There are multiple types of water damage that can potentially damage your home. You may want to make a claim on your homeowner's insurance to receive compensation for the damage and minimize the financial implications. Water from a passing storm, sewage from a clogged plumbing system, and undetected leaks are just a few potential causes of water-related damage.
One common issue is gradual water damage. Gradual water damage occurs when an undetected issue causes water to damage your home over time (instead of all at once). Here are a few things you need to know about making gradual water damage insurance claims.
1. Whether or Not the Damage is Covered Depends on Your Policy's Details
You'll need to pull out your insurance documents to determine whether or not the gradual water damage will be covered. Most insurance polices will not cover damage that is caused by normal wear and tear or neglected maintenance. For example, if one of your pipes starts leaking and damages your walls, your policy may not pay for the damage if an inspection shows that your plumbing system was overdue for maintenance or should have been replaced.
However, there are riders that you can add to your policy to cover certain types of damage that would otherwise be excluded. Contact your insurance agent so that you can learn more about what your policy will cover.
2. Damaged Related to a Specific, Traceable Event is More Likely to Be Covered
Most of the time, your policy is more likely to cover damage to your home that is from a single, traceable event (even if the damage subsequently causes damage over time). For example, assume that tree falls on your home.
Even though you complete obvious repairs as soon as possible, the impact of the tree can cause damage that isn't immediately detectable. If it compromises the integrity of your home's structures (like the roof), this can permit moisture to enter your home that may then cause mold or mildew to form. Your insurance is likely to cover this additional damage, even though it occurred gradually.
3. There are Steps You Can Take to Increase the Likelihood That Your Claim is Covered
If you can prove that your home has received regular maintenance, this will help you build a case for your claim. When your insurance sends an adjuster out to survey the damage, the adjuster will make notes regarding the condition of your home, but some maintenance isn't always immediately visible.
By providing your maintenance records, you can prove that you have properly cared for your home and that there were no steps you could have realistically taken to prevent the damage.
Share18 July 2018
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