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Are You Worried About the Wrong Type of Water Damage?
When you picture water damage the first thing that comes to mind might be natural disasters such as flooding or storms. While these are terrible occurrences, they’re not all too common. There are things in your home right now that can cause water damage. It could be from something as simple as an appliance in your home malfunctioning.
A broken appliance can lead to water damage but it’s not something we’re often worried about. This is why it’s important to invest in reliable insurance for your home. Have you recently encountered a damaged water heater or washing machine in your living space? You may be attempting to determine if your homeowners insurance will cover mild to severe water damage. Luckily, homeowners insurance has you covered for those unexpected accidents that lead to damage in your home.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage?
Water damage can occur in different ways. Flooding, burst pipes, and damaged appliances can all lead to water damage. Having homeowners insurance means you’re covered in many of these situations, but not all. Whether or not homeowners insurance covers water damage varies based on the situation. Was the damage caused by an accident or negligence? The answer often determines whether insurance covers water damage. For cases of flooding, standard homeowners insurance coverage typically does not cover the water damage, but it can be added on as a separate insurance policy.
Top Types Of Water Damage Covered By Insurance
Insurance policies can vary, but in many cases, you’ll find that they cover the same types of water damage. Let’s explore which types are covered by homeowners insurance, and under what circumstances.
Rain & Flooding
Water damage caused by storms will typically be covered by insurance. But rising water almost always will not. Whether or not insurance will cover the claim is situational. For example, if during a storm a tree branch breaks a window and the subsequent rain damages floors or furniture, that would most likely be covered since it was accidental and sudden. Flood insurance can be purchased separately and will cover any damage resulting from rising water.
Malfunctioning Appliances
When appliances malfunction unexpectedly, homeowners insurance will cover the water damage. But they won’t cover the damage if your actions lead to the leak or flood. If you had already put in a maintenance request for a piece, and knew it had to be replaced but had failed to do so and then the machine leaked, that would not be considered accidental. Whether or not the claim will be denied or accepted depends on the context of the damage.
Tips & Insights: What Should I Do If a Water Pipe Bursts In My House?
Pipe Leaks
Similar to other types of water damage, if a pipe bursts unexpectedly, the damage will be covered. But if the leak was caused by neglect or lack of maintenance, then the claim can be denied. To get insurance to pay for water damage, you’ll need to prove it was accidental.
Sewage Backups
Like other types of water damage, whether or not sewage backup is covered depends on the situation. But this time, it depends on where the damage originates. If the sewer backup happens off your property and it backs up into your home, it might not be covered. If the damage happens on your property to start with, it might be covered by homeowners insurance. Like with flood damage, sewer backup can be purchased separately.
Ways You Could Be Covered Against Water Damage
Homeowner’s insurance policies have two types of coverage for water damage depending on what exactly was impacted. These types of coverage help cover the costs of repairs or replacements from water damage that is accidental or unexpected. There are deductibles and coverage limits to consider as well, so know where to find your policy so you can understand exactly what is covered and what isn’t. As a general rule of thumb, more policies cover damage that is sudden and accidental, but not the result of lack of maintenance or neglect.
Dwelling Coverage
This type of coverage helps pay for repairs to the structure of the home itself. Any damage to walls, roofs, floors, and cabinets would all be covered by dwelling coverage.
Personal Property Coverage
Just as the name suggests, this coverage helps pay for repairs or replacements for personal property. Items like rugs, books, laptops, and furniture would all be covered.
Water Damage Restoration Services
Water damage can be stressful and cause uncertainty in your busy life. When you experience water damage to your home and belongings, our team of technicians will arrive at your home or business within 60 minutes of your call.
Our team of technicians will work with your homeowners insurance company and will begin the water restoration project immediately. We offer water damage restoration services in Austin, TX and other areas. In addition, our contractors offer other types of restoration solutions such as storm damage repair, burst pipe cleanup, flood damage restoration, and roof leak maintenance. The technicians at Dry Force have been turning chaos into calm since 2008. The staff at Dry Force is available 24/7. Give our team a call at (877) 589-7504 if you need assistance.
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