Homeowners insurance coverage is not a great coastline reading. They are often littered with confusing terms and conditions. As a result, many individuals don’t have a solid understanding of what their homeowner’s insurance actually covers — and doesn’t cover.
In this article we’ll give you a quick breakdown of homeowner’s insurance coverage, covering everything from dog attacks to roof system leaks and burglaries.
If you’re pushed for time, the handy chart listed below provides a very broad view of what types of events can be covered by homeowners insurance coverage.
In short, “danger” is something that happens, causes harm, and is protected under your plan. Here’s one important thing to keep in mind: Most homeowners insurance coverage won’t cover you for earthquake-related issues. For that, you need to consider buying separate earthquake insurance.
Basic guidelines: As you read your plan, focus on the exclusions from coverage and the issues you should expect coverage to be. To get the lyrics from Tom Waits, “The big publications give and the fine print is taken.” (We apologize, but it is an apology that is determined by which lawyer has taken us all….)
When splash damage is protected
Usually, if the reason for the sprinkle damage is unforeseen and accidental, it is covered by homeowners insurance.
For example, if the plumbing breaks and damages all your living room furniture, then the damage to the sofa, loveseat, rug and so on will definitely be covered.
Keep in mind that the plan covers certain water-related damage to the frame of your house and your personal belongings. This does not mean that the point that triggers the damage is protected.
If your hot water tank explodes, leaks all around your basement, your insurance will definitely cover the trouble this causes to the basement and whatever you store there—there will be no point in replacing the hot water tank. alone.
However, you can include Equipment Damage Coverage (EBC) for your plan, which will protect you against damage to certain household appliances.
When splash damage is not protected
Homeowners insurance does not cover splash damage from:
If you have such flood insurance, consider purchasing another flood package through the National Flood Insurance Program. Not sure how in danger you are? Check your community’s flood map. For more information on flooding, the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program has a useful question and answer area.
Again, it depends on the circumstances.
When mold and mildew are protected
Mold and mildew are protected only when triggered by certain hazards such as termination, lightning, ice, broken pipes, and so on. Mold and mildew need to be hidden on the surface of walls, ceilings, or under the floor for protection. (Some plans offer recommended mold and mildew coverage, which can extend coverage if you’re concerned about mold and mildew.)
For example, if your pipe breaks, splashes that cause mold and mildew, you are covered. Same use if ice dams form on your roofing system, triggering sparks to drip directly into your attic space and form mold and mildew.
Keep in mind that this state is only protected in case of unforeseen and accidental damage. So if your pipeline bursts, and you do nothing for a few weeks, the mold and mildew will be unprotected because of your own carelessness.
When mold and mildew are not protected
Situations where mold and mildew creep in in time are not protected. That dirty thing expanding in your bathroom or under your sink? Deal with it ASAP, as it is not covered under your plan, as the problem is bound to be the result of carelessness.
Guess what? The answer depends on the specifics of the leak! We get into the basics of roof system leaks here, but the ones listed below are the highlights.
When the roof system leak is protected
Here are the basic guidelines: Roof system leaks are protected when triggered by an unexpected and accidental (sounding familiar?) event. If your roof system is leaking due to a fallen tree, windstorm, hail, criminal action, or a load of ice, sleet, or snow, you are covered.
If a hurricane hits the community, lifts your roof tiles and causes leaks in the interior of your home—your plans will surely cover the damage from this unexpected and unforeseen event.
By ‘cover’, we imply that your homeowner’s insurance will help indemnify you for your own home problems (a collapsed roof), as well as in case of problems with individual property damaged by leaks.
It depends on what triggered the tree to fall.
When tree-related damage is protected
Tree-related damage is covered if the cause is unforeseen and unintentional. So, if a windstorm causes a healthy, well-balanced tree in your yard to uproot and destroy your storage shed, your homeowner’s insurance will cover the shed damage.
If a tree in your neighbor’s yard falls and causes damage to your own property, rest assured that homeowners insurance coverage will also cover you.
How about tree elimination?
In most situations, we cover coverage for your tree-triggered home. So if a tornado knocks a tree into your home, your plan will most likely cover the damage to the house, plus the elimination of the tree in question.
But if a windstorm knocked down a tree, which tree fell but didn’t damage anything in its path—it got a little more complicated. In this situation, your homeowner’s insurance will definitely not cover you for removing the fallen tree, nor for tree replacement. Destruction of trees here of course will only be protected if the cause is a more limited type of hazard (which does consist of breaking or lightning).
