by Insurance Maze » Mon Nov 05, 2007 01:31 pm
Water leakage is a problem and one that is not covered under homeowners insurance. So, the best thing one can do is to be cautious and keep a regular check. Homeowners insurance would typically refuse any claim related to water leakage over a period of time. It would be categorized under negligence. However, under certain special circumstances, your insurer may provide coverage against damage from a water leak.
Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?
Yes, it does but very specific types. Homeowners insurance would not cover damages from flood. Flood insurance is a separate policy that you need to purchase. It would also not cover damage caused by a leaking pipe in your home, but would cover damage from rain getting inside the house through a hole in the roof or a broken window if the hole or the broken window was a result of a storm or extreme weather conditions. If the water damage was due to your negligence, home insurance would not cover it. If you do not know what kind of water damage is covered by your insurance company, go through your policy papers for details.
If there are damages from a storm in your house make sure you dry all the wet areas after the storm has passed away. Provide air circulation to the wet areas cover them with tar if possible to prevent further damage. This will help minimize the possibility of mould growing in your home.
If there are damages from a storm in your house make sure you dry all the wet areas after the storm has passed away. Provide air circulation to the wet areas cover them with tar if possible to prevent further damage. This will help minimize the possibility of mould growing in your home.
What duty do you have as a homeowner?
It is your duty to keep a check on all fixtures in your home. See to it that they are all maintained well. If there has been any water damage make sure you remedy it as soon as possible. Even a small leakage can lead to mould that would further damage your property. It also causes health hazards like asthma, sinusitis and bronchitis.
Mould damage may be covered but only if it was caused by a leak that grew due to a storm. If your house has built up mould, make sure you get it cleaned professionally. Amateurs may cause it to spread the spores more.
Insurance companies investigate before they can give the policyholders their money for the loss. Adjusters inspect the areas where the damage occurred and they do find out if the leakage had been for over a period of time or if it had been a sudden outburst. So, it is no use lying to the insurance company. Being honest is the only option open to you.
Mould damage may be covered but only if it was caused by a leak that grew due to a storm. If your house has built up mould, make sure you get it cleaned professionally. Amateurs may cause it to spread the spores more.
Insurance companies investigate before they can give the policyholders their money for the loss. Adjusters inspect the areas where the damage occurred and they do find out if the leakage had been for over a period of time or if it had been a sudden outburst. So, it is no use lying to the insurance company. Being honest is the only option open to you.
I have a rather unusual situation with a client and a well-known preferred home insurance carrier. What do you think?
One day the insured came home and for whatever reason he leaned against the bathroom wall and it suddenly collapsed.
The sheetrock was soaked and so was the insulation inside the wall and mold and mildew was everywhere. There was a small pin-hole leak in a water pipe that obviously had been leaking for quite some time.
The insured called the insurance company to report the incident, a claim was filed and an adjustor came to look at the damage.
The claim was denied by the insurance company because the standard HO-3 homeowners' policy specifically "Excludes" a loss as the result of a water leak over an extended period of time.
If this had been a sudden erruption of a water line, a leaking dishwasher, or a leaking fill line to the ice-maker, it would have been covered. Because this leak had been "over an extended period of time" it was not covered.
So, are we to lean against all of our walls everyday just to see if we might have a water leak?
One day the insured came home and for whatever reason he leaned against the bathroom wall and it suddenly collapsed.
The sheetrock was soaked and so was the insulation inside the wall and mold and mildew was everywhere. There was a small pin-hole leak in a water pipe that obviously had been leaking for quite some time.
The insured called the insurance company to report the incident, a claim was filed and an adjustor came to look at the damage.
The claim was denied by the insurance company because the standard HO-3 homeowners' policy specifically "Excludes" a loss as the result of a water leak over an extended period of time.
If this had been a sudden erruption of a water line, a leaking dishwasher, or a leaking fill line to the ice-maker, it would have been covered. Because this leak had been "over an extended period of time" it was not covered.
