Does Insurance Cover a Refrigerator Water Line Break that Floods Your Home?
If your refrigerator water line has recently broken and caused flooding inside your home, you may be wondering whether your insurance will cover the cost of restoration and repairs. Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this, as your specific insurance policy will determine if and how much your insurance company will cover for restoration and repairs of the affected areas of your home. As a general rule, however, most homeowners insurance policies do help cover some of the costs of water damage if the cause is sudden and accidental. Most times a refrigerator water line break falls into this category. However, it is important to understand the specific rules most insurance companies put in place so that you can be sure the cost of your restoration and repairs will be covered.
There are two main types of coverage that fall under homeowners insurance which are applicable to a refrigerator water line break: dwelling coverage and personal property coverage. Dwelling coverage will help you pay for any structural damage to your home. For example, if your refrigerator water line break causes major damage to the floors or walls of your home, dwelling coverage will help you pay for these expensive repairs. On the other hand, personal property coverage helps you pay to replace any of your belongings that were either damaged or completely ruined as a result of your water line break. So if you had an expensive piece of technology such as a phone or computer destroyed by flooding water from your refrigerator, personal property coverage will pay for some of the replacement costs.
Although it is beneficial to understand the basics outlined above, the specifics of your personal insurance plan will determine how much of your restoration and repairs will actually be covered by both dwelling coverage and personal property coverage. It is also important to note that you will likely be responsible for paying a deductible before your insurance covers the rest of the costs. That is why it is still important to save money for emergencies such as a refrigerator water line break even if you have a great insurance plan. Additionally, many insurance plans have coverage limits. Coverage limits set a maximum number of dollars that your insurance provider will pay for a covered claim. If the cost of your restoration and repairs exceeds this amount, you will be responsible for 100% of the remaining cost.