| Most Policies Cover Losses Caused by |
Most Policies Do Not Cover Losses Caused by |
| Fire and lightning |
Flooding |
| Aircraft and vehicles |
Earthquakes |
| Vandalism and malicious mischief |
Termites |
| Theft |
Insects, rats, or mice |
| Explosion |
Freezing pipes while your house is unoccupied (unless you turned off the water or heated the building) |
| Riot and civil commotion |
Wind or hail damage to trees and shrubs |
| Smoke |
Losses if your house is vacant for 60 days or more |
| Windstorm, hurricane, and hail (unless you live on the Gulf Coast) |
Wear and tear or maintenance |
| Sudden and accidental water damage |
Water damage resulting from continuous and repeated seepage |
Wind and hail coverage. Companies may exclude coverage for certain losses. For example, if you live on the Gulf Coast, you might receive an endorsement that excludes coverage for wind and hail damage. In areas with a history of hail storms, some companies provide only actual cash value coverage instead of full replacement cost for roofs. Actual cash value pays for damage minus depreciation on the roof, depending on its age and condition.
Mold coverage. Most policies will not cover mold remediation beyond the amount necessary to repair or replace property damage caused by a water loss otherwise covered by the policy. The HO-A policy doesn’t cover mold remediation or damage caused by water leaks, but some companies offer an endorsement that covers sudden and accidental water leaks. Some, but not all, of the other approved policies also cover sudden and accidental water leaks. Read your policy or ask your agent whether your policy covers water leaks and mold remediation.
Insurance companies are required to offer you mold remediation coverage. Depending on the company, this coverage will be offered in dollar or percentage increments up to 100 percent of your policy’s limits. If you have questions or concerns about how a mold claim is being handled, or if you need information about how to minimize mold losses, ask your insurance company for a set of guidelines regarding mold claims. Also read TDI’s Handling Water-Damage and Mold Claims publication.
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