What To Know Before Making a Water Damage Claim

5/11/2022 (Permalink)

Finding bursting pipes in your Georgetown, TX, home is a stressful experience.

Finding bursting pipes or a flood of water in your Georgetown, TX, home is a stressful experience. You have to get the mess cleaned and try to salvage your belongings. You also have to worry about whether your insurance will cover water emergency restoration services. Here are some tips for filing a successful insurance claim.

Types of Water Damage Covered by Insurance

First, you need to understand when a water emergency is and is not included in your insurance policy. Typically, there will be at least some coverage for the following incidents:

• Flood
  
• Overflow
  
• Storm damage
  
• Sewer backup
  
• Sudden discharge of water
  
  

Gradual Damage
Insurance policies usually do not include coverage for gradual damage. Gradual damage includes harm caused by:

• Damaged wires
  
• Leaking pipes
  
• Improper repairs
  
• Basement or roof cracks
  
  

Still, there are some exceptions to this rule. For instance, your policy may not cover the cost to fix broken pipe issues that leaked over time, but insurance may pay to repair or replace items in your home that were damaged by water from this pipe.

Successful Claims
If you think your home's bursting pipes or another water emergency is covered by your policy, you should contact your insurance provider as soon as possible. Once everyone is safe, you can return to the premises to take photos or videos of the damage.
There are several things you can do now to reduce your chances of an insurance claim being denied in the future. Start by doing regular maintenance of your home every six months. This will prevent small issues from causing gradual damage that insurance will not cover.
Be sure to also keep detailed records of any repairs you do or any professionals you hire to work on the home. In addition, you should review your insurance policy and decide if you need to purchase any endorsements for additional coverage.
Homeowners' insurance can cover a variety of water-related disasters, from bursting pipes to a toilet overflow. The above information should help you make a successful claim.