OMG Now what do I Do?
- Thread starter Tingy99
- Start date
gary greguire
Premium Member
I don't think I would move the tank just use the shop vac or a carpet steam cleaner to suck up what you can.
Tingy99
Member
The Salinity was under 1.
I filled a 30 gal. and a 20 gal. with part of the tank water and moved all the rock, corals I could find and the fish and split them between the two.
The main tank is out on the deck festering. So far the casulaities are the substrate, a cleaner shrimp, and a sea slug.
Called the insurance company, and someone came out and pulled the carpet and put in all kinds of fans, dehumidifiers, and sprayed some antifungal stuff.
I put the skimmer on the 30 gallon, and a heater and a power head in each tank.
It's going to be at least three days untill I can move the 75 back in so I need to figure out how to light the two tanks for the next couple days.
Did I mention this was my wifes fault? Maybe I can talk her into a bigger one now lol.
I filled a 30 gal. and a 20 gal. with part of the tank water and moved all the rock, corals I could find and the fish and split them between the two.
The main tank is out on the deck festering. So far the casulaities are the substrate, a cleaner shrimp, and a sea slug.
Called the insurance company, and someone came out and pulled the carpet and put in all kinds of fans, dehumidifiers, and sprayed some antifungal stuff.
I put the skimmer on the 30 gallon, and a heater and a power head in each tank.
It's going to be at least three days untill I can move the 75 back in so I need to figure out how to light the two tanks for the next couple days.
Did I mention this was my wifes fault? Maybe I can talk her into a bigger one now lol.
You will most likely lose almost everything. Happened to me. You will make it through. Clean up is a pain and it might smell something aweful. I would try to dry as much as you can and use fans and borrow some if you have to. Hopefully the carpet will dry under the tank.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
FWIW and JMO:
Flooding the house concerns me much more than keeping my aquarium automatically topped off.
I never run an auto- topoff, although I know there are reliable double failsafe ones out there.
I calculate evaporation beforehand and slowly add water to the system for the number of days I won't be able to manually top off for evap.
Sounds low tech, eh? It is.
Flooding the house concerns me much more than keeping my aquarium automatically topped off.
I never run an auto- topoff, although I know there are reliable double failsafe ones out there.
I calculate evaporation beforehand and slowly add water to the system for the number of days I won't be able to manually top off for evap.
Sounds low tech, eh? It is.
i have always been very wary of "out of tank experiences," meaning I have never had a sump or overflow. If it's in the tank, then it's in the daggon' tank. no leaks unless the glass breaks.... one day I would like to have a sump or basement-based overflow & pump system, but it seems as if the hassles are much more difficult....
that being said, it seems as if you are a bit luckier than most - insurance dudes sweeping in to fix things & new carpet!? wow!. i have warped boards and black spots to show for my hobby endeavors....... so, count your blessings & forge ahead! bigger is better! (especially if you can blame it on your significant other)
that being said, it seems as if you are a bit luckier than most - insurance dudes sweeping in to fix things & new carpet!? wow!. i have warped boards and black spots to show for my hobby endeavors....... so, count your blessings & forge ahead! bigger is better! (especially if you can blame it on your significant other)
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
IME insurance doesn't cover damages caused by an aquarium.
Tingy99
Member
The tank has been taken down. Everthing is currently in smaller tanks in the basement. I had to remove everything out of the room to remove the carpet including the tank.
Our insurance company is footing the cleanup bill. Service Master has been doing the repair work. There have been 10 industrial fans and 2 industrial dehumidifiers running since Monday.
They sprayed some antifungal chemical to prevent mold from growing. Everthing is looking good so far. Today they removed all of the equipment except for 4 of the fans. Apparently one of the floor joists still reads above average in humidity.
Tuesday they are coming to reinstall the carpet.
This wasn't an auto-top off failure. I have a line from ro unit that I use to fill the tank daily with a manual valve on the end. What happened was my wife opened it and stuck it in the tank then forgot about it and went to work.
Our insurance company is footing the cleanup bill. Service Master has been doing the repair work. There have been 10 industrial fans and 2 industrial dehumidifiers running since Monday.
They sprayed some antifungal chemical to prevent mold from growing. Everthing is looking good so far. Today they removed all of the equipment except for 4 of the fans. Apparently one of the floor joists still reads above average in humidity.
Tuesday they are coming to reinstall the carpet.
This wasn't an auto-top off failure. I have a line from ro unit that I use to fill the tank daily with a manual valve on the end. What happened was my wife opened it and stuck it in the tank then forgot about it and went to work.
dreaminmel
New member
Insurance does in fact cover damages from a tank. It just won't cover the tank inhabitants. The catch is that people need to determine whether or not it's a good idea to make a claim. If the total repair costs are @ $700 and you have a $500 deductible, making a claim for a payout of $200 that will stay on your claim record for 3 years will potentially hurt you in the future if you have to make a much larger claim. A lot of companies will non-renew your policy for 2 or more claims w/in a 3 year time frame because at that point you are a higher risk.
