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Water Damage Records for an Insurance Claim in Lafayette, LA

The moisture readings, photographs and written logs kept on every visit, so that an insurer can see what the water did and what was done about it.

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Claim Records

Insurance Claim Moisture Records: what it covers

Quick answer

Insurance claim moisture records are the readings, photographs and written logs that show where water went, how the building was dried and what was removed. The Louisiana Department of Insurance forwards a homeowner's complaint to the insurer for an explanation, and the insurer reads these records. Lafayette Water Damage Restoration keeps them on every visit in Lafayette and Lafayette Parish, and calls are answered 24/7.

Insurance Claim Moisture Records illustration for Lafayette, LA

A water claim is decided on the evidence. The insurer asks where the water came from, how long it stood, what was damaged and what was done to dry the building. Those questions are answered by the records, and a claim without them is harder to explain on either side.

The crew keeps the records as part of the job, not as an extra. Each visit adds readings, photographs and a note of what was moved, removed or dried, so the file grows as the work goes on. The owner gets a copy, and the copy is the one the owner should keep.

Call (833) 490-5225 at any hour if water has damaged your building and you expect to make a claim. Ask the crew to record the first visit in full, and ask for a copy of each visit's readings and photographs. A crew is sent as soon as one is free, and the call does not include a promised time of arrival.

Service area
Lafayette & Lafayette Parish
Availability
Phones answered 24/7
Warning signs

Signs you need insurance claim moisture records

Do not remove wet material for the sake of a photograph, and do not disturb a damaged area before the crew has recorded it. Keep the power off to wet areas, and do not run equipment in a way that moves water into dry rooms. If the loss is large, keep people out of the affected area until the crew has documented it.

  • A claim that the insurer has questioned, with a request for more detail about the water or the drying
  • A loss with no photographs of the water and no written record of the first hours
  • Materials removed without a note of what they were or why they came out
  • A dispute about whether the water was from outside, from a pipe or from a drain
  • An adjuster who asks for the moisture readings from each visit
  • A complaint to the insurer that has not been answered in writing
Job stories

Typical jobs for insurance claim moisture records

Typical job
Illustration: An owner builds a claim file after rain comes in through the side door

An owner builds a claim file after rain comes in through the side door

What homeowners notice
After heavy rain, water came in through a side door and across the kitchen floor of a home. The owner has filed a claim and is asked by the insurer for the readings and the photographs of the first day.
What we do
The crew records the source, the category and the rooms affected on the first visit, with photographs taken from the same positions as later visits. Readings are kept at the same points on every visit, and each removed item is logged with its location and the reason for its removal. The equipment log shows when each unit was set and moved, and a final report is prepared with dated copies for the owner.
What to expect
The owner gives the insurer the final report, the readings and the photographs, and asks the insurer to explain its position in writing. The file is complete and dated, so any question the insurer raises can be answered from the record.

2 hours for the first record, then one hour per visit typical visit

Options

Types and options for insurance claim moisture records

A claim where the cause is disputed

Where an insurer and an owner disagree about the cause, the photographs of the first hours and the readings of the water matter most. The crew records what it saw and does not guess at the cause. Its report says what the evidence shows and what it does not, so the insurer can read the record for itself.

A claim for a large loss over several visits

A large loss runs over many visits, and the file grows with each one. The crew keeps the readings and logs in the same order every time, so an adjuster can follow the work from the first day to the last. The owner can ask for a summary at any point.

A claim for a small loss in one room

A small loss in one room still needs a record, though it is shorter. A few photographs, a reading or two and a list of what came out are enough for most files. The crew keeps the record complete even when the loss is small.

A claim for a building that was closed for a time

A building that stayed closed after water can have a changed condition by the time the crew arrives. The record shows what the crew found on arrival and what it changed. Any mold or damage that developed during the closed period is noted, so it can be assessed separately.

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What does an insurer look for in a water claim?

An insurer generally looks for the cause of the water, the timing of the loss, the extent of the damage and the steps taken to limit further damage. The moisture readings and photographs answer the questions about extent and steps.

Policies often distinguish between sudden water losses and gradual ones, and between water from inside a building and water from outside. The insurer decides which applies. The records show the facts that the decision depends on, such as when the water arrived and how fast it was reported.

An insurer also looks for proof that the owner acted to limit the damage. Prompt drying, a record of the steps taken and the reasons for each removal are the kind of evidence that answers that question.

Why do the moisture readings matter to an adjuster?

