Does Homeowner’s Insurance Cover Broken Gutters?

Because your gutters are part of your home, you can generally bank on them being covered by your homeowner’s insurance. Of course, this does not necessarily mean your insurer is guaranteed to play ball and pay out on a claim you file. Your policy clearly identifies specific “perils” your insurance covers, and if your gutters are damaged or broken by a peril that is not included on that list, you may not be able to get those repairs or replacements covered.

Here is some information from a gutter contractor in Pensacola, FL to keep you informed about what to do if your gutters are damaged.

Perils

Your homeowner’s insurance policy covers against either a set of “named perils” or “all risks.” If you have a named perils policy, its coverage only kicks in if the damage to your home is caused by one of the events included on that list, such as a theft or fire. An all risk policy, meanwhile, covers any damage to your gutters unless the cause of the damage is specifically exempted in the language of your policy.

Most homeowner’s insurance policies cover all risks, because mortgage lenders want you to have as much protection as possible with your homeowner’s insurance.

So what are some examples of risks or causes of damage that might be exempted in your policy? Common such exceptions include earthquake damage, acts of war and flooding. For flooding, though, you can at least purchase separate flood insurance to cover your home. This insurance might be required by your lender if you live in an area designated as a flood zone, or somewhere that’s particularly at risk of hurricanes or tropical storms.

General wear and tear with your gutters, including gutters that get old and rust through, will never be covered—only damage that does not arise as a result of standard usage.

Maintaining your gutters

Because general wear and tear is not covered for your gutters in your homeowner’s insurance policy, it’s important to keep up with some standard maintenance practices. It’s also just in the best interest of your home—clogged or broken gutters could result in water pouring out and collecting around your foundation or in your basement.

A failure to keep up with basic maintenance could result in your insurer refusing a claim you file. Even if the insurer does pay out that claim, any damage that’s less than your deductible won’t be covered, which means it’s better for you to do what you can to avoid unnecessary water damage.

Clean out your gutters regularly to protect against clogging, rotting, pests and potential foundation issues. While cleaning gutters, keep an eye out for issues such as small holes, broken connections and anything else that could eventually turn into a larger issue.

For more information about gutter damage and how it’s covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy, we encourage you to contact Gutter Master to speak with an experienced provider of gutter installation in Pensacola, FL. We look forward to assisting you soon!

Categorised in: Gutter Installation in Pensacola, FL

This post was written by Writer