Having a homeowners policy in place is crucial, especially when you are at risk of experiencing damage due to weather. Since this is one of the most common occurrences that require homeowners to file a claim, knowing what is covered is very beneficial. Your standard homeowners policy does cover damage as a result of rain storms. Becoming more familiar with what is covered and what is not will allow you to adequately prepare for any season. Damage can occur to any part of your home, so having the right policies will ensure you are covered in case of any damaging event.
- Your homeowners policy will cover rain damage in most cases.
- As long as the rain does not cause a flood, there are few exclusions for rain damage.
- Hail is considered a peril that is covered by homeowners insurance.
When rain damage is covered by homeowners insurance
Rain can do a lot of damage to your home, especially when it is persistent. As the rainy seasons approach, you need to be sure of what is covered by your homeowners policy. This will help you determine if you can file a claim or not.
- Heavy rain can damage the roof in many ways. It can create cracks or even tear off shingles. This makes your roof more vulnerable to leaks. Homeowners insurance will cover these instances.
- Another hazard to be aware of is fallen branches. This can cause similar damage and will be covered if the objects fell onto your roof during a storm. Plenty of debris can get carried by a storm and will often land on your roof if there is heavy wind happening at the same time.
- If the storm begins and you realize your windows are leaking, this is another instance where you will likely be covered by insurance. This can be a result of worn caulking that needs to be replaced. If this happens, you are going to have interior rain damage, and this will be covered.
- As long as the situation was not preventable ahead of time, the policy will most likely cover the damages. To get more specific information about the policy you have, you can consult with your agent. They will be able to answer your questions and confirm your coverage.
The determining factor is how the rain entered the home or where the damage stemmed from. This is how the insurer will decide if you are covered or not. If the incident happens suddenly during the storm, it will likely be covered. The most common weak points happen to be the roof and the windows. You should always check for leaks during a storm to prevent the damage from spreading any further. If you take care of the problem right away, this will preserve the integrity of your home.
How home insurance protects against hail
Hail is another common occurrence during stormy weather. Unlike rain, it comes down in solid clumps and can cause some serious damage to your home. Since hail is one of the 10 named perils listed on any homeowners insurance policy, you will be covered by these damages. This is important because hail can cause your roof to crack and form leaks. The weight of the hail can dislodge your shingles or penetrate the surface of your roof, and the rain will begin to seep through.
- Paying attention to any dark spots on your ceiling that form during a storm will alert you if hail has damaged your roof.
- You should also keep an eye on the side exteriors of the house. Hail can often dislodge siding and create cracks. This can cause leaks to form and ultimately leave your home exposed to additional elements. All of this falls under a covered occurrence on your homeowners policy.
- The windows are another vulnerable area of your home that can be damaged by hail. Your windows are unique because there is both wood and glass that can experience the effects of a hail storm.
As long as the damage was not preventable, it will likely be covered by insurance in case anything cracks or breaks. Just as you would with your roof and siding, keeping an eye on the security of all your windows will allow you to confirm they appear strong enough to withstand a hail storm.
Rain damages not covered by home insurance
Learning what is not covered by your homeowners insurance policy is equally important. It is important to never assume that damage will be covered because a storm was occurring during the time of the damage.
- One of the biggest perils not covered by homeowners insurance is flooding. If you have a serious flooding situation on the floor inside of your home, you are going to need an additional flood insurance policy to be covered by this peril. It is a policy specific to these instances and can be purchased separately.
- Another instance where flooding can happen is if a rain storm begins to flood the street and this water makes its way into your home. This would be a peril consistent with a flood policy and would not be repairable under a homeowners policy. Getting a flood policy in place before the rainstorms begin is a good way to make sure you are covered from many different angles. This will cover what a standard homeowners insurance policy will not.
- Mold can often form after a heavy rainstorm. This is a peril that might be covered by your homeowners insurance policy. What determines the coverage depends on how the mold formed.
- If a tree branch falls on the roof and causes a leak, mold might occur as a result. The mold removal costs would be covered in this case because the initial peril was a falling object. However, if mold forms as a result of a leaking roof that you have neglected to maintain, this is seen as a preventable instance. The insurance policy would not cover the damages.
Rain does not have to be detrimental to your home. When you figure out what is covered and how you can prevent damage from occurring ahead of time, your home is going to be as durable as possible. Having the right insurance in place will give you the confidence you need as the storms sweep over your area.
