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Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Leaking Windows?

Read Time: 6 mins

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Considering how unfortunately common leaking windows can be, it begs the question: does homeowners insurance cover leaking windows? The answer isn’t as straightforward as you may have hoped. Generally, if the window glass is leaking due to being broken by “sudden and accidental” circumstances, your insurance will likely cover the damage in. If your window frames or seals are damaged or broken due to regular wear and tear, you will have to pay for fixing the damage out of your own pocket. 

Water leaks and broken windows are significant concerns for homeowners. They not only cause damage to the home and belongings, but they can also cause mold and mildew issues. This can be an expensive problem, resulting in high repair costs or leading to additional damage within the home.

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If you have leaking windows, your claim may be denied by your insurance company. This is because a broken window is considered a “maintenance” issue, which is typically not covered by a standard HO-3 homeowners policy. Instead, most insurance policies will take care of the incurring water damage from your leaking window.

Let’s look at how homeowners insurance deals with leaking windows and what to do if you’ve encountered this issue.

Does home insurance cover rotted windows?

Your windows are a barrier to the outside world. They take on the winds, rains, and storms so you and your possessions don’t have to. After a fair amount of time, windows can start to deteriorate. Without proper maintenance, water-damaged windows will begin to rot. 

Regular maintenance can help you make sure that any potential rotting hazards are handled before they grow into bigger, more expensive problems. For this reason, rotted and decrepit windows will typically not be covered by home insurance. 

Essentially, you’ll need to assess the reason behind the rotted windows. Damage to windows can lead to leaks, which end in rot. Damages may be covered if the rot is caused by:

So, if your windows are rotted due to any of these circumstances, your policy might be able to cover the costs of the damage. As a rule of thumb, consider if the rot is the result of a sudden, uncontrollable circumstance. 

General deterioration accumulated over time will likely be seen by insurance companies as your fault due to negligence. Rot takes time to develop; time that could have been used for prevention.

Does my homeowners insurance cover broken windows?

Whether your insurance company will cover your broken window also depends on your policy details. The extent of coverage for a broken window depends on what caused the damage. Your insurance has a list of hazards that are covered. If your window breaks as a result of one of these listed risks or perils, then insurance will take care of it. 

For example, let’s say the wind is a peril included in your policy. In this case, if the wind blows a tree into your window and breaks it, insurance will cover the cost of your broken window after your deductible

Hail, theft, vandalism, wind, and fire are all typical risks covered by home insurance. In fact, hail and wind are two of the most common insurance claims for homeowners. If your window breaks due to an accident, like a rogue golf ball, then your liability coverage will come into play.

Again, we’ll use the “sudden and accidental” rule for broken windows. If the window glass breaks due to unforeseen circumstances, your insurance will step in. If your window frames or seals are damaged or broken due to regular wear and tear, you will have to foot the bill.

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What to do when my broken windows leak

Broken windows and leaks might be inevitable for homeowners in certain areas. To increase your chance of an approved window water leak insurance claim, there are a few steps you have to take. 

Firstly, it’s important to always maintain your home year-round. Checking the integrity of your home’s structure allows you to find mole hills before they become mountains. Plus, it shows insurance companies that you regularly maintain your home, and that any window damage is due to random events. 

Outdated structures should especially be addressed since old wooden windows are particularly susceptible to rot. Look for softened or cracked frames, swelling, and discoloration. These are signs of water damage that lead to wood rot

During your yearly maintenance, keep your receipts and notes. Document the initial leak and any damage you notice. Try to repair the leak and the water damage caused by it. Keep track of how much money you spend on damage control. 

You may want to call a contractor to determine if any hidden issues could cause bigger problems. They can also assess the total costs of the window and leak damage, which will help you decide if an insurance claim is even worth submitting. 

Finally, you should contact your insurance company and go over your policy with a professional. There may be some loopholes or coverages that you didn’t know about. From here, you can discuss the cause of your leaking window, and whether it will be covered. Furthermore, you can go over any solutions for the damages caused by the leak itself.

Conclusion

Owning a home leaves room for a unique set of surprises. It’s always beneficial when your homeowner’s insurance helps you pay for damages that are out of your control. Leaking windows are another one of those gray areas where not reading over your policy could land you in some hot water. 

Any damage caused by a written peril will be covered by your policy. This includes broken windows, molded walls, or water-logged floors. In this case, your dwelling coverage will help you pay for window repairs and any other adjustments required due to the covered risk. 

Broken windows that have been left to leak and rot will not be covered by your homeowner’s insurance. Your company will likely find you at fault and might only take care of damage from the leak and not the window itself. 

There are different coverages for almost any situation. Look for policies that allow for window replacement and check the wording on your policy. Some will require you to pay out-of-pocket, while others may take a window’s age and condition into account before denying a claim.

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ABOUT AUTHOR

Lauren Bell is a data analyst by day, content writer and editor by night. When she’s not making data discoveries, she’s writing about them! She also enjoys writing about lifestyle and finance; two of her favorite topics.

As an Arkansas native, Lauren loves the fresh air. When she’s not hard at work in front of a computer, you could catch her spending time on an outdoor adventure with her two kids.

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