A lot of agencies don't tell people that and just put the claim right through without educating people on possible side effects. Premiums are a lot higher for people who have to shop around for new insurance because of claim history non-renewal.
I see people on a regular basis going from a comfortable $500 per year homeowner's premium to over $800 simply because of this issue.
A lot of agencies don't tell people that and just put the claim right through without educating people on possible side effects. Premiums are a lot higher for people who have to shop around for new insurance because of claim history non-renewal.
I see people on a regular basis going from a comfortable $500 per year homeowner's premium to over $800 simply because of this issue.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
Maybe it depends on the insurance company or policy.
I see a lot of threads on RC where insurance would not cover the damages. I know of some people locally that didn't have water damage covered by insurance.
RO water production (manual or auto... whatever you prefer to call it) without the use of a float valve will eventually cause a flood. It's just a matter of time.
Heck, I'm paranoid even when using a float valve on my RO. I've seen too many floods! As soon as the barrel of RO water is full I shut off the water supply.
I see a lot of threads on RC where insurance would not cover the damages. I know of some people locally that didn't have water damage covered by insurance.
RO water production (manual or auto... whatever you prefer to call it) without the use of a float valve will eventually cause a flood. It's just a matter of time.
Heck, I'm paranoid even when using a float valve on my RO. I've seen too many floods! As soon as the barrel of RO water is full I shut off the water supply.
dreaminmel
New member
There are standard forms used in NY state. HO3 standard home policies and HO4 renter's policies normally include this coverage. About the only time this may not be covered is if someone goes the absolute cheapest route and gets a Dwelling Fire policy. There is also an optional endorsement for water backup of sewers and drains that is not standard but our agency always adds this coverage regardless as it's a minor premium and customers appreciate it in their time of need. I am sure that direct writing companies such as Allstate and State Farm may be different as they do many things their own way in the industry.
You do, however, always need to read the details of your policy (a good solution if you have problems going to sleep at night
). As much as I hate to say it not all claims representatives are willing to "hand over" what is and is not covered unless you know enough to use the proper terminology. A friend of mine was insured with Company "A" and was rearended. She had hundreds of dollars in stereo equipment permanently installed in her trunk. Company "A" told her that was not covered. I provided her with the legal auto insurance language that states ALL permanently installed stereo equipment IS covered, she faxed it to them and received reimbursement the same day.
There are many things that are specifically spelled out in the language that legally must be included with your policy every year. If you read it, you will see coverage for things you weren't aware of and also a lack of coverage for things you thought should be. As home insurance is supposedly a "voluntary" market, it is your responsibility to understand your policy. Given the wording, that can be difficult so that is when a call to your agent is beneficial.
You do, however, always need to read the details of your policy (a good solution if you have problems going to sleep at night
). As much as I hate to say it not all claims representatives are willing to "hand over" what is and is not covered unless you know enough to use the proper terminology. A friend of mine was insured with Company "A" and was rearended. She had hundreds of dollars in stereo equipment permanently installed in her trunk. Company "A" told her that was not covered. I provided her with the legal auto insurance language that states ALL permanently installed stereo equipment IS covered, she faxed it to them and received reimbursement the same day.There are many things that are specifically spelled out in the language that legally must be included with your policy every year. If you read it, you will see coverage for things you weren't aware of and also a lack of coverage for things you thought should be. As home insurance is supposedly a "voluntary" market, it is your responsibility to understand your policy. Given the wording, that can be difficult so that is when a call to your agent is beneficial.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
Great info. I think this thread is destined to become an important one that I'll refer to in the future.
Tingy99
Member
I agree with dreaminmel. We thought about not submitting the claim because of the $500 deductible and the hit on the non-renewal which they never tell you about.
We came to the conclusion we are looking at at least a $2000 cleanup cost, probably more if the carpet does get replaced.
We are all to familiar with the "hidden list" the insurance companies keep due to ice damage we have had over the years.
The ice damage makes me laugh that they will cover the cost of repairing the damage but not fixing the roof to solve the problem in the first place.
My thought is why not place the claim if you need it? Thats why we have insurance to begin with.
The choice was:
A: Make the claim, get it fixed, and hope the insurance company doesn't drop us.
B: Try to do it myself and run the risk having a stinky house full mold and a sick family.
We went with option A.
We came to the conclusion we are looking at at least a $2000 cleanup cost, probably more if the carpet does get replaced.
We are all to familiar with the "hidden list" the insurance companies keep due to ice damage we have had over the years.
The ice damage makes me laugh that they will cover the cost of repairing the damage but not fixing the roof to solve the problem in the first place.
My thought is why not place the claim if you need it? Thats why we have insurance to begin with.
The choice was:
A: Make the claim, get it fixed, and hope the insurance company doesn't drop us.
B: Try to do it myself and run the risk having a stinky house full mold and a sick family.
