Does Insurance Cover a Flooded Basement in Minneapolis?

Basements are cozy, convenient areas of your home for watching television, playing games, and having extra room for guests when they come to visit. A lot of times as well, basements are also the designated area for major appliances like washing machines, water heaters, and more. For many reasons, you could be faced with disaster if there is an unanticipated leak from one of your appliances, or if there is a flood from heavy rains, overflowing rivers, or other nearby bodies of water. This is all the more reason to look into your insurance policy now, to see if there are any clauses or stipulations that would prevent you from using your home insurance policy towards the cost of repairs.

What Types of Floods Are Covered?

We have to inform you that when it comes to floods caused by natural disasters, your homeowners insurance policy will not cover the cost of damage. Flood insurance is a separate entity altogether; it is provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and therefore is purchased separately. If you live near any rivers, lakes, or bodies of water that could overflow if you are faced with heavy rains for days on end, you should look into flood insurance to protect your basement. Check and see if you are also in a floodplain, waterproof your basement, and look around for any cracks or compromises in the foundation that could allow water to seep in.

Unexpected and Accidental Events

For other causes of floods, the main question you need to ask when surveying the source and reason for the water spillage is whether or not it was an entirely unanticipated accident that could never have been predicted. Pipe bursts, for example, are a perfect case scenario of such events. There would have been no way for you to tell that a pipe could burst, and if your basement or other areas of your home flood, you should have the assurance that the cost of damage will be covered. If an appliance leaks or any other complications occur, you should be taken care of – however, keep in mind that every policy is different, and you may need to look into yours more closely.

Restoration 1 of Greater Minneapolis Is There for You

If your basement ever has an unanticipated water episode, Restoration 1 of Greater Minneapolis should be your first call. Regardless of the cause, our team will come in with advanced technology to remove any standing water, get the area dried, and take the utmost care to stifle any chance of mold developing. We are masters at water damage remediation, and we can help you navigate through insurance intricacies if you need our help. Call us today at 612-200-2302. We serve the surrounding Minneapolis area.

About The Author

David Tynes is the general manager of Restoration of Greater Minneapolis. David has years of experience in home and commercial restoration, and he is certified as a restoration professional by the IICRC.