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Given that water damage is one of the most common causes of home insurance claims, it is no wonder people have a lot of questions about water damage of which the foremost is what is covered by their home insurance – and what isn’t.

Your home insurance policy will typically define differential coverage, or exclude altogether, water damage based on the cause/type of the water damage. Some coverage will typically be included in a standard home policy like an HO-3; other sources of damage might not be covered unless you add an endorsement to your policy. The standard homeowner policy will include:

• Damages caused by the weight of ice, snow or sleet. This can cause roof collapse or water damage, among other problems.
• Discharge and overflow of water, even if it is an accident.
• Tearing apart, cracking, burning or bulging of a steam or hot water heating system.
• Freezing of plumbing and pipes.

However, if you opted for the least expensive type of policy, or if you’re restricted to a policy like an HO-1 or HO-8, you might have very limited coverage. Unlike the other standard policies, these cover a very limited set of perils and will not normally include the items listed above.

In addition to the cause of the water damage, an additional issue is whether the source of the damage is accidental and sudden, or gradual – Gradual damage water damage is not usually covered, so although your policy might have water damage coverages, if the reason for the damage is defined by the inspector as not being sudden and accidental, then you are likely to be denied in a claim. That is why it is critically important to contact a professional as soon as you notice any damage, so that the inspection will conclude that the damage is defined as sudden and accidental, and to ensure that he deals with the root cause of the problem in a manner that will prevent reappearance of gradual damage.

Gradual damage is when something happens slowly over time and causes damage to your property. Gradual damage due to water damage is a common problem when it comes to insurance claims. An example of gradual damage is when something happens slowly, like paint chipping off a wall it starts with a small chip, then eventually half the wall is uncovered.

Some of the most common examples of gradual damage causing losses or denied claims are:

• Plumbing, faucets or pipes leaking causing damage to the walls, ceilings or floors.
• Water damage caused by seepage coming in from cracks in the foundation, or at the exterior of the dwelling allowing water to enter your home.
• Flashing, tiles, shingles or deteriorating parts on the roof that indicate signs of needed repair.
• Mold, rot or corrosion.
• Deteriorating electrical wiring.
• Poor repairs or lack of repairs to home.

Often, when you try and make a claim for damage that is sudden, but is the result of something that has been happening for a while, the claim is denied.

This is where things get tricky. You can figure out what an insurance company will and will not cover based on the policy wording. Drycare can assist in your interaction with the insurance company in Los Angeles, optimizing your chance of reaching a favorable resolution. While all insurance policies exclude wear and tear, and gradual damage, however, there may be some “exceptions”.

• Mold: Some companies may allow you to purchase coverage for mold remediation. This varies from state to state and by insurance company. In California, for example, policy makers are pushing to have limited basic mold coverage added to the policies.
• Damage occurring or resulting from a claim: Following a water damage claim that was covered as a result of a tree falling on the roof and creating an opening in which water poured into the home, the opening and roof were repaired by the insurance company. However, several months later the homeowners noticed a funny smell or paint chipping near where the repairs had been done, even identifying newly formed mold where the damage had been- additional damage may occur after or as a result of a claim, and not be caught. If the gradual damage is identified as being the result of the original claim that was covered, the insurance company may cover it.
• Broken Pipe: Often gradual wear and tear leads pipes, water tanks, or a washing machine to break down. The actual pipe or washing machine will not be covered. However, the resulting damage from the sudden breakage may be.