Common Causes of Home Damage

Owning a house is one of the biggest achievements in life. In most cases, it takes years of hard work, financial responsibility, and a little bit of luck to find the right house in the perfect location. Once you have the keys in your hand, you can finally breathe a sigh of relief as you are now officially a homeowner.

With that accomplishment, though, comes great responsibility. You now must fix that leaky faucet, and no more calling the landlord when your air conditioner isn’t cooling as well as it should. You not only have to be vigilant to catch household issues but must also act quickly to either make the repairs yourself or call a professional to take care of the job.

Impact of natural disasters

However, there are some issues that are too big for homeowners to handle on their own. No matter where you live, there’s likely to be some kind of natural disaster that could strike without a moment’s notice. For example, in parts of California, earthquakes are a constant threat, while in the middle of the country, tornadoes pop up with little warning. In 2021, 1 in 10 homes (of more than 14.5 million homes) were impacted by natural disasters.

When weather-related damage does occur, the total cost to rebuild or repair affected properties can reach into the billions. In 2021, the United States was hit with 20 different billion-dollar weather and climate disasters. While most homeowners have insurance, coverage varies and if you don’t have the right kind, you could be left holding the bill.

So, which types of home damage should you make sure you’re insured against? The Insurance Information Institute crunched the numbers and found the most common types of home damage come from weather events, but there are other causes you should be protected against as well.

Causes of home damage

Note: Info from 2020

1. Wind and hail

Wind and hail are one of the leading causes of property damage and it’s easy to see why. Hurricanes, tornadoes, and severe storms all pack powerful winds and can rip the siding off your house, cause large trees to fall on your roof, and break windows.

Hail is essentially solid ice that forms inside a thunderstorm and when it falls from the sky, it can take aim at the exterior of your home with force.

2. Fire and lightning

Fire is especially scary because of how easily one can start. A single spark is all it takes and before you know it, your entire home can be engulfed. Even if you have a fire extinguisher nearby and you’re able to limit the damage done by the flames, the smoke may linger and cause further damage.

Lightning can often be the cause of fire, but on its own, lighting can pose a significant threat to your home, and it doesn’t even need to be a direct hit. If a bolt strikes a tree near your house, it can weaken the tree and cause it to fall on your property. The metal around your house can also act as a conductor, so if lighting strikes the ground nearby, it can travel to your electrical grid and destroy the wiring in your house.

3. Water damage

There are two types of water damage you should be concerned about. The first is weather-related, so think flooding from a storm. If you live in a floodplain, you’ll want to make sure you do everything you can to seal the exterior of your home and invest in flood insurance.

The other type is non-weather-related flooding, which is what would happen if a pipe in your home froze due to cold weather and burst. Another example would be if an appliance malfunctioned and started to leak water. These plumbing issues can usually be fixed but if they’re not addressed promptly, mold could begin to develop and cause further damage that is not as easily repaired.

The Vivint Water Sensor is a great way to monitor your appliances, bathrooms, and everywhere else where water damage could occur. If moisture is detected, we’ll let you know right away so you can act quickly.

4. Burglary

Theft doesn’t rank as high as the other types of home damage, but it’s one to be concerned about nonetheless. This type of damage occurs when a burglar forcibly breaks into your home and causes damage on their way to steal your possessions. One way to potentially prevent this from happening is to have a Vivint smart home system.

The Outdoor Camera Pro (Gen 2) and Doorbell Camera Pro (Gen 2) come equipped with Smart Deter technology, so when someone lurking near your property is spotted, they’ll be greeted with a warning sound to let them know they’re being recorded. For added security, there’s the all-new Spotlight Pro that attaches to the Outdoor Camera Pro and shines a light on anyone encroaching on your property.

Let Vivint protect your home

A Vivint smart home system can help protect your home from many disturbances. From preventing crime with Outdoor Cameras to safeguarding the inside of your home with devices like Water Sensor that can keep costly damage at bay, Vivint is here to make your life safer and more secure. Contact us today to learn more about how a Vivint system can help protect your home.