Water damage and an insurance claim at the same time is a lot. The claim goes smoother when you know which policy applies, what to photograph and who does what.
This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Your policy wording decides what's covered.
Number for Water Damage, Fire, Mold & Sewage
Undercroft Restoration is a free referral service, not a restoration company. Calls are connected to independent local service providers that serve your area, and calls may be recorded. The work is done by those providers, not by this site.
The first question an adjuster asks is where the water came from. The answer decides which policy, if any, applies.
| What happened | Usually handled by | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pipe, water heater or appliance failed suddenly | Homeowners, condo (HO-6) or renters policy | Slow leaks and wear are usually excluded |
| River, brook, storm or surface water came in | Flood policy (NFIP or private) | Standard homeowners policies exclude flood |
| Sewage or water backed up through a drain or sump | Water backup endorsement, if you have one | Often a separate, smaller limit |
| Fire, smoke or the water used to fight a fire | Homeowners, condo (HO-6) or renters policy | Fire is a standard covered risk; hose water is part of the fire loss; ask about additional living expenses |
| Mold | Usually only after a covered water loss | Often capped; long-term moisture usually excluded |
A pipe that splits, a washer hose that bursts, a water heater that lets go overnight: most homeowners, condo and renters policies cover sudden and accidental discharge. What they usually don't cover is the damage from a slow drip that went on for weeks, or the cost of the failed part itself. Report it quickly; a delay can raise questions about how long the leak ran. More on these losses on the water damage restoration page.
A flooded basement can fall under three different answers. If a river, brook or surface water came in, it's a flood claim, and only a flood policy covers it. FEMA's basement fact sheet explains that NFIP flood insurance covers certain building items below grade, like furnaces, water heaters, electrical boxes, sump pumps and cleanup, but not finished floors, walls or most contents. If the sump pump failed or water backed up through a drain, that's usually a water backup endorsement on your homeowners policy. If groundwater seeped in slowly, it may not be covered by either. See flooded basement cleanup.
As The Hanover explains, homeowners insurance doesn't typically cover water backup damage; it's optional coverage you add on. Check your declarations page for "water backup" or "sewer and drain backup," and note its limit. See sewage cleanup.
New Jersey's Department of Banking and Insurance tells policyholders to photograph all damage before throwing anything away. That one habit makes more difference to a claim than anything else. Keep:
Tell your insurer promptly, and take reasonable steps to stop more damage. Waiting for the adjuster while water sits and mold grows can hurt the claim.
A good restoration company produces paperwork your adjuster can work from:
A good crew photographs and measures on day one and sends final photos when the job wraps up. Ask the company you're connected with for copies of everything.
New Jersey's claim settlement rules, N.J.A.C. 11:2-17.7, set deadlines for insurers:
If you think your insurer isn't following these rules, you can contact the NJ Department of Banking and Insurance.
When you talk to your insurer's adjuster, stick to the facts you know: when you found the water, where it came from if you know, what you did about it. Don't guess about the cause or how long it's been leaking. Show them your photos and documents, and ask for anything they tell you in writing.
Here's the straight version. Undercroft Restoration is a referral service. When you call (201) 409-9820, you're connected with an independent, third-party restoration company that serves your area. That company does the work and produces the documentation. Some companies bill insurers directly; some don't. That depends on the company, so ask them.
Undercroft Restoration doesn't handle claims, talk to your insurer for you, or promise anything about coverage. What this line can do is get you connected quickly, and this page gives you the information to file a clean claim yourself. For how the line works across every service, see the home page.
Calls answered 24/7, from Bergen and Middlesex counties. Take photos first if it's safe, then call.
Undercroft Restoration is a free referral service, not a restoration company. Calls are connected to independent local service providers that serve your area, and calls may be recorded. The work is done by those providers, not by this site.
Calls answered 24/7. Pick the number for your problem, then say your town and what happened.
Stop the water and make the area safe, take photos, then do both. Getting the water out quickly is a reasonable step to prevent more damage, which your policy expects. Notify your insurer right away if you can.
Yes, after you've photographed everything. Extraction and drying to stop further damage shouldn't wait. Keep damaged items or samples until the adjuster says they can go, and keep every receipt.
It depends on where the water came from. A burst pipe is usually covered. River or surface flooding needs a flood policy. A sump failure or backup usually needs a backup endorsement. Slow groundwater seepage often isn't covered.
Don't guess. Don't say how long it's been leaking unless you know, and don't agree to a cause you're not sure of. Stick to what you saw and did, and back it up with photos and documents.
A mold insurance claim is usually covered only when the mold came from a covered, sudden water loss, and many policies cap mold coverage. Mold from long-term humidity or slow leaks is usually excluded.
Ask for the reasons in writing, with the policy language they rely on. Review it against your policy. You can contact the NJ Department of Banking and Insurance, hire a licensed public adjuster, or talk to an attorney.
Only through their own renters policy. The landlord's policy usually covers the building, not the tenant's things. Renters policies may also cover a place to stay while the unit is repaired.
Under N.J.A.C. 11:2-17.7, property claims should be settled within 30 calendar days of a properly completed proof of loss, with written notice if more time is needed. Agreed amounts must be paid within 10 working days.