One thing that you dread as a homeowner is having water problems in your home. Unfortunately, it can happen in a variety of different ways, and each way may or may not be covered under your homeowners insurance. Here is what you need to know about different types of problems with water getting into your home.
Pipe Burst
A common problem that can lead to water getting into your home is a pipe burst. It can happen due to the pipes being too cold in the winter and having the water freeze inside them, causing the water to expand and create a crack in the pipe. It can also happen from having old galvanized pipes that corrode from the inside, where one day it just suddenly breaks and starts leaking water all over your home.
Thankfully, this type of damage is covered under a normal homeowners insurance policy. The problem isn't typically preventable, and it can happen with you least expect it. You can have insurance help pay for the plumbing repair as well as damage restoration to your home.
Flood Damage
It's possible that water somehow got into your home from the outside, which is technically considered flooding by your insurance company. This is likely to happen if you have water rising from a nearby water source, which surges in your area until it reaches your home. If you think that you are safe from flood damage if you do not live in a flood zone, know that flooding can also happen from a lot of rain as well. If water levels in the street rise to the point where the water reaches your window wells, then water will get inside.
The bad news is that this type of damage is considered flood damage, and you'll need a flood insurance policy in order to protect your home. Since this type of water damage is rare, many homeowners do not have it and are unprepared for a big storm that comes through their part of town.
Sewage Backup
Any time that water enters your home from a sewer pipe is considered a sewage backup. It doesn't matter if the water is clean or dirty since the entry method is what makes this type of flooding unique. Most insurance providers will require you to have a separate sewer backup policy, which specifically covers damage from water entering your home in this manner. It's worth considering if you have had neighbors in the past with sewer backup problems since it could happen to you.
Share27 September 2021
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