Water damage can cause immense loss to a property. Water damage can occur due to a number of reasons. It can be due to floods, pipe leaks, drain overflow, water leaks or even rainstorms and sewage backup and pipe bursts. Once you find out water damage in your property it is important to act really fast. The first question that comes into the mind of a homeowner is that does homeowner insurance cover water damage.
The answer to the question does homeowner insurance cover water damage is yes but in certain cases. There might be some other cases when the homeowners’ insurance might not cover water damage. The rainstorm might create a hole in your roof and water leaks into your room through the hole.
In this case the homeowner’s insurance will cover the water damage. But if the hole was already present before the storm and the water leaks occur, then the insurance is not applicable as you could have got the hole repaired to avoid water leaks.
Types of Water Damages Covered Under Homeowners Insurance
So, does homeowner insurance cover water damage?
The homeowner’s insurance policy might vary from one insurance company to the other. The insurance policy depends on the severity of the storm. Here are some natural disasters that are included in homeowner insurance.
- Wind damage or Tornado – tornado is a destructive wind that blows at a speed of almost 50mph and sometimes even more. These tornadoes are so deadly that it can blow away roofs as well as walls of a property. It also has the capability to topple down trees. It can blow away sticks, bricks, rocks and debris. It can actually create havoc in your property.
- Hail – hails are common during severe storm. Hails are also quite destructive by nature. When the hail storm blows over a particular density it will cause leaks, break windows and can even create dents in different vehicles.
- Lightning damage – major damage can be caused due to lighting. Lighting can also cause death among humans and cattle. Lightning can be responsible for destroying chimneys, roofs and even cars.
By now you might have got some idea on the question, does homeowner insurance cover water damage.
Others Facts that Determine Insurance Coverage for Water Damage
The next question that might come to your mind is, whether the normal wear and tear caused by the storm or other factors are covered under the homeowners’ insurance. Does homeowner insurance cover water damage caused by rusty pipes, clogged gutters or roof shingles that are rotten?
The answer to this will be negative. The homeowners’ insurance covers severe damages that occur due to serious natural disasters. This is the reason why you should always keep a check on your water lines and sewage system. The water damage caused due to a leakage which has not been repaired before will never be considered valid for insurance claims.
If the roof shingles are rotten and damaged, then it is always a good idea to change it. If the insurance companies find out your negligence, then they will never sanction the money.
Different kinds of leaks come under the homeowner’s insurance coverage but if the leak is responsible for creating a flood then you might face some problem. Standing water is a major problem created due to floods. If you are facing such a problem, then the water damage might not be covered under the homeowners’ insurance.
The insurance companies usually avoid these cases because these cases are quite expensive. The severe damage caused by floods will involve spending a lot of money to bring things into their normal condition. You need to buy flood insurance separately in this case.