Does Your Insurance Cover Mold

5/13/2018 (Permalink)

Cleaning your car frequently to ensure mold and mildew doesn't grow

If you’re wondering whether your insurance pays for mold remediation in Brooklyn, NY, the short answer, unfortunately, is probably not. Because every policy is different, you should always call your insurance provider with specific questions, but chances are slim mold is covered. That’s because homeowners insurance doesn’t cover most types of water damage likely to lead to a mold problem. If you have fungus growth due to any of the following, your insurance is very unlikely to cover it.

• Leaks due to a lack of maintenance
• High humidity
• Poor ventilation
• Condensation
• Water seepage due to poor drainage
• Flooding

If you have specifically purchased flood insurance, you may have mold coverage, but nothing is guaranteed. Check your policy or contact your provider for specifics.

What Is Mold Exclusion?

There are some types of water damage likely to be covered by homeowners insurance. A burst water pipe, for example, is almost always covered. You may also have coverage for your sump pump or a backed up sewer. Even if these types of water damage are covered by your policy, remediation for fungus growth may not be. Many insurance companies have started including an explicit ‘mold exclusion’ in their policies. These state outright that mold remediation will not be covered under any circumstances.

Even if your policy doesn’t include a mold exclusion, it may set a cap on how much it will pay for mold remediation. Alternatively, it may only pay for certain things, such as mold removal or mold testing.

What Can You Do?

As a homeowner, you have a few options for how to handle mold remediation in Brooklyn, NY. The best thing you can do is prevent fungus growth to begin with. There are a number of preventative steps you can take, including the following.

• Keep indoor humidity below 50%
• Do regular maintenance
• Landscape so groundwater drains away from house
• Keep rooms well ventilated

Some insurers also offer the option of paying more for mold insurance, however, the coverage may still be fairly limited. If you’re struggling with mold, talk to a claims adjuster or a SERVPRO representative to find out what your options are.

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