Is Water Damaged Covered By My Standard Home Insurance Policy?

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Water Damage Coverage in Seattle, WashingtonWater damage can occur in many ways in your home. Whether it is a burst pipe, a leak from your refrigerator or freezer, your house is flooded due to weather conditions, and more. It is important to understand what type of water damage is covered under your standard home insurance policy. Not all water damage would be covered in the event of a flood claim for a standard home insurance policy.

What type of water damage is most likely covered under your standard home insurance policy?

Most home insurance policies address water damage the same way as many claims and that is “sudden and accidental.” For instance, if freezing temperatures burst a pipe in your home and water leaks into the wall and causes damage or your water heater fails and contacts the surrounding drywall. Another example would be if your supply line on your toilet suddenly burst and caused damage to your bathroom.

What type of water damage is not covered under your standard home insurance policy?

If water damage occurs to your home over time, for instance, a leaky faucet or supply line that had clearly been ignored, this would not be covered by insurance as this is a maintenance issue.

When do you need flood insurance?

Water that enters your home from outside due to severe weather conditions would be considered flood damage and is not covered by a standard home insurance policy. For flood damage to be covered, you would need to carry a flood insurance policy. A flood insurance policy can be obtained possibly through your existing insurance company, or by calling our office. The cost of flood insurance will vary depending on your elevation risk. Quotes are simple and take just minutes.

Water Sewer Backup

Another water damage type of coverage that is not included in your standard home insurance policy is “Water Sewer Backup” coverage. This coverage is for when your drain lines get water forced back up them and into the home. This can occur from several different scenarios including municipal water drainage being overrun or a blocked pipe. When this occurs, you need a specific type of insurance policy to cover the damages.

If you have a question about your home insurance policy, please feel free to reach out to a licensed agent in our office. While each claims scenario is unique, prevention can oftentimes be the best course of action.

Protect your home from water damage with new technologies. Water leak alarms are a great way to ensure you don’t have water damaging your home. These small devices can be installed under sinks, near water heaters, and behind toilets easily. It is an inexpensive way to keep an eye on things in your home.

Is Your Insurance Coverage Enough?

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Do you have adequate insurance coverage for your home and vehicle? Would you know if you did? Find out here whether your home is underinsured.

Business man in suit holding hand over small wood house with three small wood people.

Whether auto or homeowners, insurance is a powerful form of protection against disasters. Insurance makes rebuilding possible when something unexpected happens, whether a house fire or a car crash.

Unfortunately, a significant portion of the population is likely underinsured. Although building costs have risen in recent months, only 30 percent of homeowners have updated their insurance policies to accommodate this change. To complicate matters, many homeowners performed home upgrades during the pandemic, but less than half have updated their homeowners insurance policies to accommodate the change.

Being underinsured may not be as bad as having no insurance, but it can be. Paying for insurance that won’t cover your costs in a disaster can be devastating, especially if you have no money to rebuild after the disaster.

This article will discuss the risks associated with being underinsured, what it means, and what you can do about it.

What Does It Mean to be Underinsured?

There are multiple ways that a person can be underinsured. To be underinsured means to have the wrong coverage or insufficient coverage to protect your home or car when a covered event occurs.

Wrong coverage. You buy a home near a river and purchase a standard homeowners insurance policy. A storm causes the river to rise, creating water damage. Your homeowner’s insurance policy does not cover flood damage. To protect from costs related to flooding, you need flood insurance. Your home is underinsured.

Insufficient coverage. You buy a home and insure the dwelling for an amount that covers the replacement cost if destroyed. You have homeowners insurance, but after several years, you no longer have enough coverage to rebuild your home if lost. Your home is underinsured.

How to Get Adequate Coverage

To determine whether your home and vehicle have adequate coverage, start by reading your insurance policies and analyzing your needs. Research building costs, vehicle prices, and more. Touch base with your insurance agent during this process to get a professional opinion.

