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What You Need To Know About Water Damage And Your Insurance Company

Dealing with a water-related disaster in your home is the last thing you want to be doing. Whether the incident was from a frozen pipe that busted, a flooded basement due to a storm, or from the washing machine going crazy, water damage can be a hassle to handle, can end up being costly, and if not treated quickly, can impact the air quality within your home and you and your family’s health.

One question many people have when in the midst of a huge water damage crisis is whether or not their homeowners insurance cover the cost.

The answer is…it really just depends. Each insurance company is completely different and there are so many variables they must consider when it comes to paying out.

Standard homeowner insurance will cover “common perils or disasters” that can affect homes. The Insurance Information Institute gives a list of these perils on a basic HO-1 policy:

Fire and smoke
Lightning strikes
Windstorms and hail
Explosion
Vandalism and malicious mischief
Damage from an aircraft, car or vehicle
Theft
Falling objects
Weight of ice, snow or sleet
Water damage

Now, if you are wanting additional coverages, these are offered through a HO-2 or HO-3 policy (you can see these differences by clicking on the Insurance Information Institute link above.

A flood coming from the outside due to weather is not usually covered and you will have to ask your insurance company if they offer a separate policy for flood insurance. This will vary from company to company and state to state. You can read more about specific flood insurance policies by clicking here.

Another important thing to know: If the water damage is caused by neglect or general deterioration, for example if you failed to replace a part and it started rusting and caused a flood, that will more than likely not be covered.

What should you do if you have water damage?

Call your insurance company immediately and discuss your coverages. The representative will be able to inform you of the process.

Or even better…call them NOW to be proactive and ensure that you have the proper coverages that you need before a water disaster strikes!

If you are in need of some assistance with your water damage cleanup and it becomes too much for you to handle, don’t worry—Restoration Certified Specialists, Inc. will take care of you! They have been proudly serving the Santa Rosa and North Bay areas since 1975.