Moisture readings show how far the water went and when the materials were dry. An adjuster uses them to decide what must be replaced and what can be dried, so the readings should be taken at the same points on each visit.

A single reading tells the adjuster very little. A series of readings at the same points shows the trend, and the trend shows whether the drying was working. Readings written on a sheet with the location and the time are much easier to rely on than a note saying the room was dry.

The readings are also the basis for the dry standard. The record should say what the dry reference was and where it was taken, so the adjuster can see that the standard was set before the drying began.

How does a complaint about a claim work in Louisiana?

A homeowner can file a complaint with the Louisiana Department of Insurance online at its consumer complaints page. The department sends an acknowledgement and a file number, and it forwards the complaint to the insurer for an explanation.

The Louisiana Department of Insurance is the regulator to contact about a homeowner's claim complaint. Its consumer complaint page is at ldi.la.gov/consumers/complaints, and a paper form can be requested by phone at 1-800-259-5300. The complaint is filed under the option for a consumer, and the department's guidance explains the steps.

The department forwards the complaint to the insurer and asks for an explanation. The insurer's reply is the part of the process where the records matter most, because the reply responds to the facts in the file. Keep copies of everything you send and receive.

What should I keep for my own file?

Keep the crew's final report, the readings, the photographs, the removal log, the equipment log, your policy, every letter from the insurer and copies of any complaint you file. Keep them together and in date order.

Photographs with the date and time are the strongest form of evidence, so keep the originals as well as any copies. Write a short note of each phone call with the insurer, with the date, the person and what was said. A note made on the day is worth more than a memory a year later.

Ask for the records in writing if you do not already have them. A complete file makes a claim faster to review and easier to explain if it is disputed.

Our process

How our insurance claim moisture records visit works

  1. First visit record

    The first visit records the water source, the category, the rooms affected and the time of the call and arrival. Photographs are taken from the same positions as later visits, so the change over time can be seen. The baseline readings and the dry reference are written down.

  2. Readings at each visit

    Moisture readings are taken at the same points on every visit, in the floor, the wall and the framing. The points are marked and listed, so the record shows the same locations over time. A reading that is not taken at the same point cannot be compared, and the crew keeps them consistent.

  3. Removal log

    Each item or section that is removed is logged with a description, its location, the reason and a photograph. Items that are kept are logged too. The log lets the owner and the insurer see what was lost and what was saved.

  4. Equipment log

    The equipment placed, the rooms it was set in, and the days it ran are recorded. The equipment log shows how the drying was carried out and when it was moved, which is one of the things an insurer asks about.

  5. Final report and copy to the owner

    When the drying is finished, the crew gives the owner a final report with the readings, photographs and logs. The owner keeps the copy, and the original stays on the crew's file. Both are dated.

Lafayette Parish

Why insurance claim moisture records is different in Lafayette and Acadiana

The records in Lafayette follow the same format as anywhere else, and the difference is in the facts they describe. The August 2016 flood across Lafayette Parish is part of the record for buildings in the area, and the readings from that period are the reference for how the water behaved.

A claim in Lafayette Parish is handled by the owner's own insurer, under the owner's own policy. The records are kept by the crew and given to the owner, and the owner decides what to send to the insurer and when.

The humid air of the Acadiana region can keep a wall damp for longer than a drier climate, so the readings are read over several visits. A reading that drops steadily is the evidence that the drying is working, and that trend is part of what the insurer reads.

Where we work

Insurance Claim Moisture Records across Lafayette Parish

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FAQ

Insurance Claim Moisture Records FAQs

Do I need to keep the damaged items?

Keep items until the crew and the insurer have seen them, and do not throw away anything that may be evidence. The crew logs each item and tells you which ones it expects the insurer to want to see.

Can the crew write the claim for me?

The crew keeps the records of the work it does. The claim itself is made by the owner to the insurer, and the crew can provide the records the owner needs for it.

What if the insurer asks for records that were not kept?

Tell the crew what is missing and ask it what it can provide. Explain the gap in writing to the insurer. Do not invent records, because a false record can damage the claim.

Does a complaint to the Department of Insurance cost money?

The department's complaint process is a route for consumers, and the department's guidance explains how to file. Ask the department about any fee or requirement before you file, and keep a record of the reply.

How long does the insurer take to answer?

No time is promised here. Insurers follow their own procedures and the department's guidance, and the file number from the department is what you use when you follow up.

Does the crew speak to the insurer?

The crew can speak to the insurer about the work it did, with your permission. It does not decide the claim, and the insurer decides what the policy pays.

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