In this article, we’ll cover what type of water damage is covered by homeowner’s insurance. If you have water damage in your home, you may assume that your homeowner’s insurance will cover it. However, there are some types of water damage that are covered and some that are not. In addition, there are some cases where you may need to have additional coverages in place if you want your water damage to be paid for by the insurance company.
It’s important to know what is covered and what is not before you have water damage or flooding and need it, so let’s review now.
Water Damage vs. Flooding
The most important thing for you to know right from the start is that no amount of flooding, no matter what the source, is covered by a regular homeowner’s policy. You must have Flood Insurance, a separate policy, in order to be covered for flooding.
What type of water damage is covered by homeowner’s insurance:
- Rain or snow damage
- Water damage from putting out a fire
- Plumbing (burst pipes, frozen pipes, accidental overflow)
- Leaky roof (damage to the interior, not the roof itself)
- Mold when it’s the result of the covered water damage
- Vandalism
Homeowner’s insurance will typically NOT cover:
- Ground seepage
- Poorly maintained pipes leading to leaks
- Flooding
- Water or sewer pipe backups
Residual Damage like Mold and Mildew
Where you have water, you can have mold and mildew. Mold remediation and prevention is a very important part of water damage correction. When mold is a direct result of covered water damage, your home insurance will also cover that mold damage.
This is very important because mold damage can cost $30,000 or more to repair. It’s always best to try to prevent the mold in the first place, so if you call a professional as soon as you find out about the water damage, they will be able to take proper steps to prevent mold. This will all be covered by your insurance if the water damage was covered under your policy.
If you need help with water damage restoration in Kansas City, call us today!