MOSES LAKE — With fall turning into winter, there’s always a risk of water damage to the home from a sudden thaw or heavy rain or snowfall.
“(Water damage) is one of the most common and expensive claims that homeowners need to file,” said Jennifer Hawton, a spokesperson for Pemco Insurance. “It accounts for 25% of all homeowner insurance claims, and it can move people out of their homes for weeks … but it is also one of the most preventable kinds of damage.”
Between 2018 and 2022, the most recent years for which data was available, 1.6% of insured householders filed claims for water or freezing damage, according to the Insurance Information Institute’s figures. The average water or freezing damage claim was almost $14,000. That’s a sizable chunk of money, not to mention the hassle of finding somewhere to stay while the damage is being repaired…