Mold can occur for many reasons. Home insurance does not always cover this type of damage. It will often provide you with coverage if a covered peril caused the mold. However, this can be a tricky process to understand.
Homeowners need to recognize the amount of financial protection they have. If you think mold is in your home, it is important to take action. This includes a licensed professional inspecting the home to determine if mold is present. It also includes safe, licensed cleanup of it. Home insurance can help in some cases.
When Does Home Insurance Cover Mold?
A covered peril is a type of incident that the insurance policy specifically covers. If this causes the mold, the policy will likely cover the clean-up of it. Some examples of a covered peril include the following.
- A fire occurs. The water damage from putting out the fire leads to mold growth.
- Lightning strikes. It causes a fire, leading to water damage. That water and moisture causes mold.
- Vandalism occurs leading to water damage that creates mold.
- A theft occurs exposing the property to rain. Over time, this causes mold.
- Ice or snow weighs heavily on a roof. That causes moisture to seep in, leading to mold growth.
- Frozen pipes burst. This creates water damage and mold.
- Plumbing, heating, air conditioners, household appliances, or sprinklers leak creating mold. These items that create steam can also create mold. Most policies cover this damage.
However, keep in mind that most policies will not cover mold damage that stems from neglect. If you ignore damage that leads to mold, you likely can't get help.
How to File a Claim
If you suspect the mold is in the home, call your home insurance agent. Discuss the cause with them. The agent will tell you what the next step is. It may call for a mold inspection to determine the presence of mold and the cause. This process will determine if the home insurance will pay for the mold cleanup. If it was due to a covered peril, your policy should offer coverage. It should cover the inspection, the cleanup, and the replacement of any lost belongings. It may cover rebuilding costs in some situations. Policies do have limits.
Your home insurance agent can give you step by step expectations here. And, if the mold growth was due to poor maintenance or a peril not covered by your policy, you may not have the financial protections you need in place. The only way to know, though, is through a mold inspection from a licensed professional.