Snow Melt: Are you Covered?

Most of us love the beauty of the snowfall and we enjoy watching it, however when the snow starts to melt, it becomes a hazard to your home. If you think your homeowner’s insurance policy will cover damage caused by melting snow, think again — most problems caused by melting snow fall outside the coverage of standard homeowner’s insurance policies.

How Snow Damage May Be Covered by Homeowners Insurance

Snow damage can come in all shapes and sizes, but homeowners insurance coverage can help cover repair costs in many instances. Below are examples of the damage that snow can cause and how a standard homeowners insurance policy usually covers them:

1. Ice dams:These can develop when snow builds up near the roof and melts from the heat inside the home, causing it to form a ridge. The problem is that these ridges can cause a roof leak from water backing up and leaking into your home from the top down, which is where ice dams get their name. Ice dam damage to your roof and interior walls are likely covered under your dwelling coverage.
2. Broken branches:Branches can break during high winds or from heavy snow and risk damaging your roof or other parts of your home. Falling objects are considered a covered peril, and your homeowners insurance policy would likely provide coverage if your property were damaged from falling branches. If the branch falls on your car, your auto insurance policy may cover these repair costs if your policy has comprehensive coverage.
3. Roof collapses: Although rare, heavy snow may cause a roof collapse if the roof isn’t strong enough to sustain the weight of snow for extended periods. In rare cases like these, your dwelling coverage would once again likely cover the repairs.

How Homeowners Insurance Won’t Cover Snow Melt

Homeowners Insurance is great for providing important protection for your home in most situations. It provides valuable financial protection if your home were to face a huge loss. However, It is important to note that when it comes to losses resulting from flood damage such as damage caused by melting snow, your homeowners insurance does not apply. Flood is a peril that is excluded from a standard homeowners insurance policy. If flood damage your property, you’ll need to turn to your flood insurance.

Flooding from Melting Snow

Melting snow can cause flooding into your home and basement. For this type of damage, you would need flood insurance to cover the damage. Your homeowner’s is unlikely to cover flood damage, even if it is from melting snow.

When the ground becomes oversaturated with water from the snow melt and leaks into your home, this is considered flooding and is typically not covered under your homeowners insurance. Instead, flood insurance would likely cover the repairs to help you recover from water damage.

Water Damage vs. Flood Damage from Melting Snow and Ice

If your home incurs damage from melting snow and the water is coming from above ground (such as a melting icicle), the resulting damage may be covered by their homeowners insurance.

According to The Nest, “In the world of insurance, flooding and water damage are not the same thing. A flood is rising water moving over what’s normally dry ground. Water damage is caused by water that hasn’t touched the ground. If snow comes in through a broken window and melts on your computer, that’s water damage, which homeowners insurance covers. If snowdrifts in your garden melt, homeowners insurance won’t pay for any flooding damage. Flood insurance will.”

We are living in an unpredictable world where natural disasters are occurring more and more frequently. We may be safe as of now but we cannot predict our future. Having a flood insurance policy can give you peace of mind knowing that you are protected when disaster strikes. For your insurance concerns, you may email or contact ONYX Insurance Brokers, we are very willing to assist you.

.