Mar 30, 2015 By David Singer 2 min read

Frozen pipes make way for flooded basements as Spring brings rain that may catch homeowners off guard. In 2014, Pennsylvania was the number seven leading state for insurance claims related to water damage with 14,235 claims costing $81,206, according to data with State Farm Insurance, which was nearly 5,000 more claims than was reported in 2013.

“Spring is the time to do your checkups in addition to any cleaning. That’s cleaning out cabinets where pipes are, around washer and dryer, checking those hoses … a couple hundred dollars invested to replace hoses or gutters with save you thousands in potential damage,” said State Farm spokesman Dave Phillips.

With basement appliances the focal point of any potential flooding, Phillips said it’s important for everyone in a household to know where the master water shut-off valve is.

“If the washer goes while you’re not home, you want someone to be able to find it easily, or already knows where it is,” he said.

As for flooding damage caused by internal pipes, most of it should be covered under a typical homeowner’s insurance policy, but outside waters from runoff and storms call for extra protection.

“That is covered under federal flood insurance if it comes from outside the home,” he said, “because homeowner policies do not cover flood losses.”

Other preventative tips offered by State Farm agents are to re-caulk windows and paneling near wet environments; checking to make sure the home is equipped with a portable sump pump; and checking that the sewer line is clear and not in danger of backing up.

Other measures, like a water detection system, provide practical prevention, while also potentially offering insurance discounts.