Water damage can mean many things, and not all of them are recognized for coverage by insurance companies. But no matter what, signs of mold are always a concern for every homeowner. If you’re seeing mold in your home, you’ll want to know about the different types of water damage that may have caused it to find out if your insurer will cover the expenses. Need help understanding your coverage? Altieri Insurance Consultants Orlando offers policy reviews alongside public adjusting for water damage claims!
Understanding the Basics of Water Damage Insurance Coverage
There’s a fine line between sudden disasters and preventable occurrences. Insurance companies will exploit this fact to deny you coverage, and there’s a chance they’ll be “in the right” according to their intricate terms. So, then what do insurers accept as viable water damage for recovery?
Insurance companies will typically recognize sudden water damage that is out of the homeowner’s control. However, some damages that appear to be “sudden” can actually be a result of poor maintenance that finally buckles under pressure. Your insurer may look deeply into your situation and find proof of poor maintenance as a reason to deny your claim.
Despite water damage being one of the main reasons for filing an insurance claim, many cases are denied or underpaid. Being aware of the different types of water damage is key to a better outcome.
Know the Different Types of Water Damage
Many types of water damage look the same on the surface, but the underlying cause can decide your settlement. Take a look:
- Pipe bursts – While a burst pipe may seem like a maintenance issue, this is actually a common occurrence and subsequent water damage is covered. Burst pipes can easily result in mold if gone unnoticed for too long especially if they initially start as a slow leak. This can result in no coverage afforded.
- Broken parts – When it comes to broken parts of the pipe like snapped valves and weak joints, the cause can either come from neglect in replacing old parts or unforeseen circumstances like accidental impact or intense weather conditions. You may be dealing with mold either way, but insurance companies may only compensate for the latter.
- Failed drainage – Coverage for water damage that comes from drain failure often depends on the exact source of the damage. For example, water damage from sewer backups may be recognized by your insurer if the cause of the damage occurred on property, but not if the backup happened off premises.
- Storm damage – Rainwater damage entering through a wind caused opening as a result of a storm is often covered since storms are a sudden and natural occurrence. Flood waters are not covered unless you have a Flood policy specifically.
- Fire damage – It’s possible for fire damage to result in water damage through firefighting efforts or indoor sprinkler systems discharging, which can turn into a mold problem if you wait too long for repairs. This type of water damage is always covered.
- Roof leaks – The topic of mold from roof leak water damage can be rather touchy among insurance companies because gradual leaks from the roof can happen from lack of maintenance which isn’t covered by insurers. However, if wind created openings to the roof occur, coverage for water infiltration will be available.
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Dealing with roof damage? Read our all-inclusive guide for roof damage insurance coverage! |
Altieri Insurance Consultants Is Here to Help You With Water Damage Coverage!
To properly settle your water damage claims, we understand how to segregate water from mold, to convince your insurer how the claim should be paid. Need help navigating water damage insurance claims? Trust in your local team of public adjusters at Altieri Insurance Consultants Orlando! We’ll help you understand your coverage and walk you through your insurance claim.
