FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, March 4, 2013 — With predictions of heavy snow in multiple states this week, it is a good time to remember that water damage can generate significant economic losses for homeowners and renters alike, according to the
Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I).
Water damage caused by either frozen or burst pipes accounted for 22 percent of all U.S. homeowners insurance losses incurred in 2010, the most recent year for which data is available, according to ISO, a Verisk Analytics company.
“Even a small amount of water can cause serious damage to your home,” said Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and consumer spokesperson at the I.I.I. “That is why it’s important to have the right type and amount of insurance, including flood insurance.”
Standard homeowners and renters policies provide coverage for burst pipes, wind driven rain and damage resulting from ice dams on your roof. Some policies cover sewer and drain backups, but many do not; however, you can purchase a sewer backup rider to a homeowners or renters policy for around $50 a year, depending on the amount of coverage.
Generally speaking, water that comes from the top down, such as rainfall, is covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy, while water that comes from the bottom up, such as an overflowing river, must be covered by a separate flood insurance policy. Flood insurance can be purchased from the federal government’s
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), as well as from some private insurers.
The average flood insurance policy costs about $500 a year, according to the NFIP. For homeowners, the maximum amount of coverage available from the program is $250,000 for damages to the structure of the home, and $100,000 for the contents. There is a 30-day waiting period for a flood insurance policy to go into effect. If you need coverage above and beyond the limits offered by the standard NFIP policy, excess flood insurance is available from a number of private insurance companies.
A standard homeowners insurance policy will cover you for losses related to ice dams, water that is unable to drain properly through the gutters and seeps into the house, causing damage to ceilings and walls.
Homeowners are expected, however, to take reasonable steps to prevent winter-related losses by keeping the house warm and properly maintaining its pipes and drains. Frozen water pipes represent the biggest potential problem for homes. As such, you should insulate all of your home’s pipes, especially those leading to the outside, and follow these additional four tips:
- Make sure there is clear access to your home’s main water shut-off valve in case there is a leak, or a pipe suddenly bursts.
- When the temperature outside falls below the freezing mark, open your water faucets enough to allow a slow trickle of water; this will maintain the flow of water in the lines and help keep them from freezing.
- Check pipes under sinks to make sure they are getting adequate heat.
- Make sure your home’s heating system is circulating water through the radiator and baseboard heating units to avoid freezing.
These additional I.I.I. resources also address the issue of water damage and insurance coverage:
The I.I.I. has a full library of educational videos on its You Tube Channel. Information about I.I.I. mobile apps can be found here.
THE I.I.I. IS A NONPROFIT, COMMUNICATIONS ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED BY THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.
Insurance Information Institute, 110 William Street, New York, NY 10038; (212) 346-5500; www.iii.org