TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2021
When an in-home flood occurs, you may be unsure what steps to take first. In some situations, your home insurance policy will help cover the losses you have. However, this only applies in situations where the cause is a covered peril. To find out, you need to contact your agent to learn more about your specific policy. However, there is some insight that can help you. 
When an Emergency Happens
Imagine water pouring into your home from a broken or frozen pipe. The pipe burst in your home through no fault of your own. It is saturating every surface of the area. And, within a matter of minutes, there is an inch or more water in your home. What happens in this situation?
Stop the Water First
Your first goal should be to stop the water from flowing. Turn off the water main and remove yourself and family from the home. Be very careful if anything electrical is wet. In some cases, you can call the fire department to help you with stopping the flow of water.
Extraction
If the cause of the water damage stems from a type of peril covered by your policy, your home insurance policy can usually help cover the water extraction. Contact your home insurance agent. Inform them of the situation. Provide photos or details as necessary. If they cover the damage, they can help you secure water extraction services from a licensed professional in your area.
Clean Up and Restoration
When you have a flood like this, the damage can be extensive. It can include damage to a variety of surfaces and destruction to your belongings. This can mean the removal of the damaged debris. The home then needs to dry out, and mold remediation may also be necessary. This is very common. If drywall, flooring, or other surfaces have damage, you may need a professional to restore these surfaces as well.
When Will My Policy Pay?
If you have coverage for your incident, chances are good you can count on your provider helping you to restore your home again. Work with your home insurance company throughout this process.
Most of the time, your policy covers damage from water leaks and internal flooding. It often covers losses related to broken pipes and backups in your sewers, but only if that is not due to poor maintenance and upkeep. Please note, you might need to add this coverage to your policy through a special endorsement, however.
Keep in mind, that your policy usually will not cover damage caused by weather-related flooding. Only flooding that occurs because of a home-borne risk is likely to have coverage. If you want water coverage for weather-related floods, you will need flood insurance.
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