Reducing Fire Damage Costs with Home Sprinklers

Fire alarm sprinkler on the wall.The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) estimates an average of 358,300 home fires reported by US fire departments. Beyond the lives they imperil (both homeowners and the firefighters who respond) and the lives they disrupt as homes become unlivable in the aftermath, fire also leaves in its wake huge costs. The above home fires racked up over $6.7 billion in restoration expenses each year. In this blog we’re going to breakdown the parts of these home repairs, as well as how the installation of home sprinklers can end up saving you a surprising amount of money.

The Major Costs of Fire Damage

Almost anything fire touches it damages, but there are also lesser-known costs that comes from smoke and soot damage.

  • Structural Damage: Depending on the size of the fire and the damage dealt, this is usually the largest cost associated with a home fire. Fire travels up and out, meaning damage to multiple levels and the roof are common, as well as damage to windows and siding as the flames reach outside.
  • Soot Removal: Smoke damage is most common as soot, the black carbon powder and flakes that coat everything and can stain if left on. Walls, ceilings, furniture, carpets, appliances, clothing: all of it will need to be cleaned quickly.
  • Deodorization: Smoke also leaves behind a smell that permeates cloth: clothing, furniture, drapes and carpets will need to be deodorized. This includes dry cleaning and being taken offsite by restoration companies to be treated.
  • Complete HVAC Cleaning: Smoke and soot get everywhere, including the ducts, crawlspaces and wall spaces. This all needs to be cleaned to avoid soot scarring around air vents and to not let the smoke odor creep back into the home. Most common form of cleaning is using thermal fogging.

Hidden Cost of Fire Damage: Water Damage

When putting out structure fires, firefighters use a lot of water. With fire hoses and water pressure that is measured in gallons per minute, a lot of water is used to extinguish fires of any size. Even a moderate fire being put out by a single engine can dump hundreds of gallons of water into your home in short order. Water mixes with soot and ash and can stain rooms otherwise unaffected by the fire.

Home Sprinkler Cost Benefit Analysis

According to reports done by the US Fire Administration, the installation of sprinklers, even if only in the fire-prone areas of the home like kitchens, save not only a home but significantly reduce the cost of restoration and repairs. According to the restoration companies like Water, Mold & Fire, fire damage costs without sprinklers cost on average about $45,000 dollars, compared to the average cost of restoring a kitchen with sprinklers of $2,000 to $5,000. Installation can also reduce the cost of homeowner insurance premiums as well as direct and indirect uninsured losses.

If you want to learn more about how home sprinkler installations can help reduce the damage to your home and the cost of Homeowners Insurance, talk to the insurance specialists at the H&K Insurance Agency. Contact us today to get started.