If you live in a house, there is always the chance that your basement could flood. If this happens, will homeowners insurance help cover it? This really depends on what caused the flooding to happen. So let’s take a look at some of the most common causes and see if they are covered or not.
Causes of Basement Flooding That Are Typically Covered by Homeowner’s Insurance
Every homeowner’s insurance policy is different. Different companies have different rules, and even within the same company, different policies can have different terms. To know what is covered, you really need to speak with your insurance provider to get clarification. However, the following flooding causes are typically covered under most homeowners’ insurance policies.
Flooding From a Broken Appliance
If your washing machine or dishwasher breaks and floods the basement, this is likely covered. If you have a sump pump installed in your home, it might also be able to help prevent damage from an appliance break-down.
Flooding From a Water Heater
A water heater can cause some serious flooding issues if it bursts while it’s running. This type of flooding is typically covered under a homeowner’s insurance policy.
Flooding From Frozen Pipes Bursting
If the pipes in your basement freeze and then burst, this is considered to be an act of nature and is usually covered by homeowners insurance.
Flooding from Swimming Pools, Tub, and Sinks
This one might seem like a no-brainer, but if water from your swimming pool or hot tub overflows and floods your basement, it’s likely going to be covered. The same goes for overflowing sinks – as long as the excess water isn’t coming from rainwater that is collected on the roof, it should be covered under most policies.
Causes of Basement Flooding That Are Typically Not Covered by Homeowner’s Insurance
Just as with the covered causes of flooding, every provider and policy is different. Be sure to get clarification. However, these flooding causes are rarely recovered by insurance.
Flooding from Rainwater
If the rain is coming down hard enough to flood your basement, it’s not likely that homeowners insurance will help. This type of flooding is usually considered an act of nature and isn’t covered by most policies.
Sewage Backup or Groundwater Seeping In
If raw sewage starts flowing into your basement, this is definitely not something that homeowner’s insurance will cover. The same goes for any kind of water damage caused by underground water seeping in.
So as you can see, it really depends on the cause of the flooding as to whether or not homeowners insurance will help out. Be sure to talk to your provider if you’re ever in a situation where your basement has flooded; they’ll be able to tell you about your coverage limits.
Need help after a flood? Contact RS Basements so we can give you a quote for basement remodeling in Alpharetta.
Not sure if remodeling is right for you? Read: 4 Benefits of Basement Remodeling.
