Insurance! Are You Covered

Nobody thinks water damage can happen in their home however, its actually one of the most filed claim types in Colorado homes. Leaking pipes have the potential to flood your home and ruin furniture, carpet and a lot more. This is why every homeowner should carry a home and contents insurance policy with a clause covering losses caused by water leakage.

What Is Water Leak Insurance?

Almost all the home insurance policies in Colorado have a clause covering losses due to sudden and accidental plumbing leaks. This typically covers any damage or loss caused due to water leakage from plumbing, fixtures or appliances. An important distinction here is that this clause only covers losses when the escape of liquid is accidental or sudden. It is also important to note where the water originates from as some insurance companies will not cover a leak that is considered exterior intrusion. Subsurface Leak detection is often called to do leak detections on behalf of homeowners at the request of insurance carriers,

If the damage has happened due to normal wear and tear or you are aware of the gradual or prolonged water damage, the insurance policy won’t cover the losses. For example, losses due to corrosion, mildew, mold or rust are not covered by most insurance policies. If you want to know whether your current policy covers water damage and to what extent, you should go through the policy document carefully or reach out to your insurance company for an explanation of coverages.

Most insurance policies provide coverage for the cost to detect the source of water damage in case it’s not clear. When there is a water loss it is in your best interest to clearly and carefully document the claim. having a professional leak detection to back you r claim is always a good idea. The cost of repairing or replacing the actual cause is typically not be covered in the policy.

What Does Home Insurance Cover?

A typical home insurance policy in Colorado is available in several variations including contents insurance, home insurance, and home and contents insurance. Home insurance typically covers loss or damage to the structure ie. residential building including garages as well as any other structures on the property such as fences or garden sheds.

Some policies also cover fixtures that are permanently attached to the house such as air conditioners, built-in wardrobes, kitchen cupboards, dishwashers, awnings and inground swimming pools as well as any permanent structural improvements. some of these items may require an addendum to the policy, however.

The contents insurance coverage typically includes loss or damage to contents inside the home such as kitchenware, electrical appliances, computers, furniture, furnishings, valuables such as cameras, sunglasses jewelry, rugs and other such things. All such policies also have a few optional extras such as accidental damage coverage, flood coverage, landlord coverage, personal effects coverage and a lot more.

Does Insurance Cover Water Leaks?

A typical home and contents insurance policy covers loss or damage due to sudden or accidental water leaks from plumbing lines, appliances or fixtures. If the loss is gradual or if it can be proven that the homeowner knew about the gradual water damage or wear and tear that could have led to water leakage, it may not be covered under the existing policy. You are responsible for maintaining appliances, fixtures and plumbing in good working order as to not cause damage to the structure. If the water leak is caused by gradual or long term neglect, it is unlikely to be covered under the home insurance policy. Subsurface Leak Detection of Colorado conducts insurance cause investigations on a regular basis. We have the experiance to navigate these claims and can provide a valuable insight into the claims process. If your insurance company asks you to get a leak detection give us a call at (719) 749-6850 to schedule your appointment.

What to Do If Something Is Leaking?

If you notice water leakage on your property, it is important that you do not ignore it. Here are the steps you should take immediately to limit further damage to the property "as required by your insurance policy."

1). Ensure the safety of everyone in the house including your pets. If there is standing water on the floor it is important no to enter the area as electricity could be running through the standing water from houshold appliances. Sewage backups can be very dangerous and require immediate evacuation of the living area affected.

2). Cut off the water supply to your home by turning off the mains supply.

3). If you want your insurance claim to be successful, you need to keep track of things. Document everything such as the time of water leakage, the extent of damage caused by the leakage and other such things. Take photographs and videos. This evidence will go a long way in assisting with the insurance claim.

4). Make sure to file a claim with your insurance provider.

Final Thoughts

Water damage is not uncommon in Colorado, as such, neither are the filing of leak related insurance claims. While most home insurance policies have a clause covering the losses caused by accidental or sudden water leakage, your insurance claim is likely to be rejected in case the damage is caused due to gradual wear and tear or avoidable water leakage. This is why you should take proper care of all the fixtures and appliances in your home. If you notice any mysterious wet areas in your home or growth of mold, you should immediately engage the services of the leak detection experts at Subsurface Leak Detection to find the root cause of the issue.

Reliable Water Leak Detection Services

Most homeowners often ignore minor water leaks, but it could be a sign of corrosion in the pipe system or some other issues. Subsurface Leak Detection is the premier leak detection service in the state of Colorado. Our leak detection services include tracer gas detection, acoustic leak detection, camera inspections, thermal imaging detection, proprietary matrix system detection and a lot more. If you suspect a water leak on your property, our experts can help by detecting the source of the leak and getting you on the road to recovery.

If you suspect you have a water leak, please call us at Subsurface Leak Detection at (719) 749-6850