So, are we to lean against all of our walls everyday just to see if we might have a water leak?
Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 11:13 am Post Subject:
. Any advice what should I do?
yes, get those suit papers to your ins. company ASAP..they will either change their stance or defend the suit...I don't see how it's your fault either...how could you have prevented it? How did you cause it? You must be negligent in some manor to be liable for the damages...so your carrier likely did the right thing, in denying the claim...get those papers in the hands of your company YESTERDAY.
Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 02:17 am Post Subject: insurance
Daughter has a split unit, the part in the attic froze up and she had a new motor put in the fan. Next day when all the water unfroze on the unit it leaked through the drain pan and into her bathroom ceiling. Now she is going to have to replace the whole thing, and repair the bathroom. Will insurance cover any of it?
Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 03:42 pm Post Subject: water from ice maker
This morning I heard the sound of water running behind my refrigerator. When we pulled it away from the wall, water was spraying from the ice maker hose which appeared to be split. The water has done extensive damage to the hardwood floor around the refrigerator, ran down the wall to the bedroom below and was coming out the ceiling vents, drywall, window frame, and saturated the carpeting. Is this type of water leak covered?
Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 03:50 pm Post Subject:
Hi "chestert."
This should be covered under most homeowners insurance polcies. It should be considered sudden and accidental discharge of water and normally is a covered peril.
Not all policies are the same, so you need to contact your insurance company promptly to see if this will be covered under your policy.
Take the necessary steps to stop the water and do what you can to clean it up and get it out of the carpet. The longer the water sits in the carpet and pad the more likely mold will develop and you could lose the carpet.
Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 04:31 pm Post Subject:
Is this type of water leak covered?
It really depends on the policy form you have..Most certainly need to turn the claim in immediately!
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 01:59 am Post Subject: water leak in foundation
this board is an excellent resource - thanks.
we started hearing water running in our walls just 4 days ago and called a plumber immediately. he believes it is a foundation slab leak and is sending out someone tomorrow with a sound unit to find the leak.
called our insurance agent today (state farm) and they said it is most likely NOT covered b/c we do not 'see' any damage yet.
But we are being PROACTIVE and responsible in getting this fixed - shouldn't they cover any damage that is found, regardless of if we can see it now? Our guess is that they will see damage when they start digging/drilling into the foundation.
also, any idea what it costs to find a foundation leak, repair it, and patch the floor back up???
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 02:00 am Post Subject: water leak in foundation
this board is an excellent resource - thanks.
we started hearing water running in our walls just 4 days ago and called a plumber immediately. he believes it is a foundation slab leak and is sending out someone tomorrow with a sound unit to find the leak.
called our insurance agent today (state farm) and they said it is most likely NOT covered b/c we do not 'see' any damage yet.
But we are being PROACTIVE and responsible in getting this fixed - shouldn't they cover any damage that is found, regardless of if we can see it now? Our guess is that they will see damage when they start digging/drilling into the foundation.
also, any idea what it costs to find a foundation leak, repair it, and patch the floor back up???
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 11:18 am Post Subject:
th
ey said it is most likely NOT covered b/c we do not 'see' any damage yet.
First of all this was your agent right? NOT an adjuster or their claims dept...Far as I know there isn't an agent anywhere that has the authority to deny a claim. Tell them to turn it in you want an adjuster to come and inspect it..It really will depend on the reason or source of the leak. You're doing the right thing...just call your agent back, ask if they 'turned in the claim' to their claims dept. Do NOT fix anything until an adjuster sees it.
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 12:47 pm Post Subject:
This was the claim dept. We had called the agent during the day, and the claims dept. called us back in the evening and told us this. Any advice for us???
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 09:16 pm Post Subject:
Any advice for us???
Did they tell you to call them once the problem and damages have been uncovered? Remember one ard and fast rule of claims...a claim is not denied unless and until it is denied in writing..I'd call the adjuster back...ask them if they plan to come and inspect your property?
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