If a disaster hits your house, home insurance should be there to help cover repair and replacement costs. The majority of the time that’s how coverage works. But your home insurance policy does have its limits.

 

Most people know that homeowners’ insurance covers common events like a fire or a burglary. Many are surprised to realize that their policy doesn’t cover other events that aren’t too rare.

 

With that in mind, we wanted to discuss what your home insurance may not cover. This will allow you to beef up any precautions you see fit. With fewer gaps in your coverage, it’s unlikely a disaster will lead to financial ruin.

 

10 Things Your Home Insurance May Not Cover

 

So, let’s dive in. Here are ten things your home insurance may not cover:

 

 

• Earthquakes

 

 

Basic homeowners’ insurance policies won’t cover earthquake damage. Most people aren’t too concerned if they don’t live in a few specific parts of the country. However, earthquakes have started to rattle uncommon areas as of late. Recently, there was even one in Oklahoma. That’s quite far from California.

 

You may not feel the need to look into an earthquake policy, but it could save you from financial ruin. In states where earthquakes are uncommon, many homeowners find these policies on the cheap.

 

 

• Flooding

 

 

Flooding is never covered under a typical home insurance policy. If the area you live in is prone to flooding, you should already have flood insurance. It would be risky not to.

 

People who live outside flood zones typically do not have this coverage. While a simple way to save a few dollars each month, adding flood coverage may be a good idea with our ever-changing climate.

 

 

• Sinkholes

 

 

When talking about unpredictable events, it’s hard to top a sinkhole. We’re starting to hear about more and more sinkhole incidents throughout the United States. Certain states are more prone to sinkholes than others. So, do your research and see if this natural phenomenon is a possibility where you live. You can add riders to your coverage that helps protect your home from sinkholes if you see the need.

 

 

• Sewer Issues

 

 

Standard home insurance rarely covers damages if a sewer backs up into your house. Newer homes shouldn’t have to worry about this, but an old house that has a septic tank should be concerned. It’s never a bad idea to ask your insurance agent about adding sewer backup coverage to your policy.

 

 

• Animal Bites

 

 

Most homeowners’ policies do not cover animal bites of any sort. If you have dogs or other pets that bite, it may be a good idea to call your insurance agent and see if your current policy covers biting incidents. If not, you may want to research how to get coverage.

 

 

• Termites

 

 

Termites can be a serious issue for homeowners in certain areas of the country. The little bugs can cause serious damage to your home and are rarely covered by a basic home policy. If you live in an area where termites are common, looking into a good pest control company might be a good idea. If you don’t, you’ll end up paying out of pocket down the road when termites eat up your house.

 

 

• Simultaneous Events

 

 

When a bad storm hits, your house can be damaged by multiple factors. A thunderstorm could whip up severe wind damage followed by flooding. If your home isn’t covered for the flood, your insurance may not pick up the wind damage, either.

 

Insurance companies refer to these instances as simultaneous events. The insurance company will claim that “anti-concurrent causation” is not covered because you do not have flood coverage.

 

Luckily, you can add simultaneous events coverage to your policy without too much hassle.

 

 

• Mold Coverage

 

 

Mold can happen anywhere in the United States. No matter where you live, there’s a chance your home insurance policy won’t cover mold damage or cleanup. You’ll want to contact your current insurance agent to find out for sure.

 

Mold occurs when water is left to its vices in your home. It’s horrible stuff that is ugly looking and can make you sick. If you ever have standing water in your home, make sure to get it cleaned up as soon as possible. This will help prevent mold from growing.

 

 

• Identity Theft

 

 

Many insurance companies will not cover issues that arise from identity theft. While this makes sense logically, as identity theft is not part of your physical house, it can still be a surprise to homeowners.

 

Many big insurance companies have been changing their identity theft policies in the past few years. Some policies include identity theft coverage. However, it’s important to ask your agent if your policy has this coverage.

 

If not, it may be a good idea to add identity theft to your policy. These plans will cover costs like getting your family’s credit back on track after an attack and then some.

 

 

• Burst Pipes

 

 

Most of the time a burst pipe will be covered by your home insurance policy. However, there is no guarantee here. There are times when the damage from burst pipes will not be covered.

 

If you’ve been negligent with the pipes, such as not leaving the heat on when you’re away on vacation in the winter, then damages may not be covered. If you forget to drain a pipe, then it may not be covered, either.

 

By taking a few precautions, you can safeguard your home against negligent bursting of pipes. In doing so, you’ll find any other pipe issues that should be covered by your home insurance policy.

 

Get the Information You Need

 

Get on the phone and talk with your insurance agent. Find out where you have coverage and if your home has any gaps. Considering adding additional riders and coverage options if you live in an area where you could use it to your advantage.

 

Try hard to avoid surprises within your homeowners’ policy. There’s nothing worse than finding out your insurance won’t cover damages after a disaster. Do your homework now and find out if you’re covered. Let us help.  Contact our team at ProtectiveAgency.com or call (877) 739-9367. Our licensed insurance agents will be happy to answer any questions you have.