Water Damage glossary
Actual cash value (ACV)
An insurance payout that accounts for depreciation.
Additional living expenses (ALE)
Insurance coverage that may pay extra costs of living elsewhere while your home is uninhabitable, per your policy.
Air mover
A high-velocity fan used to speed evaporation from wet surfaces during structural drying.
AlertMarin
Marin County's emergency notification system for alerts like floods and evacuations.
Antimicrobial
A product applied to surfaces to inhibit microbial growth, used as directed in some restoration situations.
Assignment of benefits (AOB)
Contract language that transfers some of your insurance claim rights to a contractor. Understand it before signing.
Atmospheric river
A long, narrow band of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere that can bring heavy rain to California.
Backwater valve
A plumbing device that helps prevent sewage from flowing back into a home through the sewer lateral.
Category 1, 2, 3 water
Industry terms for how contaminated water is: clean, gray (some contamination) and black (grossly contaminated, such as sewage or floodwater). See categories and classes.
Category 3 (black water)
Grossly contaminated water, such as sewage or floodwater, that calls for professional cleanup.
Class 1–4
Industry terms for how much water is present and how hard materials will be to dry, from small areas to dense materials like hardwood and plaster.
Containment
Plastic barriers and air controls that keep dust or contamination from spreading to unaffected areas.
Dehumidifier (LGR)
Equipment that removes moisture from the air. Low-grain refrigerant (LGR) dehumidifiers can keep removing moisture at lower humidity levels.
Dry standard
The moisture reading that affected materials should reach, often based on unaffected materials of the same type in the home.
Flood cut
Removing drywall to a set height above the water line to reach wet insulation and framing and allow drying.
King tide
An informal term for the highest high tides of the year, which can contribute to flooding in low-lying areas.
Mitigation
Emergency work to stop damage from getting worse: extraction, removal of unsalvageable materials, and drying.
Moisture map
A record of moisture readings on a floor plan, showing where water traveled and tracking drying progress.
Moisture meter
A tool that measures moisture in materials, either with pins inserted into the material or by scanning the surface.
NFIP
The National Flood Insurance Program, which offers flood insurance. See FloodSmart.gov.
Public adjuster
A professional licensed by the California Department of Insurance whom you can hire to represent you in a claim.
Replacement cost value (RCV)
An insurance payout for the cost to replace without deducting depreciation, subject to policy terms.
Sewer lateral
The pipe connecting a home's plumbing to the public sewer main. Homeowners are often responsible for maintaining it.
Sump pump
A pump that removes water collecting in a pit, often in a basement or crawlspace.
Thermal imaging
A camera that shows surface temperature differences. Wet areas often appear cooler, which helps find where to measure.
Vapor barrier
A plastic sheet covering crawlspace soil to reduce moisture rising into the space.
Wicking
Water moving upward or outward through porous materials like drywall and wood.
Work authorization
A document you sign allowing a provider to start work. Read it carefully, including any language about insurance payments.