How is water damage caused? Is there a separate homeowner’s insurance cover for water damage?
Water damage can be caused by water seeping through a leaky roof, burst pipes, an overflowing kitchen sink, a blocked sewer, rainwater, floods, etc. While standard home insurance policies provide cover for a fixed number of perils, they do not include damage by floods. So, suppose you’re living in Tampa, which is prone to natural disasters like thunderstorms and tornadoes. In that case, you need special flood coverage which is provided by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) under FEMA. Floods are a result of natural calamities that affect all homes in a particular area, whereas water damage is limited to your particular home and may be caused by leaking pipes, faulty plumbing, heating, or air conditioning systems.
Tampa is a blend of both the modern and the old in terms of architecture, ethos and way of life. The mushrooming of construction, increased coastal development, and an itinerant population have left their indelible mark on Tampa. As a resident of this multicultural city, you must purchase a home insurance policy to safeguard your home. A typical homeowner’s insurance will cover both devastations from natural calamities and other perils, including water damage caused by elements within your home. Among the various coverage available within a home insurance policy, the dwelling coverage will cover the cost of the structural damage to your house due to the standing water, and the cost of damage to your personal items like carpets, furniture, or electronics is covered by the personal property coverage.
As a general rule, water damage caused by a steady and gradual flow of water is not covered by a homeowner’s insurance policy. You will need to provide them with proof that the water damage was sudden or accidental. Insurance companies are always looking for a reason to reduce or deny your claim, so they would like to believe that you have been careless and not carried out regular preventive maintenance of your plumbing system. Do keep your maintenance receipts handy so that negligence is not used as a reason to justify the non-payment of your claim. Getting enmeshed in arguments and counter-arguments with your insurance provider can be quite debilitating, so why not hire a reputed public adjuster like Experienced Public Adjusters to handle the entire claims process?
We are located in downtown Tampa and are known for having achieved productive claim settlements. Water damage claims can be quite convoluted, and your insurer may create obstacles in the process. However, rest assured that our team of licensed public adjusters have the required skill and knowledge to deal with your insurance provider. While appraising the cost of replacement for your personal items to pre-loss condition, your insurer may offer you an amount lower than the actual cost. Our team is cognizant of these pitfalls and is always updated with the latest statutes and market information. Since we are present locally and available round-the-clock, we can take part in the on-site inspection and engage with your insurance company right from the start.
Contact Experienced Public Adjusters for a free claim review of water damage in Tampa.