Are you currently faced with water damage and want to file a homeowner’s insurance claim? Here is all that you need to know.
Water damage in your home is covered by an insurance plan, if the damage is sudden and beyond your control. However, if the damage has taken place due to your negligence, an insurance claim won’t cover you. For a homeowner, it is difficult to figure out whether or not water damage is covered by the insurance plan, for the distinctions are very complex to understand. In the upcoming paragraph, we will find out if your water damage is covered by an insurance plan.
When Does Your Insurance Policy Cover Water Damage?
A water damage incident that is sudden, internal and beyond the control of the homeowner is covered by the homeowner’s insurance claim. Water damage that has occurred because of the following reasons should be covered by your insurance plan:
- Snow storms and heavy rainfall
- Frozen pipes, burst pipes, defective plumbing and accidental overflow
- Water damage caused as a result of fire extinguishing
- A leaky roof
- Theft, vandalism and arson
- Faulty fixtures and appliances that use water
- Mold Growth
When Does an Insurance Claim Doesn’t Cover Water Damage?
Up until now, we have discussed the situations in which water damage is covered by the insurance. Now, let’s switch gears and talk about the instances in which insurance plans may not cover water damage. As discussed above, water damage caused due to negligence or ignorance isn’t covered through homeowners’ insurance. Some of the scenarios are mentioned below.
- Leaks generating from lack of maintenance
- Indoor flooding
- Sewage backup
- Ground seepage
If you live in an area that has a higher likelihood of flood damage, a standard insurance policy won’t cover you. In such circumstances, you will have to go for an additional policy.
Filing a Claim after Water Damage
Now, you know when water damage may be covered by an insurance policy and when it is not. If you are faced with water damage that your insurance company can cover, you must take pictures of the incident to document your claim. If you have pictures that were taken before water damage, you can use them to educate the insurer on how the place looked before it was affected by water damage. Pictures can be extremely important to strengthen your claim if water damage worsens in the future.
Furthermore, your insurer will ask you about the causes of water damage. Your answers will help them decide whether or not you will be covered by an insurance plan. If you have made some repairs before the insurer showed up, make sure you have all the receipts.
The best thing you can do is to hire a professional water damage restoration contractor in Greenville, SC. They will help you understand the extent of damage as well as the causes. Their inspection will enable you to get a good settlement for your claim.
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