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Why did My Insurance Carrier deny my Water Damage Claim?
5/10/2021 (Permalink)
Water damage can cause thousands of dollars of damage if not addressed quickly.
When you have insurance, many homeowners assume any and all claims they file will be covered. This includes any water damage caused by leaky pipes, storms, flooding, or sewer backups. But this is not the case. We highly recommend periodically checking in with your agent to review your policy to see exactly what is and is not covered. We thought we could explain some generalities when it comes to homeowner’s insurance.
A Typical Homeowner’s Policy Does Not Cover Flood Damage
Most homeowner’s policies exclude coverage for flooding. This would include microbursts, rising creeks, and rivers overflowing their banks and their runoff. Any easy way to remember the water damage caused by “outside water,” i.e., storms, flooding, hurricanes, etc. it will probably not be covered by your general home policy. If you would like to have coverage for those types of events, you need to talk to your agent about a separate flood policy.
Gradual/Long Terms Water Leaks Are Typically Not Covered.
Most homeowner’s policies cover sudden water losses due to a burst pipe inside the home, sudden toilet leak, or leaking appliance. However, if this leak is gradual and you do not notice it right away, the claim could be denied. If the insurance adjuster feels the leak is more than 14 days, the claim could be denied and classified as a loss due to a maintenance issue.
Handling A Water Claim
And while these are just general guidelines knowing who to call if a water loss does occur is critical because even the most conscientious homeowner can sometimes experience water damage in their home.
SERVPRO is a trusted name in the industry and works closely with hundreds of insurance carriers.
If you experience a water loss in your home or business, call SERVPRO of Lexington/Thomasville. Our highly trained technicians are certified by the IICRC as experts in water mitigation and restoration. Ad with our 24-hour emergency services, we’re here when you need us. To learn more give us a call today at (336) 224-2565.