Help Me Now warns Eastside homeowners about costly indoor water damage

Help Me Now says the biggest threat to Puget Sound’s priciest homes is not river flooding but leaks from inside the house, as insurance data shows million-dollar water claims are rising. The Bellevue-based network is urging homeowners in King, Snohomish, Pierce and Kitsap counties to know their shutoff valves and act fast in the first hour after a leak.

Why it matters: - Water damage can turn into a six- or seven-figure loss fast, especially in high-value homes with expensive finishes, finished lower levels and long stretches of plumbing. - Insurance data shows the risk is growing. Chubb reports that water claims over $500,000 have doubled since 2015 and claims over $1 million have tripled. - High-net-worth homes face a different profile than average homes because interior leaks often happen when owners are away and damage spreads before anyone notices.

What happened: - Help Me Now, a Bellevue-based 24/7 emergency home services network, issued a warning to homeowners across King, Snohomish, Pierce and Kitsap counties about water damage from internal leaks. - The company said the most expensive homes in the region face their biggest water risk from pipes, appliances and fixtures inside the house, not from rivers outside. - Help Me Now also shared a first-60-minutes response plan for burst pipes, failed water heaters, flooded lower levels and other leaks.

The details: - November is Seattle’s wettest month, and December 2025 atmospheric rivers brought record river levels and a federal emergency declaration to Western Washington. - Chubb says internal water damage is the number-one cause of loss for high-net-worth homes, ahead of fire and theft. - Chubb’s average water-leak claim exceeds $55,000, compared with roughly $14,000 across the industry, according to the Insurance Information Institute. - The Insurance Information Institute says about one in 60 insured homes files a water damage or freezing claim each year. - Zillow data compiled by Stacker puts typical home values at about $8 million in Hunts Point, $4.5 million in Medina, $4.3 million in Yarrow Point, $4.1 million in Clyde Hill and $2.3 million on Mercer Island. - Large Eastside homes have more plumbing connections, more premium finishes that cannot be dried in place, and more finished lower levels where water can collect. - Chubb’s claims research found water damage often happens while a home is unattended. - The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety says a crack just one-eighth of an inch wide can release 250 gallons of water a day. - Over a 10-day trip, that can add up to 2,500 gallons on the floor. - Many Puget Sound homes built between 1978 and 1995 were plumbed with gray polybutylene pipe, often stamped PB2110, which can fail without warning. - Some Washington insurers now decline or drop coverage on homes that still have polybutylene pipe. - Homes built before 1980 with galvanized steel pipe face a slower version of the same aging-plumbing risk. - IBHS says three-quarters of water heaters fail before age 12, and about 69% of failures come from slow leaks or sudden tank bursts. - A typical water heater holds 40 to 80 gallons. - Hose failures account for roughly half of washing machine water claims, and manufacturers recommend replacing rubber hoses every five years. - Braided stainless steel hoses are the standard upgrade. - NOAA’s outlook points to a milder El Niño winter for the Northwest, but regional forecasters still expect at least one freeze or snow event, most likely by mid-January. - Seattle’s first freeze typically arrives in mid-November. - Pipes in crawlspaces, garages, attics and exterior walls are among the most vulnerable during a freeze. - Help Me Now says every adult in the house should know where the main water shutoff valve is, often in the garage, crawlspace or near the street meter. - The company advises homeowners to cut power to the affected area at the breaker only if they can reach the panel without standing in water. - Help Me Now says its network can connect homeowners in real time with a vetted local water damage professional, with a crew able to be on the way within 30 minutes, day or night. - Homeowners should photograph and video the source, standing water, every affected room and every damaged item before cleanup. - The company advises moving rugs, furniture, art, electronics and documents out of the water as quickly as possible. - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours to reduce mold risk. - Washington’s Office of the Insurance Commissioner says sudden and accidental leaks are usually covered, while gradual leaks may not be. - The office also warns that additional damage caused by delayed repairs will not be covered. - Standard homeowners policies generally cover sudden and accidental damage such as a burst pipe, failed water heater or ruptured supply line. - Rising-water flooding, including river flooding and groundwater, is excluded from standard homeowners coverage and needs separate flood insurance. - High-value carriers such as Chubb, PURE and AIG Private Client may offer premium credits of 3% to 10% for a whole-home automatic water shutoff system. - Some carriers now require automatic shutoff systems on new policies for large or seasonal homes. - Help Me Now says its restoration professionals work with all insurance carriers and adjusters, provide a no-cost inspection and assessment, document the loss and communicate directly with the carrier.

Between the lines: - The warning reflects a broader shift in how affluent homeowners need to think about water risk: not as a storm-only problem, but as a maintenance and response problem inside the house. - The emphasis on shutoff valves, rapid response and documentation suggests the first hour can determine whether a leak becomes a manageable claim or a major rebuild. - The insurance backdrop also matters. Higher premiums, tighter coverage on aging plumbing and more demand for water shutoff systems are pushing prevention higher up the homeownership checklist.

What's next: - Help Me Now says crews are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with response times of 30 minutes or less, though arrival times can vary with traffic, weather, ferry schedules and job volume. - Homeowners with a burst pipe, failed water heater, flooded lower level or any leak can call (425) 279-7097 or visit HelpMeNow.com. - Licensed contractors interested in joining the network can apply through Help Me Now contractor information. - The company also points homeowners to examples of completed projects at before-and-after photos.

The bottom line: - For Eastside homeowners, the most expensive water disaster is often the one that starts quietly behind a wall and spreads while no one is home.