Water Damage and Your Insurance

It’s never an ideal situation when you check the basement the day after a big storm to find it flooded with water. And while storms certainly aren’t the only the cause of water damaged property, they’re one of the most common. While cliché, it is possible to make lemonade when life gives you lemons. When it comes to water damage, this lemonade is often coverage from a homeowner’s insurance policy. While not all homeowners are covered for professional restoration services and item replacement following water intrusion, many are. We’d advise you review your policy now just in case you’re ever in a water damage situation down the road.

What Damage is Covered?

The damages covered depend on the policy, but generally speaking, most policies cover over a dozen types of damage. These include:

  • Accidental discharge.
  • Leaks.
  • Appliance malfunctions.
  • Pipe issues.

The aforementioned are all issues that pertain to appliances or infrastructure within the house. Noting this trend, it may surprise you that any water intrusion from natural flooding normally isn’t covered by a standard homeowner’s insurance policy. It is, however, covered by a flood insurance policy. That said, if you live in an area with natural bodies of water surrounding your home or in a flood-prone location, consider having flood insurance added to your homeowner’s policy.

It’s also worth mentioning that even if the flood itself is not covered, the damages that you’ve incurred as a result of the water may still be covered. Again, in order to get a better understanding of what is and what is not covered if such a situation were to arise, we recommend reviewing your insurance policy with your agent today to better identify if any changes or adjustments need to be made.

I Have Water Damage – What Do I Do?

If you do discover water damage in the home, assess the situation before jumping on the phone with your insurance company to file a claim. If it’s something as minor as a water-soaked basement rug from water leaking in through a small foundation crack, you likely don’t need to file a claim. For more dire situations, be sure to take lots of pictures that you can show to your insurance company. Also inquire about having a restoration company come in to extract the water and repair structural damages.

MASTER SERVICE GROUP, INC.

22032 N. State Route 59

Barrington, IL 60010

+1 847 250 9594

office@msgrestoration.com


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