Does Insurance Cover Flood Cleanup?

11/7/2023 (Permalink)

Learn more about homeowners insurance policies and flood cleanup coverage.

There is often a lot of confusion around what is and isn’t covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy. One of the biggest misunderstandings surrounds water and flood damage. Many people don’t know whether a water intrusion event is covered by their insurance company because they don’t know how it is classified.

In order to learn more about how insurance and flood cleanup coverage works, homeowners should keep reading this guide from SERVPRO of Weymouth, Hingham, and Quincy. Throughout their time offering flood cleanup services in Weymouth and the surrounding areas, they have had the opportunity to help countless customers with their insurance claims. Therefore, they can provide more information on how to get flood cleanup insurance coverage.

What is the Difference Between Water Damage and Flood Damage?

In general, most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage. However, they may cover other water intrusion events. Therefore, it’s important that homeowners understand what types of events are considered water damage and what events would be classified as flood damage. 

Water Damage

Most homeowners insurance policies classify an event as water damage if the source of the water came from within the home, such as a faulty appliance or plumbing issue. They may even cover a leaking roof or air conditioner. The one catch is that they may not cover water damage that could have been prevented.

Flood Damage

When it comes to classifying an event as flood damage, the source of the water usually has to be natural. In many cases, it’s caused by a natural disaster, such as a severe storm or hurricane. 

Since the terms water damage and flood damage are often used interchangeably, it’s important that homeowners refer to their specific policy to see what coverage they have. If they still have questions, the best solution is to contact the insurance company for clarification.

Does Rain Damage Count as Flood Damage?

As mentioned, flooding from severe storms is often counted as flood damage, but rain damage can go either way, depending on whether or not the rain caused a flooding event. Rain damage from a leaking roof is typically classified as storm damage instead of a flood. Therefore, many insurance providers will cover these types of losses.

If, on the other hand, a storm was so severe that it caused a flash flood, the damage from that rain would be considered flood damage. This type of event would not be covered by a standard insurance policy. However, there are ways that homeowners can protect themselves in case of flooding events.

What is Flood Insurance?

Flood insurance is an entirely separate policy that is specifically used to cover buildings impacted by floodwater. It may cover some rainwater damage, but it is mostly used to provide coverage for losses caused by natural disasters. These can include hurricanes, overflown lakes, or ocean water. 

In some areas where flooding is more common, homeowners may be required to take out a flood insurance policy while they pay off their mortgage. However, it can also be a sound investment for people who own their homes. 

Flood insurance can be taken out to cover the building, personal property, or both. Examples of items covered by flood insurance include:

• Appliances
• The Home & Foundation
• Carpet
• Curtains
• Detached Garages
• Permanently Installed Features

What Isn’t Covered by Flood Insurance?

Though there are many things that are covered under the umbrella of flood insurance, there are still many items or expenses that aren’t covered by the standard flood insurance policy. In general, homeowners will not be reimbursed for additional living expenses or financial losses from interruptions to business. 

Any mold, mildew, or moisture not caused by the flooding event will not be covered either. Many insurance companies also limit coverage to the building itself and the property inside. This means that they usually won’t cover fences, wells, hot tubs, swimming pools, septic systems, or other property features outside of the insured building.

These are just general guidelines, however. Homeowners can modify policies with riders to make sure their coverage fits their specific needs. Therefore, it’s important that homeowners contact their insurance company to find out more about their coverage.

Get Professional Assistance with Filing a Claim for a Flood Cleanup

Fortunately, homeowners don’t have to stress over filing a claim for their flood cleanup. Professional restoration companies like SERVPRO of Weymouth, Hingham, and Quincy can take care of the entire claims process.

To learn more about their full-service flood cleanup solutions, submit their online contact form. A helpful representative will then reach out to provide more information. Homeowners can also call the 24/7 emergency number for immediate flood damage assistance.