Burst Plumbing Pipes
Homeowners insurance may cover damage caused by pipes that freeze unexpectedly and burst, but there may also be limitations to the coverage. For example, the homeowner may be at home, has the heat on and has all exposed pipes properly wrapped to ward off freezing. A sudden cold snap drops the temperature far below freezing. A pipe bursts, and carpet is under water. The terms of the policy may provide for the carpet to be suctioned and repaired. The coverage may or may not pay to repair or replace the pipes, depending on whether plumbing pipes are covered or excluded from coverage.
In a different scenario, the homeowner may be away and has left the house unheated with no maintenance efforts made to protect the house’s plumbing from freezing. In this case, the entire claim may be denied. The homeowner has neglected to take reasonable precautions to protect the home from freezing.
Storm Damage
Storms are a common cause of water damage to houses, as when a heavy rainstorm batters the roof and it leaks. Water can pour in and damage furniture. Some policies may cover the furniture and not the roof. The reason for the denial of the roof claim could be that, within the policy terms, roof repairs are related to maintenance. The reason for the acceptance of the furniture claim could be that the damage is sudden and accidental.
Sewer Backup
Damage from sewer backups is usually excluded from house insurance. In fact, many policies contain specific exclusion language. Homeowners may be able to purchase a special endorsement, a type of add-on coverage, that covers drains and sewers for an additional cost. The time to purchase is well in advance of any danger of backup.
Like sewer backups, seepage also is not usually covered. The reasoning is different for seepage. Water seepage into a basement that damages the interior and the foundation is, for the most part, considered a maintenance problem. Seepage is by nature not sudden.
Rising Flood Waters
Flood insurance is made available to participating flood-prone communities through the National Flood Insurance Program. Policies are sold through insurance companies and are underwritten through this federal government program. A flood entails the rising of a body of water onto land that is normally dry. Rising is one word that differentiates water damage from flood damage. Another factor is the widespread nature of flooding. A rising river, for instance, will commonly affect a number of houses in a region and not just one.
Considerations
A homeowner is wise to review the policy terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions before contacting the insurance company and filing a claim. A damage report, even one that is denied, may be entered into the insurance company’s record and linger there appearing as if were a claim. When the homeowner shops for a change in insurers, the prospective new insurance company may view the old record as an indicator of risk.