What Does North Carolina Homeowners Insurance Typically Cover For Water Damage?

For many people, purchasing a home is the largest investment they will ever make. Because it is such a big investment, it is important to make sure that our homes are protected from potential hazards, disasters, and damage. This is where Homeowners Insurance comes in. Homeowners insurance is sold as a personal package policy designed to cover a broad spectrum of perils associated with owning a home. A peril is any event that causes damage to property, i.e. fires, theft, and water damage. One peril that can wreak havoc on homes is water damage and flooding.

Did You Know?

About 1 in 50 insured homes files a property claim for water or flood damage each year. There are so many potential sources of water damage and flooding, so it is almost inevitable to have some sort of water leak at some point. Pumping, appliances, and weather are all contributing factors to the hazard of water damage, which can lead to the destruction of homes and belongings. With such a high risk of water or flood damage, North Carolina homeowners need to be aware of what is and isn’t covered with their homeowner’s insurance.

According to the NC Department of Insurance, accidental discharge or overflow of water from within a plumbing, heating/ air-conditioning system, or from within a household appliance, and freezing of a plumbing, or heating/air-conditioning system, are all perils that are covered by North Carolina homeowners insurance policies. That means that water damage and flooding caused by any of these things can be submitted to your insurance for reimbursement. Water and flood damage can be expensive to remediate and restore, so it is beneficial to have those damages covered by insurance. However, not all water damage is covered by insurance policies.

Flood Damage May Not Be Covered.

North Carolina homeowners need to be aware that homeowners insurance policies do NOT protect against losses from floods, earthquakes, mudslides, or landslides. Flooding from natural disasters and weather is not included in insurance coverage. If you live in a flood plain, near a river, or near the coast, you will need to talk to your lender about adding flood insurance to your coverage. Some lenders may even require the purchase of flood insurance if you live in a high-risk area. Even if you do not live in a flood plain, it is still a good idea to look into flood protection. Weather can be unpredictable, and water tends to pool around basements and near foundations of homes. Water damage from flooding is devastating and costly, and without the safety net of insurance it can put a huge financial burden on the homeowner.  If you are concerned about what coverage you have on your home, contact your lender to discuss what you can do to ensure your home is protected from the devastation of flooding.

If you find yourself dealing with water damage or flooding from leaky pipes, faulty appliances or natural disasters and extreme weather, Restoration 1 of Greater Charlotte is here to help you. We have trained professionals that can handle the clean up and restoration of water damage and flooding. We will work with your insurance company, and can even assist with insurance claims, and answer any questions your adjuster may have. It is our goal to take as much worry out of the process as possible. You can rest assured that your home and property is in great hands with us. We know the investment you have made in your home, and we promise to invest the same care in restoring your property.