Water damage is one of the most common types of damage that can occur in a home. It can be caused by a number of things, such as a burst pipe, a roof leak, or flooding.
When water damage occurs, it is important to take action quickly to minimise the damage. One of the most important steps you can take is to file a claim with your insurance company. However, many people are surprised to find out that their insurance company will not always pay for water damage.
In this blog post, we will discuss four mistakes to avoid when making a water leak insurance claim.
No Action Taken to Prevent Damage
One of the most common reasons why insurance companies will not pay for water damage is because the policyholder did not take action to prevent the damage from occurring. For example, if a pipe bursts in your home and you do not turn off the water to your home, the insurance company may deny your claim.
It is important to take action quickly when water damage occurs. The longer you wait, the more damage will be done, and the more likely it is that your insurance company will deny your claim. If you have a leak in your roof, it is important to have it repaired as soon as possible. If you wait until the rainy season to have it repaired, there is a good chance that your insurance company will deny your claim.
Pre-existing Damage
Another common reason why insurance companies will not pay for water damage is because of pre-existing damage.
If you have a leak in your roof and you do not repair it, the insurance company may argue that the damage was caused by the pre-existing condition and not by the leakage.
It is important to make sure that any repairs you make to your home are done in a timely manner. Otherwise, you may be at risk of having your claim denied. If you are unsure whether or not your insurance policy covers pre-existing damage, it is important to contact your agent and ask them.
Lack of Documentation
Another common reason why insurance companies will not pay for water damage is because the policyholder does not have adequate documentation.
For example, if you have a leak in your walls and you do not take pictures of the damage, the insurance company may deny your claim. It is important to document the damages as soon as they occur. This will give you the best chance of getting your claim approved.
If you are unsure how to document the damages, it is important to contact your insurance agent and ask them for guidance. Documentation is one of the most important aspects of filing an insurance claim. Without proper documentation, it is very likely that your claim will be denied.
Exceeding the Policy Limit
Another common reason why insurance companies will not pay for water damage is because the damages exceed the policy limit.
For example, if you have a £100,000 policy and the damages from the water damage total £200,000, the insurance company will only pay for £100,000 of the damages. It is important to make sure that you have an adequate insurance policy in place. Otherwise, you could be at risk of having to pay for some of the damages out-of-pocket.
If you are unsure how much coverage you need, it is important to contact your insurance agent and ask them for guidance. Many people are surprised to find out that their insurance policy has limits. It is important to be aware of these limits so that you can make sure you have adequate coverage in place.
These are just a few of the most common reasons why insurance companies will not pay for water damage. If you have water damage in your home, it is important to contact your insurance agent and ask them about coverage.
At Leak Tracers Direct, we remove the stress of insurance claims by arranging our FCA regulated claims management team to assist you with your insurance claim.
If you choose to instruct us to deal with your insurance claim, our claims team will conduct a detailed survey of the water damage in your property and will present, negotiate and settle the claim on your behalf with your buildings insurer.
For additional information on the professional leak detection services we provide, contact us today.