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Going on Vacation, how well do you know your Insurance Policy?

1/3/2020 (Permalink)

Frozen Pipe that has Broke Frozen Pipe that has Broke

At SERVPRO of Dubuque, we occasionally have customers that run into coverage issues when it comes to damage caused by broken water pipes from freezing.  We asked one of our local agency partners to provide our customers with more information on this common issue.

Shirley Snow an Account Executive at Denlinger-Herrig Insurance was kind enough to provide the following information.

It’s that time of year when freezing pipes can wreak havoc on your home!!

Living in the Midwest a lot of people will take extended vacations to warmer climates. It’s important to understand what your insurance may or may not cover if you are gone, and your pipes freeze and cause a leak. Your insurance company may not cover losses related to freezing of pipes if your home is unoccupied or vacant.

Most companies consider a property unoccupied if you are gone for 60 consecutive days prior to the loss (30 days in some cases). This means that if you winter in another state your property may be considered unoccupied and there may not be coverage for freezing pipes. Some companies will allow coverage with an endorsement that states you will maintain heat in the home while you are away; or in the event that you want to have the utilities shut off and you drain all water lines.

Vacant properties are typically properties without any furniture, utilities, or appliances; essentially properties that are empty. These are typically properties that are on the market for sale or dwellings for rent. You should notify your insurance agent, if your property is vacant as there are coverages such as pipe breakage that may not apply once it has been vacant for 30 days.

Each insurance company defines vacant and unoccupied differently. It is best to contact your agent to see how long you can be gone from your home before pipe breakage is no longer covered and if there is an endorsement you can purchase to buy this coverage back while you are gone.

It is imperative that you call your agent to report a claim as soon as you suspect a pipe has broken and caused damage, no matter how minor you think it to be. If water damage is left unattended and not properly mitigated, mold could grow and potentially spread to other parts of your home. Most policies include wording that requires you to submit a claim as soon as you know it has happened. If you do not the company may deny coverage if you delay reporting the damage; which would result in more money out of pocket for you.

If you have additional question about coverage issues, or would like a second opinion on the policies you have currently, please feel free to contact us:

Denlinger-Herrig Insurance

3686 Crescent Ridge

Dubuque, IA 52003

563-556-1499

Randi Taylor

Agency Principal

Shirley Snow

Account Executive

https://denlingerinsurance.com/

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