Yes, your plan includes robbery (also known as snatching, stealing, looting, robbing, disapproved looting, and “five-finger discount”).
When theft is protected
Homeowners insurance covers theft both inside and outside your home. So, if your phone is picked up at a coffee shop, or someone takes your bike from your garage, your homeowner’s insurance will help cover your losses.
Keep in mind that homeowners insurance covers items taken and architectural damage to your home triggered by a burglary. So if a burglar breaks into your door, window or floor, you’re covered.
When theft is not protected
To begin with, there’s usually a limit to how much your insurance company can reimburse you for cash you take—at Lemonade, that’s $200. Therefore, the backpack carrying coverage “packed with several publications and $300,000 in cash” won’t do you much good.
When it comes to jewelry, there’s also a $1,500 sublimit when it comes to robberies. If you want to protect the full value of your necklaces, rings and treasures, consider including Extra Coverage.
Most of the time, your homeowner’s insurance will cover dog attacks.
When the dog attack is protected
Homeowners insurance usually covers you if your dog attacks someone inside or outside your home. This will of course fall under Scope E (Individual Liability) or Scope F (Clinical Resettlement). Your plan also covers you if your dog causes damage to other people or their property (not yours).
When dog attacks are not protected
There are 3 exceptions to dog attack coverage:
At Lemonade, our plans are owned by national insurance information which forces us to ignore certain breeds that have a penchant for attack. There are absolutely no individuals here.
Dogs in the ‘high risk’ category include Match Bulls, Staffordshire Terriers, Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Chows, Great Danes, Presa Canarios, Akita, Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies and Wolf-hybrids.
Usually not.
When termite damage is protected
You are protected if something unforeseen and unintentional happens as a result of termites. So, if your building suddenly collapses due to termites eating the building in secret… you will most likely have to make amends for the damage. This would certainly be an unusual incident, to say the least.
When termite damage is not protected
In all other situations, termite damage is not covered.
Why? Because termites are usually considered avoidable. They don’t appear out of nowhere—homeowners usually get used to termite problems before they cause major damage. If you’re not sure if you’re dealing with these insects, a qualified inspector can sort it out for you quickly.
Sometimes. Let’s perform in various situations.
When the repair of the roof system is protected
As we mentioned earlier, your Cover A and Cover B—relating to your home plus “various other frames” in your home”—are “open peril” coverage. That means you can file an insurance claim for any issue, except the cause. is something specifically omitted in your plans.
Short term repairs to avoid further damage are also covered, so save on your bills.
When repairing an unprotected roof system
Damage caused by the following will not be covered:
And, again, the repair of the roof system is not covered if the damage is triggered by a flood or earthquake. For this situation, you will want to purchase a separate package.
To avoid migraines in the future, check your roof system every 2 years.
Up until now we’ve primarily discussed how your homeowner’s insurance coverage protects your home versus certain types of damage. But there’s an extra, and very important, element to your plan: Coverage E, which applies if you’re legally or economically responsible for certain accidents in your home or trouble you (accidentally) caused to others.
In short, this is where Scope E fits in:
E-coverage can help cover legitimate costs (if you’re taken legal action as a result of an excessive situation, and need an attorney to protect you). It can also help make up for clinical resettlement for injured celebrations, and for physical problems on property.
Here are situations in which you will rejoice over the E. Coverage of your homeowner’s insurance policy.
It is important to remember that there are certain circumstances in which your E Coverage may not be appropriate. Here are some examples:
The insurance deductible is the amount you choose when purchasing a plan that will be deducted from future claim payments.
Think of insurance deductions as your involvement in the damage or loss. You say, “I dedicate X dollars to any claim for future loss or trouble, and my insurance company will cover the rest.”
When you sign up for homeowners insurance coverage, you will be asked to choose an insurance deduction. For homeowner plans, this typically ranges from $1,000 to $2,500. What you choose here is your involvement (amount deducted from the insurance claim) should something happen to your belongings.
Here’s how it works in practice:
Deductions are there to make you a little more careful with your belongings, and they help keep package costs down for everyone.
So when your claim is approved but you see a “lost” $1,000, remember, that’s your payment. You cover the insurance deduction, and the insurance company covers the rest.
You’ll pay about $1,083 per year, or about $90 per month for homeowners insurance, according to Worth Penguin, but these figures can be very different. How much you spend on homeowners insurance will depend on a variety of factors, including where you live, your home issue, your insurance deductions, and the amount of coverage you choose.