Water damage is one of the most common causes of home insurance claims. Claims due to water damage impacts 1 in 50 homeowners each year. Due to the high frequency of water damage claims, many are left to wonder what is covered and what isn’t?
Water damage done to your home is covered by a standard homeowner’s insurance policy, IF it is considered sudden internal water damage. It’s not always easy to figure out when water damage is and isn’t covered by your policy because the distinctions are so fine, but hopefully this will guide you with specific situations so you will know with confidence when your homeowner’s insurance will cover water damage.
Here is a list of instances when you are typically covered by your homeowner’s policy:
As mentioned previously, there are instances when water damage isn’t always covered by your home insurance. Specifically, if it’s NOT the result of an accident or sudden, unexpected occurrence. Neglect or lack of maintenance resulting in water damage will mean you’re personally on the hook for the cost of repairs. It is essential to maintain records of repairs and the professionals you have hired over the years to perform the maintenance. Certain situations where homeowner’s insurance does not cover water damage are:
Now let’s look at a situation where partial claim coverage may occur. A broken pipe is an example of something that happened gradually. The actual pipe itself will not be covered. However, the resulting damage from the sudden breakage may be. The resulting damage is different than the initial damage. For example, if water damage resulting from a broken pipe or appliance is listed in your policy as covered, then you may be compensated for a portion of the damages caused even through the deteriorated pipe replacement or a new appliance would not be covered. This is an example of the cause of damage not being covered, but the resulting damage being covered.
Mold is all too common and is often found after water damages occur to your home, but it’s not always covered by homeowner’s insurance. Not only can mold be destructive and an eyesore, but it can also be very dangerous to your family’s health. Though it can be expensive to rid your home of a mold infestation, your homeowner’s insurance might help cover removal of the mold depending on what caused the mold in the first place.
Now that you can identify when water damage is or isn’t covered by your homeowner’s insurance, it’s imperative that you contact your insurance carrier as soon as possible once you discover water damage in your home. You should take pictures of the affected area and everything that was damaged, as well as where the water came from, such as the burst pipe or hold in the roof. If you have pictures from before the incident, you should find them so you can show the assessor what the area looked like before being damaged. Pictures are especially useful if mold develops in the future, and can support your claim that the mold grew as a result of water damage and not from neglect.
You can also choose to hire a public insurance adjuster to assist in the claims settling process with your insurance carrier. In many cases, it will prove beneficial to hire a public insurance adjuster. They can help you understand the coverages on your policy and any exclusions, as well as your responsibilities as a homeowner.
The examples and perspective in this article are the opinion of Claim Ally. Claim Ally Does Not practice law nor does it provide legal advice.
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