Insurance Information Institute estimates that about one in fifty homeowners claim water damage annually. Several things can lead to water damage in San Antonio, TX, which includes frozen pipes, storm damage, floods, and sometimes poor plumbing workmanship. Therefore, it is important to have your home insured against such eventualities. Water leak damage is covered by most insurance policies, but there are several exclusions. Standard regulations ignore some eventualities, such as slow leakages. In the event of water damage, it is critical to understand what is covered by a typical homeowners policy and what is not covered.
Types of Water Damages Covered By Insurance
Water damages happen frequently, and it can be a result of different issues, depending on your location and the prevailing weather patterns. A homeowner’s insurance will, however, only cover a limited number of water damages. Such damages that are covered include:
• Sudden or unexpected water damages
• Damages caused by storm
• Sewage overflow or backup cases
• Damages caused by flooding
This means that all types of water damages that occur as sudden, one-time losses are covered by the typical homeowner’s insurance except for rising water losses. Water damages caused by accidental or abrupt causes like sudden bursts of pipes are likely to be covered by your insurer.
On the other hand, homeowner insurance doesn’t cover water damages that develop gradually and over a long period of time. In addition, water leak damage may be covered by some homeowners’ insurance plans. However, this is usually uncertain because other damages may emerge from the initial damage. For example, repairing an adjacent wall after a pipe burst can be covered by your insurer as part of the damage mitigation measures.
Not all homeowner’s insurance policies cover the damage that results, so make sure to read the fine print of your policy to be sure. Also, remember that even if the water damage is covered, it doesn’t cover the source of the leakage. Because of this, the expense of installing a new pipe if an existing one bursts and causes damage is not always covered.
Water Damages are Not Covered By Homeowner’s Insurance
Most insurers do not cover water damage that occurs over time. The expected normal wear and tear of the water system may cause gradual damage. This is not covered by most insurance policies. Examples of such damages include water leaks that are likely to occur as your home pipes and plumbing system wear down over time.
There are some cases that are typical but not covered by insurance as far as gradual water damage is concerned. These include:
• Poor Maintenance – If you fail to fix a leaky faucet, and it eventually leads to future water damage, your insurance will not compensate a claim on that.
• Faulty Pipes – the water damage caused by a faulty or broken pipe would not be covered by the homeowner’s insurance policy. This is because the damage has been brought up buy progressive wear and tear of the pipes, which should have been addressed by regular maintenance.
• Rotting and Molds – Water damages in your home that result from rotting, corrosion, or molds are not covered by insurance.
• Seepage on foundation – if a fracture in your foundation allows water to seep into your home, your standard insurance coverage will not pay for the damages caused.
• Damages to the roof – If something falls on your roof and result in water damage to your home, you can claim for repairs from your insurance as this will be covered. However, any further damage caused as a result of this, like mold growth, will not be covered by your insurance.
Wear and tear and slow damage are not covered by most homeowners’ insurance policies, regardless of the type of policy. Only on rare occasions do insurance policy cover progressive damage that occurs over time. Read your policy document’s fine print to understand if gradual damage is covered.
Having an insurance representative by your side can be helpful as they will clarify any ambiguities in your policy statement and help you understand what exactly is not covered.
Why Gradual Damage is Not Covered
Water damage claims may be denied. When your claim is denied, it is important to seek clarification for the reasons as to why the claim was denied. Water damages claims are frequently denied because the damage has been proven to be slow and progressive.
Sometimes, water damage may appear suddenly when it has actually been building up over time. The pipes and plumb works in your home are difficult to see since they are concealed within the walls and sometimes several feet on the ground. There’s a good chance you wouldn’t discover a leakage until there was a significant amount of water damage.
Also, if you signed up for an endorsement policy, you may only be insured for some specific types of water damage. Ask your policy provider if there is additional coverage for the kind of damage you anticipate. Avoid insurers who don’t provide water damage endorsement. Always seek a second opinion if you feel the type of damage on your property should be within the limits of your cover. Allow an independent insurance expert to examine your claim.
If you are looking for a full-service restoration company in the San Antonio Area, contact us at Sapphire Restoration LLC. We have over 15 years of experience in commercial and residential construction. Our team of certified restoration specialists will offer you high-quality water damage, mold remediation, fire, and fire restoration services in San Antonio, TX. We pride ourselves on the many years of successfully satisfying our clients. Get a free estimate online today.