Can Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage?
Filing an insurance claim for water damage restoration may sound easy but policies have its limitations. So, if you are not sure your existing insurance policy covers assistance for water damage, continue reading to learn more about the extent to which your policy can assist you with a claim and let it help pay for the repairs.
The homeowner’s insurance policy covers water damage but for critical reasons only. If the water damage was sudden and occurred inside the home, then it would be covered by insurance. However, not all policies could cover your insurance for a water damage restoration claim.
What Are The Things You Need to Know About Insurance Claim and Water Damage Restoration?
- The Importance of Having a Property Insurance
When getting insurance, make sure that your policy includes property insurance. If you already have one, that is a great decision you have made because with unforeseen events like water damage in your home, you can use it to pay for the water damage restoration services.
- What Does Homeowners Insurance Policy Cover?
Depending on the type of homeowners policy you have, the insurance can cover the reasons involving an abrupt scenario of water discharge. For instance, a sewer or water backup, or an accident of overflow that occurred within your home. Some home policies do not cover water damage caused by a natural disaster like a flood. In this case, you can either add the insurance to your existing policy or purchase a separate policy for home insurance. Seek assistance from a legitimate agent who could help out by checking with the National Flood Insurance Program or NFIP. In this way, you can reimburse the amount you paid (or you will pay) for the water damage restoration.
Homeowner’s insurance may cover roof leaks, but this will depend on the reason or what caused the leaking on the roof.
- What the Homeowners Insurance Does Not Cover?
Insurance claims do not cover water damage caused by gradual damage due to neglect, mold caused by water damage, animals and pests like termites for example. The home policy does not cover water damage restoration expenses caused by nuclear disaster or war, or corrosion or rust. A broken pipe in your home is sometimes not covered by the home policy. Some policies may cover mold damage but only for a certain amount because of the policy’s limitation. You can confirm this with your insurance consultant.
5 Tips on How to Prevent Water Damage in Your Home
Look around for a possibility of leak/s
Did you notice cracks on your tiles suddenly? Observe if you can smell mold in the house. The mold in the bathroom might be due to broken plumbing so watch out for this sign. Also, ensure that your home is free from mold because it can affect your health and sometimes, it is not covered when filing for an insurance home policy claim. Investigate if there are leaks on the walls or damage on your roof due to water discharge. Prevention is better than treatment so it is better to check for these early signs of leaks as soon as possible to avoid stretching the budget for hiring the services of a water damage restoration company.
Invest in purchasing water detectors
Just like having a fire alarm, you can use a water detection device to ensure your home is free from any leaks or molds. This device works by having a sensor that alarms when it comes into contact with dampness or moisture. These water detectors can be installed near your dishwasher or washing machine, water heater or near the toilet.
Disconnect your hoses from the faucets during the fall season
Frozen water build up may have formed during the cold season preventing the natural flow of water, so when you open the faucets in your home during the fall, there might be a sudden burst of water from your pipes to the faucet, then to the hoses, which may cause damage to your ceilings, walls, and on the floor. So, it would be better to disconnect your hoses, especially when not in use. Worst case scenario, you will need the assistance of a water damage restoration company and consult with filing an insurance claim.
Ensure your gutters are clean and there’s no blockage
The gutters inside and outside your home should always be clean and free from any blockage. Weeds or plants are mostly the culprits for these unwanted blockages. Clean the gutters regularly and make sure there someone sweeps the leaves to avoid clutter in the gutters. Maintaining the cleanliness of these gutters prevents sudden water surges or leaks. Filing an insurance claim to cover for a water damage restoration service could be a hassle when the cash can be used to cover for other necessary expenses or time can be spent elsewhere. Hence, prevent the onset of water damage by maintaining cleanliness and investigating what needs to be repaired in your house.
Be aware of the water main location in your home
It is important to know where your water main is located in your house so when an unexpected accident or sudden burst of water happens, you would be able to shut off the water source as quickly as possible to prevent further damage to your house or property. When the sudden surge occurs, be prepared to file an insurance claim for a water damage restoration.
What to do After You Discover Water Damage in Your Home?
- Call your insurance consultant immediately and ask for assistance.
- Take photos and document the damages inside and outside your house and capture the location where mold thrives in your home.
- Ask assistance from your family member or housemate to help you with making temporary first aid repairs to the damaged areas of your home while waiting for your designated water damage restoration team to arrive.
Discovering water damage in the house is not good news. Call the experts at Petaluma Restoration for a quick solution to your worries.
