Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Mold Damage?

5/24/2019 (Permalink)

Mold damage in Morrisville, PA

When Mold Damage is Covered and When it Isn't

If you’ve found fungus growth in your home in Morrisville,PA, you are likely worried about the cost of removing the mold from your home and repairing any damage that has occurred. You may wonder whether your homeowners insurance policy will help cover mold damage and pick up some of the costs of hiring a mold remediation specialist to restore your home to its original condition. Here is some useful information on when mold damage is covered and when it isn’t.

Covered Perils

Most homeowners insurance plans do not include mold coverage. However, your insurance will pay for damage caused by a covered peril. While you will want to check your policy to be sure, most plans include the following covered perils:

• Falling objects
  
• Fire
  
• Lightning
  
• Frozen pipes
  
• Theft or vandalism
  
• Weight of ice, snow, sleet
  
• Water overflow from plumbing, HVAC systems, sprinklers, or household appliances
  
• Damage caused by vehicle
  
  

If fungus growth occurs because of any of these situations, your insurance will likely cover you. For example, if you experience a house fire, water used to extinguish the fire can result in water damage and mold growth. Your insurance would cover the costs of removing and repairing damage caused by the mold.

Preventable Circumstances

If mold growth occurs because of preventable circumstances like an undetected water leak, humidity or ventilation issues, or flooding, your insurance will likely not provide any coverage. However, there are exceptions to this rule, so you should always check your policy to make sure. Some insurance have a mold insurance cap and will help pay for specific services such as cleanup. You can also choose to pay extra to add mold coverage to your policy.

Dealing with the costs of fungus growth can be extremely stressful. Depending on your situation, your homeowners insurance policy might help pay for some the expenses. Review your policy to find out for sure.