Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Mold in Northern PA?
You’ve just found out that your home is full of mold, and paying for remediation wasn’t in your monthly budget. Many homeowners want to know whether their homeowners insurance will cover mold removal in Northern PA. The answer is “it depends.” It depends on how the mold was caused, whether you have a flood insurance policy and what your specific policy says. Here’s an overview of what to expect when you call your insurance agency to get some financial help.
Was the mold caused by a “covered peril”?
Your homeowners insurance should have a list of “covered perils,” for which they will cover your repair or remediation costs. Since mold is caused by water damage, it’s important that you know what kind of water damage is covered.
In most cases, water damage that results from covered perils like malfunctioning appliances will be covered in the policy. If the water damage occurs from other causes, like natural disasters, you may need a separate flood insurance plan.
Finally, make sure you understand what the insurance will cover, and whether they put a cap on how much they’ll pay. In many cases, your mold remediation costs might be capped at $10,000, which puts the rest of the bill on your shoulders. These are good things to know before you sign on with a particular policy, but many people don’t think about it until they’re dealing with an unexpected mold problem.
What if the mold was caused by a natural disaster?
Most homeowners insurance does not cover mold caused by storm damage or floods. Most of the time, you’ll need to purchase an additional flood insurance policy. (If you live on a floodplain, this will likely be mandatory.)
If a different sort of natural disaster caused the mold—such as a heavy storm damaging your roof—the mold remediation might be covered. Again, it’s important to review your policy carefully before you commit. It will also give you a better idea of whether the insurance company will accept or deny your claim under the policy you have now.
If you do need to purchase flood insurance, expect that it will cost about $700 extra per year, and more if your home is particularly susceptible to flooding. However, this type of coverage can be well worth it—flood damage can cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair.
What happens if the mold is caused by negligence?
Bad news if you’ve been putting off fixing those leaky pipes: mold caused by failing to keep up with your household duties is not covered by homeowners insurance. If you’re in a position to prevent the mold from happening (or worsening), your claim is probably going to be denied.
To prevent this, make sure to keep up with your maintenance, especially if it involves plumbing and appliances. Regular plumbing inspections can help catch leaks and other problems before they have a chance to cause serious damage.
For mold remediation in Northern PA, call Ahold of Mold Environmental today. Whether your homeowners insurance covers your claim or you’re paying out of pocket, we can help.
Categorised in: Mold Prevention
