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How to Make a Successful Water Leak Claim

  • Things To Do
  • Xavier Sabastian
  • 7 minutes

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It can be hard to deal with insurance claims for water damage. But, when you realize how much damage water leaks can cause, it makes them even more annoying.

It’s pretty easy to get homeowners insurance. Your insurance company may even make it easier for you to pay your premium. But what about claiming your homeowners insurance? Now, that’s when your insurance company knows how to make things hard.

Also, water leaks are very dangerous because they are sneaky and can do a lot of damage that you might not notice for years.

Unfortunately, not all insurance claims for water damage are accepted. If this is the case, it’s probably because the repairs to your house weren’t covered by your insurance. The coverage may not have been available to you, or you may have opted out of it when creating your plan.

If the insurance provider suspects that you have neglected routine house maintenance, they may also choose to reject your claim. Some insurance companies will want to avoid paying out claims, so it’s a good idea to get a second opinion if you believe you’ve taken good care of your property.

Because of this, we’ve put together a list of tricks and tips to make a successful insurance claim for a water leak.

Water leak insurance claim

Steps to make a successful water leak insurance claim

Most insurance claims are made because of water damage after hail storms and high winds. But water damage can happen almost anywhere and at any time. It isn’t always caused by flooding or bad weather.

With this in mind, it’s important to know that standard homeowners insurance does not cover water damage caused by flooding. Therefore, to protect against damage from flooding, you’ll need a separate flood insurance policy. As we’ve already said, insurance claims for water damage don’t always work, even though they are very common. 

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So, if you want to make a successful insurance claim for a water leak, consider doing these things as soon as something goes wrong:

Get the situation under control!

But wait! Note that this does not mean you must start making permanent repairs or getting things back to normal. Instead, your insurance company will probably send an adjuster to look at the scene and take notes. 

They probably will also want to take pictures of the damage.

Contact your insurance provider ASAP!

The homeowner’s insurance claims process starts when you tell your insurance company about the damage and file your water leak claim. 

Make sure you file your claim within the time limit set by your insurance policy. Also, the sooner you file, the sooner you’ll get your settlement money. So contact your insurer as soon as possible to fill out the necessary forms. You can do this through their online claims portal, phone, or app.

Water leaks are very dangerous because they are sneaky and can do a lot of damage that you might not notice for years.

Documentation is important

Take as many pictures and videos as possible of the damage, so you have the proof you need to make a claim. This can include where the leak came from and the water damage in your home.

As was said above, your insurance company will give your claim to an insurance adjuster. They will look at your damage and determine how much it will cost to fix. So, they will set up a time to examine the damage to your home or property. So, ensure you’re there when the adjuster looks at your water leak insurance claim, and stay in touch with them. 

Send them any documents they ask for, and be honest when they ask you questions. Most of the time, the law says that the claim adjuster must look at the damage within 15 days of reporting it. Check with the insurance department in your state since each state has its own rules.

Obtain the Claim Verdict

After the claims adjuster looks at the damage to your home, they usually have another 15 days to decide if you have a valid water damage claim. While waiting for your insurance claim to be processed, you can look for contractors to hire and get estimates for the work. 

Also, get estimates of the damage, so you know what to expect if the settlement offer is low. You can get help with this part of the process from a contractor or public adjuster in your area. Most of the time, a public insurance adjuster will give the most honest and unbiased opinion.

Settlement Agreement

Lastly, if everything goes well, you and your insurance company should agree on the settlement terms. When this happens, you should get the payout within five days. If your insurance company says it won’t pay for damage caused by a water leak, you can file a complaint or an appeal with the insurance department in your state.

Successful water leak claim when Rejected

Now that you know how to make a successful insurance claim for a water leak, you may want to know the most common reasons why water leak insurance claims are turned down:

Gradual Damage

Gradual damage is a small or slow leak that has worsened over time. You might not have even known there was a leak, which could have led to mold or foundation problems. When insurers find damage over time, they usually deny the claim. 

This is because they think you caused at least some damage.

Negligence

Negligence from your end can result in your claim getting rejected. For instance, your pipes broke because you didn’t take good care of them. The best way to avoid being careless is to regularly check all the places where water damage can happen, like your air conditioner, water heater, pipes, and crawl spaces. You could also keep track of how many times you’ve had a professional service check your appliances or plumbing. 

This can help show that your water damage didn’t happen slowly or because of carelessness.

Negligence from your end can result in your claim getting rejected.

What to avoid when trying to make a successful water leak claim

Even though insurance claims for water leaks can be annoying, don’t lose your temper with your insurance company. 

Be strong and stand your ground, but don’t lose your temper.

Please don’t throw away broken things or anything else that has to do with them. All broken things must stay where they are until your claim is settled. Because the insurance company didn’t include those things in the claim, you might get a smaller payout.

Don’t fix anything until you’ve talked to your insurance agent first. If you fix something before getting permission from your insurance company, it could hurt your claim. Do only what you need to do to limit the damage.

Don’t just go with the vendors or services that your insurance company recommends. Remember that insurance companies are in business to make money, so they often make deals with vendors that help them save money. So, using them could lead to an unfair evaluation and shoddy work or supplies. The best thing to do is to have estimates and vendors.

Even though insurance claims for water leaks can be annoying, don't lose your temper with your insurance company. 

Negotiate

You can always talk to your insurance company if you aren’t happy with the outcome of your claim or the amount of your settlement. Public adjusters are specially trained people who can settle claims quickly and as well as possible. 

These public adjusters are not like insurance adjusters because they work for you. So, they will always work hard to help you and protect your rights.

Home Insurance has a new home – Way.com

Whether or not water damage is covered by insurance, you will still need home insurance. But, again, comparison shopping is the best way to ensure you get the insurance you need at the best price.

Way.com helps with this. Way.com is the best and easiest way to find a home insurance plan that fits your needs. You can even combine it with your car insurance to save even more.

After thoroughly comparing the best policies from different companies, Way.com will take care of the phone calls, paperwork, and renewals for your top choice, so you don’t have to. They can even help you get rid of your old policy.


Here’s more info on top-rated airport parkingthe best parking spots in your city, affordable auto insurance, easy auto refinance, and high-quality car washes near you.


 

 

 

 

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