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Does Usaa Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage
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Home insurance is quite complex and one of the areas that causes the most confusion for homeowners is water damage coverage. Most policies cover certain types of water damage, but it all depends on the cause. Here’s what homeowners need to know about water damage insurance.
Water damage is usually covered by a homeowner’s insurance policy if it occurs as a result of a sudden and unexpected event. But if the water damage was caused by a homeowner’s mistake, such as a lack of maintenance, it’s usually not covered.
For example, an insurance company will often pay for repairs due to a burst water pipe if that pipe actually bursts suddenly. But if it was corroded, many will not cover it. This is not considered an unexpected event because anyone looking at the pipe could see that it was likely to fail soon.
Whether mold damage and removal is covered also depends on the cause of the water damage. If the owner is found responsible for the damage, he will have to pay for the repairs at his own expense.
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Here’s a closer look at what types of water damage are typically covered by a home insurance policy:
As discussed above, pipes that burst unexpectedly are covered by most homeowner’s insurance policies, as long as they were properly maintained before they burst.
Rain damage is usually covered if your roof or home is compromised by bad weather. For example, if a tornado ripped the roof off a house, insurers would cover rain damage. Or, if a window was broken by hail during a storm, rain damage may also be covered.
Similar to broken pipes, water line breaks should be covered as long as they occur inside the home and are not the homeowner’s fault due to poor maintenance.
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Sump pump failure is typically not covered by a basic homeowners insurance policy. But most insurers allow customers to purchase riders that protect against damage due to sump pump failure.
If your kitchen catches fire and the fire department causes significant damage in putting out the flames, your homeowner’s policy should cover water damage as well as fire and smoke damage.
Although floods are technically unexpected, they are not covered by a traditional homeowners insurance policy due to the high cost of flood damage repairs. But homeowners can still buy flood protection. Read on for more details.
Rusted or corroded pipes are considered a maintenance issue and any damage that results from bursting is not covered by home insurance. Homeowners who notice signs of wear and tear on their plumbing should take steps to repair or replace it immediately.
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Leaks and roof damage are not covered if they occur as a result of the age of the roof. Homeowners should take steps to replace roofs before they start leaking to avoid costly water damage to their homes.
Leaking toilets, water heaters or other fixtures that use water in the home are not usually covered by a home insurance policy, as the damage is usually caused by negligence, rather than an acute incident . It is the responsibility of the owners to carry out the routine maintenance that their appliances require to keep them in good condition. When one begins to leak, the homeowner should contact a repairman immediately. You will need separate equipment breakdown cover for your insurance, even to replace a suddenly broken appliance.
Your homeowner’s policy is unlikely to cover water entering your home due to a drain or sewage backup. If you’re worried these problems might occur, you can get sewer or water surcharge coverage in addition to your basic policy.
Outages to the public water mains are usually the responsibility of the local municipality, not the homeowner. Therefore, a typical homeowners insurance policy will not cover damages resulting from them. The section of pipe that goes from the water meter to the house, however, may be your responsibility and may be covered.
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Flooding certainly seems like a form of water damage, especially for concerned homeowners dealing with the mess left by a flood. But in the eyes of home insurers, the two are different. Flooding is usually caused by natural disasters, such as heavy rain or hurricanes, while covered water damage is usually caused by some type of broken pipe or fixture, although storm damage can be a contributing factor. .
Homeowners who want to protect themselves from flooding should invest in a separate flood insurance policy. These policies are offered by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and focus exclusively on flood damage. They can be quite expensive, but they can also provide invaluable protection for homeowners. Some mortgage lenders even require homeowners to carry flood insurance if they live in a flood-prone area.
Kailey Hagen has been writing about small business and finance for nearly 10 years, and her work has appeared in USA Today, CNN Money, Fox Business, and MSN Money. It specializes in personal and business bank accounts and software for small and medium-sized businesses. She lives on what is almost a farm in northern Wisconsin with her husband and three dogs.
Kristi Waterworth has been a writer since 1995, when words were on paper and card catalogs were cool. She has owned and operated several small businesses and developed expertise in digital (and paper) marketing, personal finance, and a hundred other things SMB owners need to know to survive. When she’s not hitting the keys, Kristi hangs out in her kitchen with her dogs, randomly dropping cheese on the floor.
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Ashley Maready is a former history museum professional who made the leap to digital content writing and editing in 2021. She holds a BA in History and Philosophy from Hood College and an MA in Applied History from the University of Shippensburg. Ashley loves creating content for the public and learning new things so she can teach others, whether it’s information about salt mines, channel mules, or personal finance.
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