Mold Coverage From Water Damage

Filing a Claim for Mold Damage

Since mold damage is typically only covered when it occurs as a result of another covered loss, you would typically file a claim for it together with your water damage claim. For example, if a pipe burst and and the resulting water caused mold to develop, mold remediation should automatically be included in the payout for your claim. If you discover mold  after a covered loss has occurred, you will have to provide your expert mold public adjuster with evidence that proves that the mold happened for that reason. An insurance company will try to make your mold coverage from water damage claim into  longstanding damage or say that you were negligent in not treating the issue of mold at an earlier stage. 

If any symptoms of mold are present, or if someone is suffering from sudden allergies and health conditions, it would be smart to call in a professional to evaluate your home, and if mold is found, then contacting a Lincoln Public Adjuster to determine where the cause of the loss is and whether the mold can be compensated.

When water damage is present in one’s home, one may not see what lies underneath. Numerous health hazards can come from mold that is left untreated. Mold could be present in one’s home, and the occupants may not even know this issue exists. Mold could present itself just by the mere fact of humidity, but picture a house being flooded, the mold is most likely to occur.

Am I Covered For Mold Damage?

People don’t usually worry about whether their homeowner’s policies cover mold damage until its too late and the damage is already done. If you are concerned about the potential for mold damage in your home, it is crucial to find out whether it would be covered under your current insurance policy.

As you will see, such policies are usually unclear about whether this type of damage is covered. Some insurance companies, like State Farm, don’t cover mold damage regardless of how it is caused; others minimize their risk by imposing 10k limits on how much they will pay out for mold remediation. 

When is Mold Damage Covered By Insurance?

 Don’t wait until a public adjuster for mold is called to find out whether or not mold damage is covered by your insurance policy. The vast majority of the time, such damage is only covered when it occurs as the result of a covered loss like water damage. For example, if your water heater breaks and floods the basement and mold damage is later discovered, it should be covered because water damage is typically covered under such circumstances and its a loss resulting from the water damage.

Even if mold damage is covered in this way, however, it may not be covered entirely. Mold damage remediation could cost up to $20,000, and insurance companies have taken numerous steps to reduce their risk for these damages. Allstate, for example, provides coverage up to $5,000, and citizens insurance will cap your mold damage claim to $10,000

 

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Ways that Mold Can be Detected

To try and limit the amount of exposure and additional problems that may come from mold, trying to spot mold is an important part of that. There are times where mold is obvious like a blackish substance on the bathroom curtain, but other times, mold will not show visible signs. These are some ways that mold could be detected:

  • Presence of musty or earthy smell
  • Reveal color contrast on walls by flashing a light on it
  • Check areas that have no ventilation or are cold like behind dressers or shelves
  • Check the dust that comes out of a pillow by patting it with a spatula
  • Check for sliminess or a slick feeling on surfaces

These simple, but yet effective ways can help prevent a lot of dangers. Mold will live off of humidity and damp areas. Reducing the living area of the mold can help it die off.

When is Mold Damage Excluded from Coverage?

 

As any public adjuster can tell you, mold damage that occurs due to neglect or a lack of maintenance is not covered under homeowner’s insurance policies. If you notice a leak somewhere but push it and notice mold later this can be considered as neglect and wont be covered.

Another time when mold damage is excluded is when it occurs due to regional flooding because damage.  If a home is not maintained as it should be, or an owner does not repair a problem that persists, they should not be surprised when mold sets-in and their insurance companies decide to deny their claim, for mold damage.

Many people do not know that mold is present in more forms than one. The typical person sees black areas and knows that its mold. A statistic that might be shocking is that only 80,000 types of mold have been identified, yet there are more than 1 million species all around the world. Because there may be many types of mold present, consulting a professional to determine which type is the first step to properly treating it. 

Mold can surface as a result of various water damage and moisture. Knowing that mold feeds off of moisture is an indication that keeping places dry and free from humidity would be a great move in avoiding mold to arise. Mold could be cleaned up, but it is important to protect oneself when trying to remove it.

Having mold in a home is a serious problem. It is not one that should just be brushed off because there has even been mold linked to human-related deaths. If mold is present, immediately take action.