Water damage is one of the most common and potentially costly perils homeowners face. Whether it's a burst pipe, a leaky roof, or a flooded basement, water damage can wreak havoc on your home and belongings. While home insurance provides a safety net against many perils, it's essential to understand what water damage is and isn't covered under a standard policy. Let's dive into the details:
What Water Damage is Covered
In a standard home insurance policy, certain types of water damage are typically covered, including:
- Sudden and Accidental Damage: Coverage usually extends to sudden and accidental incidents, such as burst pipes or appliance leaks. The policy may cover the cost of repairing the damage and restoring affected areas.
- Weather-related Damage: Damage caused by weather-related events like storms or hail is typically covered, including water intrusion through roof leaks or wind-driven rain.
- Frozen Pipes: If pipes freeze and burst due to cold weather conditions, resulting water damage is generally covered by home insurance.
What Water Damage is Not Covered
While home insurance provides coverage for many types of water damage, there are certain exclusions and limitations to be aware of, including:
- Gradual Damage: Damage that occurs gradually over time, such as ongoing leaks or seepage, is typically not covered by home insurance. Insurers expect homeowners to address maintenance issues promptly to prevent such damage.
- Flood Damage: Flood damage, including water intrusion from overflowing rivers, storm surges, or heavy rainfall, is generally not covered by standard home insurance policies. Separate flood insurance is required to protect against flood-related losses.
- Neglect and Lack of Maintenance: Damage resulting from neglect or lack of maintenance, such as failure to repair a leaking roof or plumbing issues, is not covered by home insurance. Homeowners are responsible for maintaining their property to prevent such damage.
- Sewer and Drain Backup: Water damage caused by a backup with your sewers, drains, etc. is not covered on a standard home policy. However, most carriers offer an endorsement that can add this coverage to your policy.
Call Finlan at 734-453-6000 or submit a request here to ensure you have adequate protection against water damage today!
photo:<a href="https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/water-leak">Water Leak Stock photos by Vecteezy</a>
