Water damage in your residence can be destructive and potentially harmful to your health, so it's important to have water damage insurance coverage. Ensuring that your insurance covers water damage can also be a big headache financially. After experiencing residential water damage, it may be difficult knowing where to start. 

What kind of water damage is covered by homeowners insurance? 

Water damage will likely be covered by your home insurance policy if the damage that occurred is deemed to be caused “accidentally” and/or “suddenly.” Of course, every policy and agency is different, but in general, there are a few key instances where water damage is covered by most homeowners insurance policies. The most common accidents that are typically covered fall under one or more of the following: 

• Plumbing or appliance malfunctions (usually the appliance itself is not covered, just the water damage from the appliance)
• Vandalism
• Burst pipes
• Leaking roofs
• Ice dams 

Additionally, if you need to vacate your home and live in a hotel during the water damage cleanup and restoration process because of an unsafe environment, most insurance companies will cover hotel stays and some dining expenses for the duration of your evacuation of the damaged structure. In some cases, many of these paid expenses may be on a reimbursement-only basis where you front the money and are paid back by your insurance company later. 

Even before disaster strikes, we recommend contacting and consulting with your insurance agent to see  what’s covered…and what’s not. It’s crucial to know the specifics of your policy and the charges you may incur so that you can make the right decision for yourself and your family.

What kind of water damage isn’t covered by homeowners insurance? 

As you may have guessed, there are types of water damage that aren’t covered by homeowners insurance. In general, the items not covered are from neglect of the home, rather than true sudden or unexpected emergencies. Some examples may include leaky corroded pipes, toilets, faucets, and unmaintained roofs. Sorry, that old leaking pipe you’ve been putting off fixing, unfortunately, won’t make the cut!

Flooding and groundwater flooding in basements is not usually covered by homeowners insurance unless you specifically have flood insurance. Rot, fungus, molds, and sewer backup are not typically covered either, but many policies will cover it if it happens from one of the aforementioned covered causes.

How can Dry Kings help with water damage insurance coverage? 

If you’ve experienced water damage in your home, it’s important to make two calls as soon as possible. The first call would be to your insurance agent to report the claim, and the second call would be to us at Dry Kings for an emergency water damage assessment. Once we assess the type of water damage you’re dealing with, we’ll schedule an inspection with our experienced professionals who can help you decide the best course of action to repair, restore, and rebuild. Our experts can help provide all the necessary documentation, photos, and scope of work to your insurance agency in a timely manner. Our number one priority is helping you start the water damage repair and build-back process without delay. 

Having damages to your home and dealing with insurance can be a burden and cause undue stress in an already upsetting time. Dry Kings will work with you and your insurance to help get the best possible outcome and get your life back to normal. To help you more easily navigate this process, give us a call today.