How Are Home Insurance and Water Damage Claims Connected?

Many different things can cause water damage. Your homeowners ' insurance will cover water damage caused by a sudden or accidental event. Other causes, however, are not. If you do file a claim that is protected by your homeowners' insurance, be prepared. You will still have to pay your deductible before your insurance coverage kicks in. This post discusses how homeowners insurance covers water damage.

• Unresolved Maintenance Issues

Your insurance will cover the damage if your plumbing is in good shape and a pipe still bursts. On the reverse side of that, if you have not adequately maintained your plumbing and a leak occurs, you will be responsible for covering the repairs as well as the cost to replace or repair your plumbing. Keeping up with your plumbing maintenance is the best way to avoid unwanted plumbing problems.

• The Source of Damage

Your homeowners' insurance will indeed cover various types of water damage, but it will not cover the source or cause of the damage. If an event occurs that results in water damage, you will be required to take care of any repairs that must be made to the source of the problem. An excellent example of this is if your washer breaks and it floods your basement. Your homeowners' insurance will replace your belongings, but you will have to pay to fix your washer and the plumbing that malfunctioned.

• Sewer Backup

Since sewer backups usually originate outside your home, they are typically not covered by your primary homeowners' insurance policies. However, many insurance companies will offer additional coverage that is specifically for sewer or water backup damage. This optional additional coverage will cover the cost of most types of sewer backups that won't be taken care of by your primary homeowners' policy. It can be a real lifesaver, especially if you live in an area where backups are common when it rains. If you do not see it listed on your current policy you should ask to see what coverage options are available.

• Floods

Have questions about water damage? Call today to set up a consultation with our insurance professionals at Scavone Insurance Agency Center LLC. We can help identify your potential risk for flooding, find out if you live near a flood plain, or if you need to ramp up your home maintenance schedule. Our insurance professionals are well-experienced in helping our customers find the right policy for their homes and families. With the suitable types of protection in place, you can rest assured that your home is secure.