Skip to main content

Weather-Related Damage: Are You Covered?

By August 4, 2014June 9th, 2020Homeowners Insurance

Weather-Related-Damage

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Weather-Related Damage?

Weather can be a direct or indirect cause of many household emergencies, but it’s not always clear which weather conditions are covered by homeowners insurance. For example, many homeowners know that outdoor flooding isn’t covered, but what about burst pipes and indoor flooding caused by heavy rains or wind damage? When you’re shopping for home insurance quotes, it helps to read carefully to find out exactly what a standard policy will cover — and whether it might be worth paying a bit more to get extra coverage.

When it comes to weather-related havoc, here’s an overview of what’s covered — and what’s not covered — in a typical home insurance policy.

Frozen Assets

Generally speaking, most homeowners insurance will cover burst pipes during freezing weather. Some companies, however, may not offer compensation if there’s evidence that the homeowner has left the house vacant — and unheated — for long periods of time. If your house is vacant during the winter months, be sure to get someone to keep it warm during cold snaps.

Raindrops Keep Falling on Your Bed

What happens if your roof is damaged by tornadoes, high winds, hail or heavy rains? The good news is that a standard homeowners policy will cover roof damage caused by weather catastrophes. If you sustain water damage because of a leaky roof during the rainy season, this is also covered — although some insurance companies might take into account the age and pre-damage condition of your roof before they decide on compensation.

Blowin’ in the Wind

When it comes to wind damage, most of us think of tornadoes as the main culprit, but the truth is that any kind of windstorm can cause serious damage to a home. What if destructive high winds cause a tree to fall on your home — or your neighbor’s? In most cases, wind damage is covered by homeowners insurance. Plus, most policies will also offer some compensation toward tree removal as well.

Fire and Rain

While most of us don’t think of fire as necessarily weather-related, it certainly can be, especially if it’s started by a lightning strike. Between 2007 and 2011, U.S. fire departments responded to approximately 22,600 lightning-related fires per year, with annual property damages of $451 million. Fortunately, a standard homeowners insurance policy does cover fires caused by lightning strikes.

Additional Insurance Coverage

Depending upon where you live, you might want to add supplemental policies to your existing homeowners insurance. For example, if you live in a waterfront area such as Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, you may want to get flood insurance if you’re worried about rising waters during heavy rains. Likewise, if you live in San Francisco, consider investing in a policy that covers fire and structural damage caused by earthquakes.

How to Compare Home Insurance Policies

As with medical or auto insurance, when bad things happen, the best way to find out if you’re covered is to talk to an insurance professional and get the facts. By talking to an expert at McGrath Insurance Group, you can find out the best ways to insure your home against weather-related incidents. Likewise, by visiting the McGrath website at www.mcgrathig.com, you can find out about a variety of insurance options to cover your valuable possessions, whether you’re insuring your home, your car or motorcycle, your RV or your boat.