Water can be one of the most damaging elements to buildings and their improvements. Even after a major structure fire, water damage is frequently much greater and costlier to repair than the damage caused by the fire itself. Hopefully none of us will have to experience a catastrophe of that degree; however, significant water damage can occur from even the smallest sources and create big headaches.

It is imperative that you report all but the most minor visible water leaks to Management immediately upon discovery, even if you think that you have stopped the leak and cleaned up the mess.

Often people assume that things are isolated to their own units when the reality is that, due to the nature of condominium/attached home living, many other units are affected. For instance, a sink overflow in one unit may create water damage in two or three other units as water can travel under flooring and through demising walls (walls that separate units).

Anytime there is a water leak, the key factors to minimizing damage are stopping the source of the leak, and drying the affected areas so that the moisture does not spread to other building materials. By reporting signs of a water leak to management, even if it has occurred in your unit and you have been able to stop the leak, the Association’s emergency on-call employee can contact the Association’s plumber and ask them to check for signs of a leak, if necessary to measures to stop the leak, and hopefully minimize damage to both your home, and your neighbor’s.

Finally, most insurance policies only cover water damage that results from “sudden and accidental” water leaks, so proper maintenance and paying attention to conditions in your home are important to increasing your (or the Association’s) chances of making an insurance claim for damages in the event of a leak. Be sure you have adequate coverage for your home and possessions.