When you purchase a new home or if you are shopping for homeowners insurance, it is imperative that your policy include coverage for mold and mildew damage. In most cases, insurance policies have vague wording when it comes to mold coverage, making it difficult to discover if mold is actually covered.  Typically, mold is only covered under insurance policies when it is the direct result of another issue like water damage, and not a stand-alone issue. Here’s more information to make sense of the confusion with homeowners insurance.

When Mold is Not Covered Under Homeowners Insurance

Homeowner’s insurance policies will not cover mold covered by something preventable like a water leak, flooding, or humidity. This is due to the fact that the insurance company believes that anything due to homeowner negligence is preventable, and therefore not covered. The insurance company will fully expect you, as the homeowner, to repair the problems causing the mold issues out of pocket.

Here is a list of issues that may cause mold damage but will not be covered by insurance policies. Be sure to check these areas in your home and make sure there are no repairs needed before they become a problem!

• Burst or leaking pipes.  When a pipe leaks water and goes unnoticed it can lead to standing water and mold growth. Even small leaks can lead to big problems, so check on any indications as soon as you notice them.
• Water in the attic and leaky roofs.  Have you noticed water in your attic after it rains or snows? This could be a bigger issue due to broken shingles and a leaky roof. Water in the attic can mean mold growth on wood and structural damage if not treated.
• Mold spots in your shower or bathroom walls.  This will typically take time to appear. As a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to make sure your bathroom is ventilated properly to prevent mold and mildew before it starts.
• Flooding is not covered under a homeowner policy. It does require its own policy to cover any property damage.

These are a few “preventable” issues that are not covered under an insurance policy. In fact, your insurance company will expect you to take all reasonable methods before they will consider looking at your claim.

When Mold is Covered in an Insurance Policy

There are instances when mold is covered under the homeowner’s insurance policy. This is when the cause of the mold is already a “covered peril” which typically includes:

• Fire
• Lightening
• Vandalism
• Ice, snow, or sleet
• Theft
• Frozen pipes

Remember, mold damage in insurance policies are notoriously vague, which is why some of these causes seem to repeat themselves. It’s always important to speak to your insurance agent to learn the specifics of your policy. They will help you understand what is and isn’t covered in the policy.

Hit With a Mold Problem?

If you’ve experienced a problem with mold or mildew, McMahon Services can help. Our mold remediation services are led by certified mold remediation technicians that use state-of-the-art equipment to find the source of the mold, clean and remove all traces in your home or business.

Call us today, 24 hours a day, to schedule your free consultation and estimate on mold remediation services.