Water damage is the most common issue inside every household and can be quite expensive for any homeowner. Most people assume that the policy they have will cover all the repairs. However, that is not always the case. If you don’t want to get caught up paying out of your pocket, you need to understand what type of water damage is covered by homeowners insurance.
Depending on the insurance policy, you could have protection against different types of water damage. That’s why it is important to know what your insurance policy covers. To help you out, below, we will explain what your policy will probably cover. Plus, tell you in which cases your insurance company won’t pay for the damage.
Types Of Water Damage
Water damage refers to any sudden discharge inside your home. This could happen through overflow in your appliances or damage to the structure of your house. For instance, if you have a washing machine and it starts leaking. Also, if you get a hole in your roof during a rainstorm, your insurance will cover it.
If you are unsure whether specific water damage is covered under your policy, think about where it comes from. Most insurance companies will pay for any water damage caused by clean water. This means any water that doesn’t come from the sewer or the ground. If you are still wondering what type of water damage is covered by homeowners insurance, we have created a small list.
Water Damage Included In Your Policy
- When the water enters due to a hole in your roof or a broken window.
- An overflow caused by damaged appliances.
- A sudden leak of water.
- A toilet leaking water in your bathroom.
Even when your policy might cover the situations above, there are conditions you need to meet. For instance, if you go on vacation leaving the water supply open, the insurance company might not cover the damage. If you have doubts about the limits of your policy, it is important to call your provider or insurance agent.
Now, let’s take a look at what is excluded from your homeowner’s policy.
Water Damage Excluded In Your Policy
The damages described below are not part of either the homeowner’s insurance or the renters’ policy. However, if any of the following occur inside your home, you’ll probably have to pay for all the reparations.
- Floods: refer to overflows caused by a body of water. This overland flooding is more prone to happen in houses located near large lakes or rivers. Because not all homeowners have properties that meet this condition, floods are not included in the insurance policy.
- Sewer Back-Up: The reason why sewer back-up is not part of your coverage is that it is considered dirty water. This situation happens when something is blocking the flow of wastewater in your home. Rain or snow clogging the system are the most common causes of this issue. Even though sewer backup is not on your insurance policy, it can be an add-on. Keep in mind that paying for an add-on will be cheaper than any additional costs caused by water damaged.
- Gradual damage: Refers to deterioration that happens over time, and it happens thanks to improper maintenance. Some examples of gradual damage are mot, rot, deteriorated ceilings, and poor home repairs.
If you have any other questions regarding your homeowner’s insurance policy, visit Surex.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Damage From Leaking Pipes?
Most people ask this question regarding water damage in their homes because while some claims are accepted, others get denied. Unfortunately, this confuses most homeowners; that’s why we will explain when homeowners insurance covers leaking pipes’ damage.
Imagine that one of the pipes in your home suddenly starts leaking, damaging the structure of your home. When you make a claim, the insurance company will first investigate your claim. If they find that the water damaged was caused by an accident, they will cover it. However, if the leak happened because of lack of maintenance, chances are they will deny your claim.
6 Tips For Filling A Water Damage Insurance Claim
Since we know which situations are covered under your insurance, we will give you some tips for filing a claim.
Stop The Damage
As soon as you notice a leakage or an overflow, you need to close the water supply and soak up the water. If you don’t act quickly and the damage spreads, there might be chances of your insurance claim denied by the insurance company.
Document The Evidence
If you want to increase the probabilities of getting your claim approved, you need to document the whole damage. Please take pictures and videos of everything, later attach them to your documents. Also, keep any bills related to the damage or the police report if the leak happened during a robbery.
Report It Right Away
Once you stop the spread of the damage and gather all the evidence, it’s time to call the insurance company. You mustn’t wait a couple of days to report it because you might miss the deadline. If you don’t report the water damages after it happens, the company could deny the claim.
Hire A Public Adjuster
Even though your insurance company will send an adjuster to check out the damage and determine how much money you will get, you should hire a public adjuster. That way, you will have an honest and accurate report to use during the settlement.
Get An Estimate
After you get the approval from your insurance company, you need to hire professionals to give you an estimate. From cleaners to contractors, ask for several quotes before choosing a company to make all the repairs. Once you evaluate all the prices, choose one estimate for the negotiation.
Negotiating The Settlement
In this step, you need to take all the estimates and reports from the public adjuster to negotiate with your insurance company. Then, if you notice other damages after you receive the check, you can ask for more coverage.
