Is Your Water Damage Covered or Excluded
Rain is a force of nature that takes an interest in the insurance world. Wisconsin, for instance, experienced a major rain event this past summer. When this occurs, insurance companies can either cover water damage or deny based on certain exclusions in the water department.
There’s a long list of homeowners insurance policies geared toward rain. Most of these policies exclude water damage caused by a number of scenarios like the ones below.
- Flood, defined as, “A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land or of two or more properties from: a) Overflow of inland or tidal waters; b) Unusual and rapid accumulation of runoff of surface waters from any source; or c) Mudflow. Coverage for flood is available only through a flood insurance policy.
- Surface water movement (includes water traveling on the ground)
- Overflow of a body of water
- Water below the surface of the ground
- Earth movement
- Sewer or drain backup (may be added with an endorsement)
- Sump pump discharge (may be added with an endorsement)
- Weather conditions that contribute to any of the above
A loss that is not covered is water damage that seeps through a basement wall, window well, sump pump, or basement floor. Wind-driven rain that infiltrates itself into your home through the roof should be covered but isn’t always.
If you would like to know if your water damage insurance claim is covered, you can check out your proof of coverage which is located in the fine print. You might have to consult with a professional in the biz to understand the jargon which will mention provisions, exclusions, and endorsements
If your homeowners insurance claim is denied, then there are a few steps you should take.
1) First, make sure that you read your carrier’s official explanation for why the claim was denied.
2) Compare that explanation with what you find within the fine print of your policy.
3) Most importantly, if your claim is denied, you should compare the details of your loss to that of the exclusion. If the exact circumstances of the loss don’t bode well with the exclusion, you should enlist an experienced public adjuster. These are your shepherds, your guardians, during a difficult time.
Call us today and we can help you recover your losses!