The question of whether your water damages will be covered by insurance is a complicated question. Water damage repairs are covered differently depending on the type of damage, how the damage occurred, and your insurance package.
Your home can be damaged in a variety of ways by water, which is why it is important to understand what is covered by your insurance. As restoration experts, we at Liberty Restoration are passionate about helping people learn about restoration services, and which types of damages are covered by insurance. Continue reading to learn more.
Which Types Of Water Damages Are Covered By Insurance?
For most insurance companies, water damages that occur out of the blue and within your home are covered. Most insurance companies will cover water damages that are caused by rain or snow storms, burst pipes, accidental overflows, and vandalism. Mold is also covered by insurance companies if it is caused by covered water damages in your home.
Lastly, if you have had a fire in your home and the water that was used to extinguish the fire caused water damage, then that is also covered by most standard home insurance policies.
Sudden & Accidental
The other part that is important to understand about which damages are covered by insurance, is that only “sudden & accidental” water damages are covered. In the previous paragraph, we went over several different types of damage. However, if any of these damages were intentionally caused by the homeowner, they would no longer be covered by insurance policies because they would no longer be accidental. In addition to the problem being an accident, it also needs to happen randomly. In other words, it cannot have been happening for a long period of time.
Which Types Of Water Damages Are NOT Covered By Insurance?
Certain water damages are not covered by homeowners insurance because they are long-term problems. As in, they were not sudden but occurred over time. For example, unsettled maintenance problems that lead to water damage such as a leak from a plumbing fixture that has been leaking for quite a while. Water back-ups are also not covered because they typically come through an outside sewer or drain. Water damage insurance also cannot help with replacing the sources of water damage including dishwashers, washing machines, broken pipes, etc.
Floods
Many people are surprised to learn that floods are not included in homeowners’ water damage insurance policies. Floods are not included in water damage insurance policies because they are gradual events and are not considered sudden. Another reason why floods are not included is simply that floods are too expensive for insurance companies to cover as part of water damage insurance while also keeping the prices affordable for customers. However, there is flood insurance available to homeowners that is separate from water damage insurance that can be purchased.
Do You Need Water Damage Restoration Services?
If your home has been affected by water damage, it is important to get restoration services as soon as possible. Even if you do not have full insurance coverage, it is still vital to get any water damage repaired as soon as possible. This is because it can be dangerous to walk on floors or under ceilings that have water damage, as they can fall apart. Mold can also begin to develop, potentially causing illness in you and your family.
We at Liberty Restoration work hard to provide our customers with the most convenient, efficient, and comprehensive restoration and repair options. For more information or to get in contact with one of our team members to schedule an appointment, feel free to reach out to us today.