn more about water damage restoration in Midlothian, TX, contact SERVPRO of Waxahachie / Midlothian by email at acarey@SERVPRO10932.com or by phone at (972) 935-0827.