According to Insure.com, water damage is among the most common causes of homeowners’ insurance claims–and also one of the largest sources of confusion. If a flooding river inundates your own house, your insurance is unlikely to cover the damage. But if the flooding comes from inside the house itself, the result of a burst pipe, you can breathe easier: Your coverage probably will cover the damage.
Coverage
In general, water damage from a burst pipe inside your house will be covered by a standard homeowners’ insurance coverage. Whether an outside pipe bursts and causes damage, that ought to be coated, too, though you must have the ability to demonstrate the damage did indeed come from the burst pipe. In the event the insurer concludes that poor drainage–a non-covered maintenance problem–has been the real culprit, your claim could be denied.
Limitations
Your water-damage claim also might be denied if your insurer concludes that you are accountable for the pipe bursting in the first location. Most pipes that burst do so because they freeze. If you abandon your house during freezing weather, your insurer can cite your negligence as a cause of denying your claim. Even if your insurer does pay for the water damage, it may refuse to pay to fix the pipe . Insurance does not cover ordinary wear and tear on a house. If the pipe burst simply because it was old and corroded, or because it was attached to an appliance that malfunctioned, that might count as ordinary tear and wear.
Reporting
Connecticut insurance adjuster Allan Sabel, in an interview with Insure.com, warns that the way you report a water-damage claim to your insurer can make a difference. Do not use the word”flooding” under any conditions, ” he advises. Insurers have a specific definition of flooding –and floods are not covered. Utilizing the word in a casual circumstance when creating a call for your broker can cause you trouble later.
