When you come back from vacation, you find water flood in the basement. Something leaked, spilled, or exploded in the house. After possibly searching endlessly on sites similar to https://cityplumbingandrooter.com/thousand-oaks/, or calling up local plumbing services, you might have many questions. One of the first questions you’re likely to ask yourself is, will homeowner’s insurance cover water damage?
However, a standard homeowner’s insurance policy can cover the cost of damage, and a water damage repair company can help initiate the water damage insurance claim process. Usually, if you need the services of a plumber and search for a term such as plumbing leak repair in Port St Lucie, FL, or plumber in my local area, then you might get come across good services that are unfortunately out of your price range. Having an insurance plan in place, however, could help you to cover any excess costs you might need to pay because of damage. This guide provides a brief overview of the most covered water damage types and what homeowner insurance excludes, important steps to keep in mind while claiming.
When Do Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage?
The standard home insurance policy covers sudden and internal immersion damage. This means that water damage must be covered by homeowners’ insurance, such as accidental tearing or crack, steam expansion, heating, air conditioning, or automatic fire protection system.
Water Damage That Is Covered By Homeowner’s Insurance
There are various types of homeowner insurance policies available. However, in general, most insurance policies take the same stance as to what types of cases will be covered. If your water damage is the result of a specific event with immediate damage, you may be eligible for insurance. There are instances where a homeowner’s insurance policy provides full coverage:
- Water damage from smothering a fire
- Roof Repair needed due to leaky roof, covering only the interior of the house
- Rain or snowstorm
- Plumbing such as burst pipes, plumbing freeze, plumbing defects, accidental flooding
- Accidental overflow of an appliance or fixture like toilet, washing machine, bathtub
- Vandalism
- The mold that is the result of covered water damage
So, if your roof is damaged by a flood or any other type of water leakage, you can contact residential and commercial roofing companies in Denver to have it repaired as soon as possible. And, if the damage is covered under homeowner insurance, you won’t even have to pay for repairs.
Water Damage That’s Not Covered By Homeowner’s Insurance
Not all water damage is covered by a homeowner’s insurance policy, but water damage restoration contractors can help you. Policies vary but are generally not covered by standard policies. Here are some common issues not typically covered by standard homeowners’ insurance policies:
- Water damage from an earthquake, landslide, or mudslide (you’ll need to buy a separate earthquake insurance policy)
- Damage due to sewer or drain
- Leaks from a swimming pool
- Leaks through a foundation
- Water damage due to floods, hurricanes, and tsunamis (you’ll need to buy a separate flood insurance policy)
- Lack of maintenance or negligence, such as not repairing a plumbing problem
- Deliberate behavior, such as turning off the heating in winter
How To Claim After Water Damage
The first step is to make sure you and your family are safe and prevent further damage. Then follow these steps:
Take Measures And Try to Stop the Water Flow
Must turn off the main valve or the individual water supply valve. You can usually turn off stops leading to the dishwasher, toilet, washing machine, or ice machine clockwise to stop the water flow. You should research water leak detection systems and automatic shut-off valves before disaster strikes. With a small investment, you can avoid major losses and potentially save money with a water damage repair company.
Call Your Insurance Company
If everyone in your family is safe, the first person you will talk to is your agent. Handle urgent issues like security and call an agent when you’re ready. If you wait too long and your home is seriously damaged over time, you may not be able to recover all the damage. If your home is not currently habitable, describe the problem and ask what the insurance covers.
Collect the Evidence and Make an Inventory of Damaged Items
During this process, you should take as many photos as possible to obtain evidence to present to your insurance company. The homeowner insurance crew will take pictures of the damaged items as well; however, you need to carry them along. You need to additionally take pictures of gadgets/items that want cleansing or replacement. Moldy gadgets in drawers or shelves need to additionally be professionally cleaned.
Inspect and document any accidental damage. Make a list, and don’t throw anything away. The more evidence your installer has, the better.
Hire A Contractor
Once your claim has been processed and the insurance company has confirmed that they will cover the cost of the repair, it’s time to find a water damage restoration contractor to do the work for you.
Insurance companies may have preferred water damage repair companies. The water removal contractor must return the home to its original condition.