Okay – a year a go we had a pipe burst outside the house and the water basically ran down into our foundation in our furnace room and flooded the basement. Probably a good 2 inches of water throughout the basement (finished basement – living room, bedroom) Replaced all the carpet and the drywall about 2 ft up from base. covered this. They didn’t cover the pipe repair outside that caused the leak – but the inside they did. So now, we’ve discovered we have mold in our bedroom. It’s fairly obvious that it’s being caused b/c any moisture coming from outside (rain) is all running down now to where the water made it’s path to the foundation the first time, and then it must be sitting there. is balking at this. Saying they’re not responsible. We can fix the mold. We can fix the drywall. But it’s just going to happen again next year. Anybody?

 

  • Gambit 10:03 am on November 13, 2009 Permalink

    The only time water ingress from the outside (non-flood) is covered is if something that is covered by the policy makes a hole in the building exterior first. So water entering because of cracks in the foundation or the water erode the mortar in a brick/concrete block foundation is not covered. Water that enters the home during a rainstorm after someone runs their vehicle into your home would be covered, because vehicle impact (other than your own) is covered.
    Damage caused by mold, rust, corrosion, wet or dry rot, and condensation are always excluded under any property policy. Losses insured under a property policy need to be sudden and accidental. The perils I just listed all occur over a period of time. That and the perils I listed are maintenance issues.

  • mstrobert 10:03 am on November 13, 2009 Permalink

    You need to read your policy. Many of them (like mine) do not cover mold.

    When they say they are not responsible, are they saying your policy does not cover mold, or it covers mold you just don’t have a valid claim?

  • Don 10:03 am on November 13, 2009 Permalink

    Most insurance policies will no longer cover mold claims. You must read your policy to find out. As far as the water seepage from out side they would not be responsible for this since it is an engineering problem from when the house was built. It sounds like you need to install some french drains on the outside and fix your house yourself.

  • mbrcatz17 10:03 am on November 13, 2009 Permalink

    They aren’t. Most companies have put absolute exclusions on mold coverage – a few have limited it to $5,000 or $10,000, when in conjunction with another loss.

    The problem is what you say – it’s just going to happen next year. If the insurance company had to pay out $5,000 every year for your house, (and all your neighbors’ houses) how much would YOU have to pay in premium? A way lot more, like, increase your premium by $5,000. And the insurance companies would go broke. Then you wouldn’t have any insurance when your house burnt down.

    You have a water problem. You need to fix the water problem. You need to eliminate the path. This is now a maintenance issue.