Q. What Water Damage Isn’t Covered?

Your house won’t be covered if it was destroyed by any of the following:

Inundation of rivers, lakes, and other waterways: In the event of flooding, separate insurance coverage is required. In fact, if you reside in a floodplain in many parts of Minnesota, you’re required to get flood insurance.

If it was avoidable: Even if you were aware of the hole in your roof before it sprang a leak, your insurance company would categorize it as something you might have avoided.

Damages from mold growth

Unless the mold was produced by water damage from the sources indicated above, your homeowner’s insurance policy may not cover mold restoration. Your insurance company won’t pay for mold damage if you could have avoided it.

Suppose that your basement is flooded. It’s covered under the water damage section of your insurance policy if mold forms in your basement due to flooding. It’s not covered if you have mold developing in your bathroom because it wasn’t properly cleaned.

Damages from fire and smoke

Insurance will cover you if the fire was not caused by anything that might have been avoided. In the event that your house is destroyed by any of the following:

• Grease fires
• Wildfires
• Fire pits
• Electrical fires