Flood and Water damage, aren’t they the same?

10/9/2020 (Permalink)

Flood and Water damage, aren’t they the same?

Most people believe that flood and water damage are the same and this is not the case in many scenarios. Though they both cause damage to your home and headaches, they can be quite different when dealing with an insurance company.

Flood insurance is a separate policy from your traditional homeowners’ insurance. If your home is in a flood zone you may be required to obtain flood insurance but if you are not, well then you may not have to. The scary thing about it is you may not even be offered the additional coverage or know that you may need it.  Flood insurance will cover flood damage to your foundation, plumbing, flooring, walls, and electrical components. Flood insurance DOES NOT normally cover anything outside of the main property such as detached garages or swimming pools. Flood insurance will usually deny coverage for damage caused by moisture, mold or mildew if an adjuster states that the damage could have been prevented. You often can add coverage to your personal belongings under this policy as well.

Water damage is usually covered under your standard homeowners’ policy. You should examine your policy to see what your specific coverages are. Water damage is normally defined as damage occurring BEFORE water touches the ground. This could be damage caused by rainstorms, burst pipes, overflowing bathtub, washing machine malfunction etc. This list could go on. Things not considered water damage would be your flooded yard backs up into your home, foundation leaks causing inside damage due to heavy rain etc. Sump pumps are also another thing a homeowner should verify are covered in their policy because that’s a separate add on as well.

Making sure you understand your policy, coverages and individual needs is especially important when protecting your largest investment. Consult with your insurance agent yearly to ensure proper coverages.

If you experience a water related issue call SERVPRO® of Charles County or SERVPRO® of Oxon Hill and let us walk you through the process. We are always Here to Help!

SERVPRO® of Charles County

(301) 753-8313

SERVPRO® of Oxon Hill

(301) 292-4447