It’s springtime so that means we have been experiencing lots of rain in the Couer d’Alene, Idaho area and the surrounding towns!  You can hope that you never experience a flooded basement but it is something that just happens when you least expect it so it is important to be prepared and insurance is the best way to be prepared since you’ll never know what the exact cost will be of the damage and the last thing you want is for the water to go unremoved causing hazardous mold growth.  Here are some things you should know about water damage insurance:

Water Damage Insurance

Water damage insurance is exactly what you think it would be.  It is insurance money that is paid out when your house is in need of water removal and water damage restoration services.  You might get lucky and just have an overflowing toilet that you notice quickly that might only require an hour or two of work from a professional water removal company but you could get unlucky and have your basement sub-pump give out and end up with a flooded basement that requires thousands of dollars in removal and restoration services.  So it is better to be prepared with water damage insurance!

When Water Damage Insurance Works

Not all in-home unwanted water-related situations are paid out by insurance companies.  Here are some situations when water damage insurance comes in handy:

• Leaks from broken pipes or washers (dishwasher or clothes washer)
• Burst pipes
• Water damage caused by a fire
• Leaky roofs
• Water damage from heavy rain
• Ice dams

When Water Damage Insurance DOESN’T Work

Most water damage jobs that are “accident” related are covered by insurance.  Here are some reasons why the water removal services or restoration might not be covered:

• Flood damage
• Costs associated with repairing the source of the water damage.  For example it won’t cover paying for the broken water heater.
• Water from intentional actions like turning off your heat in the middle of winter causing your pipes to freeze and burs
• Unwanted water from negligence

If you are just in need of a small water removal job, then paying cash for the job is the way to go.  But for those unexpected situations, it’s good to be prepared with water damage insurance to help keep your investment protected.