Some tips:

  • Be honest with yourself about your insurance needs. Don’t risk underinsuring your home because lower premiums are currently more attractive.
  • Be honest with your insurance agent about your home size, the presence of other structures, home improvements, and more.
  • Talk to your insurance agent about separate scheduling of high-value items like jewelry.
  • Ask yourself whether you can afford the deductible on the policy you currently have or are considering. A higher deductible can reduce your premium costs, but would you be able to cover the cost of the deductible in the event of a covered event?
  • Review your auto and homeowners insurance coverage every year. Keeping tabs on your coverage makes it less likely that you’ll find yourself in a vulnerable position when a covered event occurs.

Have You Reviewed Your Insurance Coverage? If Not, It’s Time.

If you haven’t reviewed your homeowners and auto insurance coverage, it’s time – touch base with your insurance agent to kick off the process. Find out how much it would cost to increase your insurance coverage. Work with your agent to find a policy that will meet your needs.

Tired of Being Cold? 6 Ways to Keep Your Home Warm (Without Cranking the Heat)

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Heating costs are going up! These tips make it possible to stay warm this winter without turning up the dial on your thermostat.

Woman sitting on chair, keeping warm with blanket over shoulders and hot chocolate.

It’s chilly out there, and the cost of heating your home is on the rise. According to the National Energy Assistance Director’s Association, home heating costs are at their highest in 10 years. Some families are paying more than 17% more to heat their homes. You might be reluctant to turn up the heat if you’re on a budget.

There’s more than one way to stay warm at this time of year. You can stay warm without turning up the heat by insulating your home, using heating pads, and drinking soup and hot drinks.

1 – Weatherstrip Your Home

Drafts near windows and doors can cause cold spots around the house. Weatherstripping can help keep the cold air out and the warm air in.

Weatherstripping is an easy project for an afternoon. You can purchase weatherstripping from your local hardware store. It should be thick enough to fill the gaps around windows and doors but not so thick that it prevents them from opening or closing properly.

If you applied weatherstripping in the last few years, check your handiwork. If the weather stripping has cracked, broken, or compressed, it should be replaced.

2 – Use Heating Pads (Microwavable Ones)

Use microwaveable heating pads to heat your feet in bed. These heating pads often have beads inside that retain heat for a long time. If you don’t own this type of heating pad, you can also make one at home from a clean sock and uncooked rice.

3 – Eat Soup and Drink Warm Beverages

Make a pot of soup or a hot cup of tea. You’ll warm your kitchen during the preparation and warm your body when you consume it. For maximum benefit, keep a pot of coffee going throughout the day or a crock pot of soup on the kitchen counter.

4 – Dress in Layers

It’s time to break out those sweaters, turtlenecks, long-sleeved shirts, and long underwear! Dressing in layers is an art, as you’ll want to dress warm enough to stay comfortable but not too warmly that you’ll feel sweaty and damp. Wear silk or polyester to wick away sweat in the layer closest to your body. In the next layer up, wear a sweater, a sweatshirt, or a fleece to provide insulation and warmth.

Add layers to your bed and your body, putting more blankets on to stay warm at night.

5 – Humidify Your Home

Dry air feels cooler than humidified air. The longer winter goes on, the dryer the air feels. Install a humidifier in your home. Aim for a humidity of 30% to 40%. Use a hygrometer to measure your humidity levels, and avoid over-humidification.

6 – Use That Fireplace

Whether you have a gas or wood-burning fireplace, getting a fire going is a charming way to keep your house warm. Before use, contact a chimney sweep at the start of the season to have your chimney inspected and serviced. Do this even if you never used your chimney last year because you never know what could have happened to your chimney between now and then.

Be Safe. Contact Your Insurance Professional.

Heat your home safely this winter – never leave fires unattended and never use your oven as your heat source. Contact your insurance professional to ensure that your home has adequate coverage.