Water Damage Claims in Florida

Has your home or business suffered water damage? Mold can start growing within 24 to 48 hours of a water loss. Speed is the whole game on a water claim. Different types of water damage require specific drying methods, and the first two days shape both the damage and the claim.

When you have a sudden or accidental discharge of water in your residential or commercial property, Policyholder Advocacy Group should be your first call. Call 800.511.2240. We document the loss from day one so the record supports your claim.

How water damage occurs

• Air conditioning leaks and drain line backups
• Broken or burst pipes
• Appliance and water heater leaks
• Shower pan and toilet failures
• Sewer backups and overflows
• Roof leaks and storm water entry

What to do when water damage occurs

• Call us the moment you find the damage.
• Turn off the water in the event of an active leak.
• Move personal property out of the path of the water.
• Photograph and list every item the water touched.
• Call a qualified plumber to stop the source.
• Hire a professional who can dry out your home.

What not to do

• Do not repair the damage before we inspect the area.
• Do not throw out any damaged personal property.
• Do not sign any agreement without an estimate in writing.
• Do not assume you have no claim. Let us help you determine that.

The first 48 hours decide the record

Water moves through walls, cabinets, and floors long after the surface looks dry. Baseboards swell, flooring cups, and cabinets take on water at the base first. The record of those first two days decides how much of that hidden damage lands in your claim. Photos with dates, a written list of damaged items, and the plumber’s findings fix the loss in time. Without them, the claim becomes your word against a dry wall months later.

What we do on a water claim

We inspect the affected area and document the full loss, including damage behind walls and under floors. We match the loss to your policy and prepare the claim. We meet the carrier’s adjuster at your property and follow the claim through. You get one point of contact and straight answers while your home is being dried and repaired.

Drying records protect your claim

Professional drying is not only about saving the building. The drying company’s logs show when the water arrived, how far it spread, and what it touched. Those records become part of your claim file. Keep the plumber’s invoice, the drying contract, and every photo in one folder. A clean paper trail is hard to argue with.

Condos and commercial properties

Water in a condo or a commercial building raises a second question. Which policy pays, the association’s master policy or the unit owner’s policy? The answer depends on where the water started and what it damaged. We sort that boundary early so the claim goes to the right carrier with the right record.

Why water claims get denied

A common denial letter calls the leak long term and gradual. Dated photos, a plumber’s invoice, and a fast report help prove the loss was sudden. That proof is much harder to build a month later. The carrier’s adjuster represents the carrier. We represent you, and we build that record while the evidence is still wet. If your claim has already been denied on those grounds, bring us the letter. A denial built on a thin record can be answered with a full one.

Some water losses start above the ceiling. If the source is the roof, see our roof leak damage page. If the water came in during the storm, see our hurricane and wind damage page.

Policyholder Advocacy Group represents the policyholder, never the carrier. Nathan Sheppard has worked Florida claims for 17 years. We present the claim under the terms and conditions of your policy, so you pursue the full amount your policy owes you. On cost: For residential claims, Florida caps the fee at 10% during the first year after a state of emergency declaration. And 10% of nothing is nothing. Without representation, many homeowners walk away with far less or nothing at all.

Not sure your damage is covered? Start with a Free 21-Point Storm Inspection. We document the full loss and tell you plainly whether you have a claim. Call 800.511.2240.