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 Oct 25, 2010 08:22 am Post Subject:
Will homeowners insurance cover this?
Sometimes... depends on the wording of the policy and the insurance company. Sudden (and accidental) losses are covered. If water is leaking over time, this might not be considered "sudden". Also, many policies specifically exclude water damage that happens over time.Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 05:37 am Post Subject: leekage
My parents are in their 80's and unable to determine how long water was leaking under their house, causing extensive damage to the floors. Having paid well over $30,000.00 in premiums to the insurance company the past 10 or more years, they were recently denied a claim to repair the floors. What recourse do seniors have if any?
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 05:58 am Post Subject:
First, see my sig.
What recourse do seniors have if any?
Why was the claim denied? I'm guessing flood was not covered if it was from outside the house and/or that it had been on ongoing problem that was not corrected.It does not matter how much they have paid... the insurance company was assuming the risk, as promised, each and every day those premiums were paid. If your parents had a covered loss the second day of the policy would you expect the insurance company to only pay up to two days worth of premiums?
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 02:58 am Post Subject:
Having paid well over $30,000.00 in premiums to the insurance company the past 10 or more years,
Here's the part about insurance that many folks fail to understand. It is an ALEATORY contract -- there is usually UNEQUAL GIVING AND RECEIVING.
Other than annuities, some forms of life insurance, and possibly some long term care policies, virtually all other insurance premiums are not cumulative -- they don't come with any savings plan. No one offers auto insurance that buys you a new car every 10 years if you don't have any claims. No health insurance policy gives you a free operation every ten years, whether you need it or not, because you had no claims in the past ten years.
You pay for your coverage one year at a time. They promise to cover your claims in that year. No claims, no refunds. But at least you had the peace of mind knowing that if something had happened that was covered by the policy, they would have paid for the loss.
As tcope has said, if this damage is the result of a long-standing maintenance issue, not the sudden bursting of a pipe, or the result of a flood, there is probably no claim payable.
Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 04:31 am Post Subject: State farm
While having Thanksgiving diner, I noticed a odd shadow on my ceiling. Looking closer there are at least 3 others leading to the wall. We have had 3 days of major storms adn temps going from 80 to 19 degrees. I have had State Farm for almost 25 years with no claims. The roof is almost 6 years old(30 yr arch shingles). I called and filed a claim. Can they force me to fight with the Roofers rather than cover the damages?
Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 05:03 am Post Subject:
I noticed a odd shadow on my ceiling. Looking closer there are at least 3 others leading to the wall.
I don't think shadows are covered under any policy.What damage is there and how did it occur?
Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 07:37 am Post Subject:
I think the "shadows" are water stains (wet drywall/plaster). Aside from that, I don't know what the OP is asking about "fighting" with the roofer?
In California, most licensed contractors must stand by their labor and materials for at least 10 years. Most roofing materials have a separate manufacturer's warranty for an even longer period of time. The laws in other states might be very different.
But materials such as galvanized flashings are still subject to corrosion and, as such, that kind of failure may not be covered by an insurance policy.
Contact the insurance company, have an adjuster come to evaluate the problem, and you'll find out to what extent the policy will cover the loss, if it's covered.
No matter what, whether you've been with an insurance company 25 years, 25 months, 25 days or 25 hours, that fact has absolutely no bearing on the value of your loss, whether it is covered or not, or how the claims will be handled.
Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 10:04 pm Post Subject: Water Damage Due to Repairs
My brother was working on a plumbing issue in the home. Turned off the water to change out a toilet kit, changed out the line from the water supply to the toilet tank, silled the areas and layed down for the evening. He let the silicone sit for a couple of hours. Turn the water back on a few hours later and fail back to sleep. I woke up hours later hearing the water runing in the bathroom and found that water was all over the floor, went down to the next floor and then down to the basement.
Would damage to my floors and ceiling be covered if I do not have flood or water backup coverage?
Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 03:01 am Post Subject:
This is not a description of flood or water backup, it is an unexpected, sudden release of water. It's the kind of thing a homeowner's policy will cover. Except . . .
My question is this: What kind of plumbing "credentials" does your brother have?
Changing the water supply hose from the pipe stub to the tank inlet normallyrequires no silicone or other sealant -- it is usually accomplished with rubber or nylon "compression" type seals built into the fittings on the hose ends. Threaded and tightened properly with a wrench is all that is normally required to complete the seal. Adding silicone sealant probably prevented the hose fittings from doing their job. This is even true of those silly, shiny metal flex tubes that are flimsy compared to a real piece of plastic hose or fiberglass reinforced tubing. They all normally have standard 1/2" compression fittings that do not require additional sealant.
If necessary at all, plumbers use a different kind of "pipe dope" or sealant that does not "cure" to seal the threads when required on "NPT" iron, galvanized, plated, stainless steel, or copper pipe fittings. When liberally applied to the pipe threads and properly tightened, it fills in any gaps between the pipe threads and the fitting threads, and creates a solid, but non-drying, waterproof/gasproof barrier.
As such, the damage your brother caused may not be covered by your homeowner's insurance. But, if not, it would be covered by HIS homeowner's/renter's policy if he has one -- because HE was negligent in his installation of the supply hose . . . that is, if he has any insurance.
And make sure he reads and understands the Do-It-Yourself book first the next time.
Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 03:06 am Post Subject: water leak after major rain
Noticed water on living room floor after big rain.
Dried out carpet, took out damaged drywall began to dry it right away called claim into homeowners insurance may have been small leak in roof leaking very little not enough to notice until this major rain. Would it be covered
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