The winter in our area has caused a huge amount of ice and snow to accumulate on roof tops and on the ground. When temperatures rise this week as expected many will sustain basement water damage. The temperatures are expected to reach the high 40’s and 50’s. This can cause a rapid snow melt problem. The street storm sewers may become overwhelmed causing street flooding. Properties that have a ground water problem may experience that their sump pump is constantly running and cannot keep up with the demand. Causing the sump pump to burn out or overflow from the reservoir pit where the sump pump is installed.
If you are a home owner and have a “SUMP PUMP” and have sustained “BASEMENT WATER DAMAGE” then you need to understand that this type of water damage is specifically excluded in a homeowner insurance policy…! That’s Right.
That is unless you have a “sump pump endorsement” that you pay an additional premium for providing additional coverage up to the limit stated on the Declarations Page or in the endorsement itself. Also, you need to know if the endorsement is subject to its on specific deductible. Examples are listed below:
The example above depicts that Additional Coverage is warranted for a Sump Pump Overflow, or failure incident that indicates a $1,000.00 deductible with $10, 000.00 dollars of coverage. Therefore, after applying the deductible in this case there would only be $9,000.00 of actual repair money to the building, and personal property combined.
Or you may have a company that identifies and list their endorsement as a water backup, or another name would be Sewer & Drain Backup Endorsement.
Back up of sewer drains endorsement
We offer a FREE Policy Review without any obligations. Just call (215) 364-4546 andask for Rick Kinney owner of Advocate Public Adjustment public adjuster since 1992.We need to see and verify if you have coverage? More importantly, the limits of liability that the endorsement offers and is insured up to?
Most of our competitors could care less if you have a $5,000.00, $10,000.00 limit of coverage. They will sign the claim regardless. This is not acceptable as far as we are concerned. This will not help you BUT hurt you. Depending on your specific circumstances it could cost every penny of $10,000.00 to dry out and mitigate the property and protect against mold.
Our entire region has been dealing with a very cold winter that has produced enough snow and ice to accumulate and not melt yet. Temperatures have been below freezing for the most of winter. That is up until this week’s weather predictions.
Monday it is supposed to reach a high of 45°degrees. By the end of the week, it will be up into the mid 50’s. Homeowners living in Bucks County Pennsylvania, Montgomery County Pennsylvania, Delaware County Pennsylvania, Berks County Pennsylvania, Chester County, Lehigh County, and Northampton County Pennsylvania may experience a rapid melt down causing many basements to sustain water damage.
This is the reason and purpose of this Blog Post. To inform you as the property damage public adjuster claims advocate that you need to beware of the endorsements stated above.
More, importantly, knowing and fully understanding the limit that the sump pump, water backup endorsement is insured up to is enough coverage. Again, if you have an endorsement, it covers the building and personal property. Furthermore, if the utilities are in the basement such as a water heater, the heating furnace that heats the house and or if you have central air the air handler. If damaged these are part of that limit. The last thing you need is an unethical public adjuster to apply his or her contingency fees to that limit reducing the amount of coverage even more. Inclosing you should call your agent and see if the company you are insured with offers a Sump Pump, Backup of water, Sewer Drain endorsement? Not all insurance companies offer this coverage. If yes, they do then ask what is the highest limit you can be insured with this endorsement. Some company’s only offer $5,000.00 ad other will have no limit at all. Meaning, up to the policy limits stated on the Dec Page under the coverages listed therein. Or Actual Loss sustained.
We are Your True Advocate in Property Damage Home Claims Help.
We also have a sister company called “PROPERTY CLAIM TIPS” that Rick Kinney created back in 2003. This platform educates homeowners and offers video claim courses. Very little reading and just a few hours of watch time. There is a Sump Pump Claims Course in the works and should be readily available soon.
Please contact Advocate Public Adjustment (215) 364-4546 or Rick Kinney Cell (215) 622-0090 immediately for help or to answer any questions you may have !
Remember we can review your policy and let you know if you have this type of coverage before notifying the insurance company only to find out you do not.