Washer and Dryer Overview
When you deal with homeowners insurance claims, you’re pretty likely to handle claims that include washer and dryer damage. In fact, washers and dryers made up 36% of the large appliances we evaluated at StrikeCheck in 2018 (StrikeCheck 2019 Annual Claims Report). When you’re addressing these claims, you want to make sure your decisions are informed, accurate, and timely, but if you’re not an expert on these machines, that can be a little...
TV LKQ Checklist
More than half of all entertainment electronics claims that StrikeCheck evaluated in 2018 were for televisions (StrikeCheck 2019 Annual Claims Report). When coverage is found for a claimed television, you’ll want to make sure that you’re replacing a customer’s television with Like Kind and Quality. With the ever-evolving nature of television technology, that’s not always easy to do. At StrikeCheck we know where you’re coming from, and we want to give insurance...
Tankless Water Heater Guide
Tankless water heaters are slowly becoming more common (Consumer Reports) thanks to their energy-saving properties that lower utility bills, and with their rising popularity can come more related claims. You want to be ready for these claims, so you need to equip yourself with the basics of tankless water heaters. That’s why our StrikeCheck experts have put together a guide to tankless water heater claims as an easy reference for insurance adjusters...
Sump Pump Overview
Many houses, particularly those built within the last 30 years, have sump pumps to prevent moisture from building up beneath the home. When these sump pumps fail, massive water damage can be the result, meaning that insurance adjusters like you will have to handle those claims. It’s critical that you have the knowledge you need to handle these claims quickly and effectively, and that means being able to understand estimates, know what parts make up a sump pump,...
Solar Panel Overview
How They Work: Residential Solar Electricity Systems The cost of residential solar panel systems has dropped 50% since 2014 (according to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy), and as a result, solar panels are becoming more and more popular as they become competitive with more conventional means of energy production. Of course, that also means that more insurance claims will be filed for these systems, and that increases the chances that a...
Refrigerator Claim Guide
Essential for modern food storage, refrigerators are the most commonly owned appliance in U.S. homes. As such, you’re likely to see them in claims at some point -- in fact, 29% of the large appliance claims we saw at StrikeCheck in 2018 were for refrigerators (StrikeCheck 2019 Annual Claims Report). As an insurance adjuster, you’re not expected to be a fridge expert -- and you don’t have to be -- but you do...
Pool Equipment Overview
There are more than 8 million residential swimming pools in the U.S. (Association of Pool and Spa Professionals), and the systems used to clean and maintain a pool are quite complex. There are multiple electrical and mechanical machines that contribute to the maintenance of a clean and comfortable pool. As such, you’re likely to see a couple of claims for pool systems as an insurance adjuster. If you aren’t well-versed in pool...
Leaking and Burst Water Heaters
Nearly 70% of water heater failures come from a slow leak or sudden burst, and while the level of damage that results varies, these failures are all potential claims that can end up on your desk. As an insurance adjuster, you need to know enough about water heaters to handle these claims accurately and quickly, and speed is key here -- after all, insured with water heaters that have burst or are leaking are without hot water and...
Hot Tub Freeze Damage
With millions of residential hot tubs and spas in the U.S. -- and more than half of them in the northern states -- there’s a good chance you’ll end up handling a hot tub claim. Many people living up north, who face temperatures well below freezing for most of the winter, tend to use their hot tubs and spas during the colder months. Since they don’t winterize their systems, it increases the likelihood that there will be damage...
Adjuster FAQ: High Voltage Surge Impacts to Electronics
A high voltage surge can cause failures to almost any electrical device or system that’s plugged into the affected area, from the appliances to the consumer electronics to the wiring itself. You may receive a surge claim that could include one item or multiple electronics that you’ll need to address. One way to ensure more accurate results is by understanding high voltage surge and what it can impact. Our StrikeCheck team has put together a convenient guide to answer adjusters’ frequently...
Standby Generator Guide
Standby generators are alternative power sources that policyholders rely on if they experience extended power outages. Adjusters should know how this equipment works and why it may fail. Like any permanent fixture of a home or business, generators require maintenance that may be overlooked, and they’re particularly susceptible to certain perils. When a standby generator fails, the policyholder may mistake the actual cause of loss for another. They may also receive estimates to replace their equipment when repairs may be all...
Electrical Wiring Claim Overview
Understanding Claims for Wiring Damage There are a number of causes for damaged wiring, including improper installation, wear and tear, and lightning strikes, but regardless of the cause, it can potentially cause a fire if left unchecked. If a customer is claiming damaged wiring, the inspection must be done carefully and thoroughly, as the goal is to restore their wiring not only for the sake of efficiency but also for safety. As an insurance adjuster, you want to...
Electrical Service Panels
A key component of any electrical system in a home or business is the electrical service panel. These panels redirect electricity from the grid (through the meter) into the various appliances, outlets, and devices on the property that need electrical power. Damage to an electrical panel can result in total loss of power, and that can mean that a complex or urgent (or both!) claim lands on your desk. As an insurance adjuster, it’s important that you know...
Dishwasher Claim Guide
Dishwashers are an incredible time-saving device (saving each household perhaps hundreds of hours a year according to EnergyStar). So when an insured comes to you saying their dishwasher is broken and should be covered, they want it back up and running fast. As an insurance adjuster, you need to get that claim evaluated and processed as quickly as possible to keep the customer happy. Even if you’re not an...
Computer LKQ Checklist
Over three-quarters of all households in the U.S. have computers (Census.gov), so they can be a recurring hassle for property claims adjusters. Computers are complicated machines that come in many forms, so when you have a claim that involves a computer, there are several issues that can arise. And, when you need to restore Like Kind and Quality (LKQ) to the insured, there are a lot of factors that need to be taken...
Solar Power System Components Guide
Solar power systems are becoming more and more popular as their cost becomes more competitive with conventional energy production systems. As a result, more insured homes have these systems, increasing the chance that solar power system claims will end up in the queues of insurance adjusters like you. If you aren’t a solar power system expert, the estimate for such a claim may be a bit confusing once it lands on your desk. You want to make sure...