Mold growth and damage is one of the most common problems that households face, though it is one that most homeowners donít even pay attention to until the situation goes from bad to worse.
And, due to the health risks it can pose, mold growth is a problem that you definitely do want to take control of.
However, mold growth can be difficult to prevent, and even more so to tackle once it has already taken hold of your household. As such, you may wonder whether a homeowners insurance covers mold.
This question is one that we will discuss in this article, as well as several other related queries you may have, so that you can be as prepared as possible in the event that you do find pesky mold growing in your house.
And, due to the health risks it can pose, mold growth is a problem that you definitely do want to take control of.
However, mold growth can be difficult to prevent, and even more so to tackle once it has already taken hold of your household. As such, you may wonder whether a homeowners insurance covers mold.
This question is one that we will discuss in this article, as well as several other related queries you may have, so that you can be as prepared as possible in the event that you do find pesky mold growing in your house.
Is mold covered by homeowners insurance?
Most homeowners insurance companies do provide mold coverage ñ however, the amount of coverage, and whether or not the mold is covered in the first place, can depend on several variables, and mold coverage can often be rather limited, depending on your policy.
For instance, mold growth is typically covered if it was ìsudden and accidentalî, caused by a peril covered by your homeowners insurance policy, such as a burst pipe, or water leakage from a malfunctioning appliance.
In these instances, your insurance provider will be the one who pays for mold remediation and removal. The amount of coverage, however, can vary, with some policies limiting this to $1,000-$10,000. This limit may be raised with some policies, in exchange for an increase in premium.
For instance, mold growth is typically covered if it was ìsudden and accidentalî, caused by a peril covered by your homeowners insurance policy, such as a burst pipe, or water leakage from a malfunctioning appliance.
In these instances, your insurance provider will be the one who pays for mold remediation and removal. The amount of coverage, however, can vary, with some policies limiting this to $1,000-$10,000. This limit may be raised with some policies, in exchange for an increase in premium.
When does homeowners insurance not cover mold?
Though your homeowners insurance policy will cover mold under certain circumstances (i.e. when the mold is caused by an incident that is ìsudden and accidentalî), there are also circumstances under which mold will not be covered.
These circumstances often include situations in which your own neglect and lack of maintenance resulted in the growth of mold.
For instance, if the mold could have knowingly been prevented by dehumidifying a room or fixing leaky appliances, then your policy will most likely not cover its removal ñ it will have to be you who pays for the mold remediation.
In addition to this, mold caused by flooding is likely to not be covered by your standard home insurance policy, either ñ this is because your standard policy does not cover flood damage, and as such you will need to have purchased an additional flood insurance policy.
These circumstances often include situations in which your own neglect and lack of maintenance resulted in the growth of mold.
For instance, if the mold could have knowingly been prevented by dehumidifying a room or fixing leaky appliances, then your policy will most likely not cover its removal ñ it will have to be you who pays for the mold remediation.
In addition to this, mold caused by flooding is likely to not be covered by your standard home insurance policy, either ñ this is because your standard policy does not cover flood damage, and as such you will need to have purchased an additional flood insurance policy.
How to file a mold insurance claim
Once you have found mold growth or damage in your household, it is best to take action as soon as possible:
1. Contact your insurance agent immediately, as you will need to have the damage assessed for the total cost, as well as evaluated to determine whether it is related to a covered claim or not
ï Be sure that you are well-equipped to answer any questions the adjuster may ask you
2. Take photos of all of the damage, and keep any damaged materials
ï If you have any photos of the affected area prior to the mold damage, these may also help to support your claim by providing a before-and-after comparison
3. Prevent further damage by taking steps like:
ï Drying out the room, such as by opening windows and doors and running fans, or by running a dehumidifier
ï Taking measures such as blocking any leaks or holes if a leak is the cause of the mold growth
ï Removing any excess water
Make sure to have photo evidence of before and after any measures were taken, as well as any receipts for materials you may have purchased for urgent repairs
1. Contact your insurance agent immediately, as you will need to have the damage assessed for the total cost, as well as evaluated to determine whether it is related to a covered claim or not
ï Be sure that you are well-equipped to answer any questions the adjuster may ask you
2. Take photos of all of the damage, and keep any damaged materials
ï If you have any photos of the affected area prior to the mold damage, these may also help to support your claim by providing a before-and-after comparison
3. Prevent further damage by taking steps like:
ï Drying out the room, such as by opening windows and doors and running fans, or by running a dehumidifier
ï Taking measures such as blocking any leaks or holes if a leak is the cause of the mold growth
ï Removing any excess water
Make sure to have photo evidence of before and after any measures were taken, as well as any receipts for materials you may have purchased for urgent repairs