Categories Claim Tips

Insurance Claim for Water Damage to Kitchen

insurance claim for water in kitchen

Insurance Claim for Water Damage to Kitchen

Bottom line up front: Water damage in a kitchen is covered by Insurance….

But there are 2 big questions that should be answered, before a homeowner calls an insurance company to place a water damage insurance claim.

1. Where did the Water come from?
2. Was it “Accidental and all of Sudden?”
We will explain these 2 questions below.

Learn the 3 Secrets You Should Know Before Placing an Insurance Claim

Where did the Water come from?

Where did the water come from? Or what is the source of the water?
This is the first question an insurance company will ask when you are placing a water damage insurance claim.

Sometimes this is an easy question to answer, for instance if the sink it is overflowing and there is a small waterfall in your kitchen, you can say I know where the water came from….

But, this still doesn’t answer the actual reason the water damage is occurring.
Is there clogged drain? Is the garbage disposal broken? Is the dish washer broken?

Getting a true understanding of the source, usually requires a water damage professional and a plumber. We highly recommend having an onsite inspection and assessment by a water damage professional before call an Insurance Company.
It could be the difference in getting insurance coverage or not.

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Water Damage is it “Accidental and all of Sudden”?

“Accidental and all of Sudden”? Normally the answer is Yes!

When our customers are confused on this question, is if they just noticed a water damage issue for the first time, but maybe it was leaking for a week.
The answer is still Yes….

A refrigerator water line has been leaking for a week because you moved the fridge to do some spring cleaning and did not realize you had a leak until your wood floor started to buckle, it is still “Accidental and all of Sudden”.

This question trips up a lot of people and the wrong answer can cause an Insurance Company to deny a water damage insurance claim.
If a homeowner stumbles over it or says “maybe” or “no”, this will cause an agent or insurance adjuster to assume it is not a covered claim.

We highly recommend that a homeowner has a water damage professional do an on-site inspection and assessment, before calling their insurance company to place a water damage insurance claim.

The water damage professional can help them understand the insurance claims process and navigate them through it.

Author Corbin Clow, Restorex
Categories Claim Tips

Renters Insurance Water Damage

Renters Insurance Water Damage

Renters insurance does cover water damage…. but normally only for the renter’s personal possessions. This includes furniture, electronics etc. The property owner’s insurance company will pay for the water damage that has affected the structure to include the floors, walls, and ceilings.

As a property owner it is important to get an understanding of 2 key things before you place a water damage insurance claim:
· Is the Water Damage “Accidental and all of Sudden”?
· Where did the water come from? What was the Source?

These are 2 critical items to know before you call the insurance company. A water damage professional is one of the best people to call to inspect and assess to answer these questions.

Learn the 3 Secrets You Should Know Before Placing an Insurance Claim

Is the Water Damage “Accidental and all of Sudden”?

When a property has a renter, this question can be really important when the insurance company is determining insurance coverage…. Mostly they are looking to see if the “renter” or “tenant” was negligent in maintaining the conditions of the property.

One of the more common circumstances, is if the renter did heat the property during the wintertime, which leads to frozen and burst water pipes.

Where did the water come from? What was the Source?

The source of the water damage is also really important when placing as water damage insurance claim.

Broken pipes, burst pipes and frozen pipes are common sources of water damage and are also covered in most homeowner’s insurance policies.

Learn about the Categories of Water Damage Insurance Coverage
Other scenarios can have limited coverage such as a drain backup or sump pump backup in a flooded basement.

We always recommend having a water damage professional or a licensed plumber come out early in the process.

Scheduling a water damage professional to do an on-site inspection and assessment, can help a property owner get their “facts” straight before they call their insurance company.

Author Corbin Clow, Restorex
Categories Claim Tips

What Type of Water Damage is Covered by Homeowners Insurance?

What Type of Water Damage is Covered by Homeowners Insurance?

There are many types of water damage that are covered by homeowner’s insurance policy when placing a Water Damage Insurance Claim…these coverages can be split into 3 Categories.

3 Categories of Types of Water Damage Covered by Insurance

·  Broken Pipes or Burst Pipes

·  Appliances and Water Heater

·  Drain Backup or Sump Pump Backup

Broken or Burst Pipes

This category includes any water damage that happens because a water pipe or supply line breaks bursts or fails.  A good way to understand this type of water damage is if the pipe or supply line had constant water pressure on it or water flows through it….

  • Toilet Supply Lines
  • Sink Supply Lines
  • Drain Lines
  • Ice Maker Supply Lines
  • Washing Machine Supply Lines
  • Water Softener Supply Lines
  • Refrigerator Supply Lines
  • Dishwasher Supply Lines
  • Bathtub Supply Lines
  • Drinking Fountain Supply Lines

These are covered under the Umbrella of Broken or Burst Pipe and is covered by Homeowners Insurance. 

Water Heater and Appliances

Common types of water damage that are covered by Homeowners Insurance also include Water Heater’s and Appliances. The coverage for these types of water damage is the same as a Broken Pipe or Burst Pipe.
Water Heaters can rust, and the bottom will fall out causing water damage and any Household appliance that uses water can fail or overflow causing significant water damage.

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Drain Backup and Sump Pump Backup

A drain backup or sump pump backup is covered under in a homeowners policy….But the homeowner should double check and verify.  Sometimes these coverages are left out of policies or missed by an Insurance Agent when the policy is written.  These coverages can be limited as well to $5,000, $10,000, or $25,000. 

Double check your Insurance Coverage before placing a Water Damage Insurance Claim for Drain Back or Sump Pump Backup.

Author Corbin Clow, Restorex
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