Flooded Basement: What is and Isn't Covered by Insurance

5/3/2022 (Permalink)

A flooded basement in Heritage Bay, FL.

Flooded Basement

If you come home to find your Heritage Bay, FL, basement full of water, you know that your first call should be to your insurance agent. However, you might be surprised that not everything is covered by your policy. Here is a breakdown of what kind of damage is and isn't covered by insurance.

Replacing or Repairing the Cause of the Basement Flood

When you identify the source of the water in the basement, you might expect the insurance company to cover the repairs. However, most policies won't cover the cost of repairs for whatever caused the flood. For example, insurance policies won't cover:

• Broken pipes
  
• Washing machine supply hose leak
  
• Damaged water heater
  
• Leaking dishwasher
  
• Leaking roofing system
  
  

You may be able to purchase additional insurance coverage to cover a leaking sewer main and have that repaired at no cost to you.

Damage Caused by Flood Waters

Most standard homeowners policies don't come with flood insurance. So, regardless of whether your basement flood happened because of an intense rainstorm or an overflowing body of water, such as a river or lake, you won't be covered unless you purchase additional coverage.
A simple online search will tell you your risk factor for your home flooding. If you're at a moderate to high risk, you'll want to ensure that you always carry additional flood insurance.

Removing and Repairing Damaged Personal Property

Your insurance policy will replace and repair any personal property damaged in a basement flood. They will also pay to have a water damage repair service come in and make any repairs to the structure of your home so that it is safe to live in. Depending on your coverage, you might have a deductible and coverage limits to consider when organizing the repairs.
A flooded basement can be a major hassle but ensuring you have additional coverage and relying on the pros for clean up will have your space back to normal before you know it.