Water damage is a frequent and expensive home disaster that affects around 14,000 Americans a day. It is difficult to protect your home from water damage, and it requires the repair of the source of the problem.
In addition to this, you have to perform a massive cleanup of the entire affected area. All of this work is costly, which is why many insurance companies help by providing a homeowner’s policy that handles water damage.
However, not all forms of hidden water damage are covered by homeowner’s insurance. You can learn more about what types of water damage may be covered by your policy.
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What Qualifies As Hidden Water Damage?
Hidden water damage can be difficult to diagnose. It can also be a point of confusion when you are trying to get it covered by homeowner’s insurance.
Types of Hidden Water Damage
Hidden water damage is slow and not easy to notice at first. It can take weeks or months to notice that water is slowly seeping into different areas of the home.
Sewage Backup
When your sewage system gets backed up, water from the drainage systems flows back into your home. This water not only destroys property and smells terrible, but it is also unhygienic and can cause health problems.
Sewer backups are expensive and can be caused by different problems. Sometimes, it’s a case of an aging sewer system. The sewer system in the local area may have fallen into disrepair and may require an update.
If the city’s main sanitary system gets blocked by debris, then the water can also be backed up into your home.
The main sanitary lines may also get backed up if a storm comes through and floods the city pipelines. This is if the system drains sewage and stormwater together.
If that’s not the case, then it could be tree roots. Tree roots can create blockages by creeping into pipes.
Ice Dams
Ice dams often happen due to snow blockages that cause water to leak into the roof. This occurs when the snow melts down a roof and freezes on the roof’s edge.
As more ice builds up and freezes, a dam is created in the roof gutters. Melting water starts to pool up on the roof. Unable to drain water, the roof gutters continue to accumulate with snow while water leaking down the roof becomes trapped.
This causes water to leak into the house and creates water stains, peeling paint, and can also ruin electrical units.
Plumbing and Appliance Leakage
When your plumbing overflows, this also causes hidden water damage. This happens when your bathtub, sink, or toilet overflows by mistake.
There is also the chance of pipes bursting or a water heater breaking down. The leak can start slowly or it can begin to pour water in all at once.
This can be either due to an unexpected accident or poor maintenance. Appliances that cause water damage can include a washing machine or dishwasher overflow. Air conditioning units can also leak and cause hidden water damage as well.
Roof Leaks
Roof leaks can happen for a number of reasons. It can be due to severe weather, where a heavy rainstorm causes damage to the roof’s integrity. A buildup of snow can also destroy a room and cause it to cave in.
A storm with strong wind can tear roofing material away, leaving the underside exposed to the elements. In other cases, the roof is aging and is slowly opening up to cracks which allow rain to seep through.
The roof deck can rot and allow water to seep in over time. This can destroy sheetrock, drywall, or cause damage to the insulation material inside the home.
Roof shingles can curl due to weather being too hot or too cold, which also leaves room for more water damage to seep through.
Water Damaged Caused By Fire
When a fire occurs, and the sprinklers get triggered, this is also considered a type of hidden water damage. Often, this remains hidden in the walls, under carpets, and seeps into other areas not noticed.
It can take some time to recover from this as it can cause mold and other issues.
What Types of Water Damage May Be Covered?
According to Hopepublicadjusters.com, in most cases insurance will cover water damage that occurs due to a hidden water leak.
This happens when there is water damage inside ceilings, walls, cabinets, floors, or behind your home appliances that went unnoticed.
This type of damage can include deterioration of wall structure, corrosion and rusting of metals, and destruction of indoor materials.
When mold damage is the indirect result of water damage, this can also ruin walls and cause health problems. Mold remediation is sometimes covered by insurance as well.
If the damage is due to poor maintenance of your home, or wear and tear, then this form of damage most likely won’t be covered.
This is because, as the homeowner, you are expected to manage your property and update it regularly. However, if the damage is due to an unexpected mishap, then more than likely it will be covered by your coverage.
This can be from an unexpected burst, your roof suddenly cracking and leaking, or an appliance malfunctioning.
Why Your Damage Might Not Be Covered
The language regarding insurance can be confusing, so carefully reading it will help you better understand what is included in your coverage.
Every insurance company is different and has alternative coverage options. Water damage coverage often comes as a separate plan if not covered under your main policy.
This is because, in most cases, water damage comes from flooding or from poor maintenance of appliances that aren’t replaced when they age.
Do You Need Additional Help With Water Damage?
You can receive guidance from professionals who can help. Because the language of insurance policies is often full of jargon, an expert in the field can break down the information for you and help you understand it.
Contact an industry professional today.