We went with option A.
dreaminmel
New member
With the question on why they won't pay the cost to repair the roof... they consider that the homeowner's maintenance and upkeep responsibility. Hence, why they will cancel a new policy if they go look at the house and there are curling or mossy shingles... either the homeowner has to quickly repair/replace the roof or the policy cancels and they must try to find a company that will actually insure that home.
I have people who call me to make a claim as they're furnace quit on them. As much as I'd like to tell them it's covered, it is not. It is the homeowner's responsibility to maintain their home. If you have water leaking into your home through a roof or window and you do nothing to stop the problem the company can refuse to pay for any water damages that arise from that leak. Also, if you have any flooding in your basement and do nothing about it and mold takes over the insurance company can refuse payment.
It kinda relates to this: would you expect your insurance company to buy you a new dishwasher or replace the bad brakes on your car? Those are maintenance related.
I've started a new thread with a link to the insurance department for anyone craving a better understanding.
Also: With regard to "that's why we have insurance"... I hear that many times and my only answer is this. Homeowner's companies are in a voluntary market. They try to charge accurate premiums based on the risk involved in each scenario. Homeowner's insurance ideally is for the disastrous incidents in which there is severe damage to your home which you financially cannot take care of yourself. It is one of those intangible goods that causes many people to turn to insurance fraud in an attempt to get some of their money back which only ends up increasing rates across the board.
I have people who call me to make a claim as they're furnace quit on them. As much as I'd like to tell them it's covered, it is not. It is the homeowner's responsibility to maintain their home. If you have water leaking into your home through a roof or window and you do nothing to stop the problem the company can refuse to pay for any water damages that arise from that leak. Also, if you have any flooding in your basement and do nothing about it and mold takes over the insurance company can refuse payment.
It kinda relates to this: would you expect your insurance company to buy you a new dishwasher or replace the bad brakes on your car? Those are maintenance related.
I've started a new thread with a link to the insurance department for anyone craving a better understanding.
Also: With regard to "that's why we have insurance"... I hear that many times and my only answer is this. Homeowner's companies are in a voluntary market. They try to charge accurate premiums based on the risk involved in each scenario. Homeowner's insurance ideally is for the disastrous incidents in which there is severe damage to your home which you financially cannot take care of yourself. It is one of those intangible goods that causes many people to turn to insurance fraud in an attempt to get some of their money back which only ends up increasing rates across the board.
dreaminmel
New member
Also another tidbit... auto insurance rates are going to keep going up on a regular basis for at least two reasons... The more technology used in car manufacturing, the higher the repair cost. The more medical treatment costs, the higher the liability and medical payments premiums will go.
Whereas damaged bumpers could be replaced for a couple hundred dollars before, now they cost much more due to technology. Great example is the minivans that show you what your backing up into. Also windshields used to cost less to replace until they started building in antennas and utilizing night vision.
Horse and buggy anyone? Jamie?
Whereas damaged bumpers could be replaced for a couple hundred dollars before, now they cost much more due to technology. Great example is the minivans that show you what your backing up into. Also windshields used to cost less to replace until they started building in antennas and utilizing night vision.
Horse and buggy anyone? Jamie?
Tingy99
Member
I'm not dis-agreeing with you. Trust me I fully understand what your saying. We did put put on a new roof, plywood and all I was just saying that it's kinda a funny the way the system works.
I think 100 gallons or so of saltwater running rampant through the floors and walls of the house is pretty severe if not taken care of correctly. Thats what I meant by the comment "that's why we have insurance." I didn't mean I want them to say replace my aluminum siding because my kids put a dent in it with a baseball.
I think 100 gallons or so of saltwater running rampant through the floors and walls of the house is pretty severe if not taken care of correctly. Thats what I meant by the comment "that's why we have insurance." I didn't mean I want them to say replace my aluminum siding because my kids put a dent in it with a baseball.
dreaminmel
New member
No, you're fine, I understood completely. Just figured I'd do some off the clock work and try to help people understand because it seems that not many other people do. Every time I do a quote for someone and explain things they seem to get upset that it's the first time anyone's done this for them.
One of these days I'll start my own company... when I win the lottery.
I found health insurance for my dog but still haven't been able to find a way to actually insure the contents of my tank. It may be a hard thing for an actuary to calculate risk for though due to concerns w/ being able to prove hobbyist fault vs. something else.
How are all your inhabitants doing right now?
One of these days I'll start my own company... when I win the lottery.
I found health insurance for my dog but still haven't been able to find a way to actually insure the contents of my tank. It may be a hard thing for an actuary to calculate risk for though due to concerns w/ being able to prove hobbyist fault vs. something else.
How are all your inhabitants doing right now?
I would rather have salt water spill on my carpet than fresh water, salt water boils off quicker and may not leave the bacteria stink in your house. Carpet clean up people will throw salt on a carpet after clean up. I spilled 20 gallons of salt water on my carpet once, had no problems cleaning it up. Same thing happened to me with fresh water once, and it left a horrible nasty smell in the house.
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