Yesterday it was raining like crazy in the morning. Later in the afternoon one of our policyholders called to report it was raining inside his house! Of course it wasn't really raining, instead it was water from a second floor toilet that had overflowed. Damage caused by water escaping from a heating or plumbing system is insured by most homeowner policies. The key to mitigating a loss is to effectively dry the affected area as soon as possible. This doesn't mean just sopping up the water with old towels and drying the spot with fans. It means calling in a firm with expertise and equipment to dry not only surface areas but places behind the wallboard and under the floor boards. Ineffective drying can result in curling floor boards and moldy walls. Time is of the essence! Call me as soon as possible so we get the ball rolling and minimize your loss. And don't forget former WKBW disc jockey Joey Reynolds' sign-off, "Let a smile be your umbrella, but don't get a mouthful of rain!"