When the snow melts and the rain begins, many of us learn the hard way if we’re covered properly on our Ohio  homeowner insurance.  Spring often brings many changes that we look forward to, but can also bring questions that we don’t know the answers to.  Many residents are now realizing the difference between a flood insurance policy and a homeowner insurance policy due to flooding of rivers and streams.  What about a sump pump that is overworked and water floods your basement, is that covered under your homeowner insurance?  If you have a basement and water comes through your window wells, is that covered under a homeowner policy? 

I’m willing to guess that the answer to those questions may surprise you.  Obviously every homeowner insurance policy from each individual company offers different types of coverage and differing amounts of coverage.  In the example of flood waters from rivers and streams, this type of flooding would be considered “surface water.”  Surface water damage would be excluded under your homeowner policy but would be covered under a separate flood policy.  In the second example of a sump pump that’s failed due to loss of power or overwork causing water damage to a basement would fall under a homeowner policy.  However, not every homeowner policy contains an endorsement for this coverage.  Water Back Up of Sewers and Drains is an endorsement that can be added to your homeowner policy to provide coverage for this type of loss.  It’s important to know if you have purchased this coverage or not.  In our final example, water has crept in through your window wells of your basement damaging the drywall and floor.  Once again, this type of water damage is from water that comes in due to a sort of flooding and is considered “surface water.”  Again, this falls under a flood policy, not a homeowner policy.   

Homeowner insurance is often not as cut and dry as you, the consumer, would think.  It’s important to have a basic knowledge of what you are truly buying and what type of coverage you have.  Don’t wait until you have a claim to find out that you aren’t covered!  At Roselius Insurance Agency, we offer Water Back Up of Sewers and Drains as a standard coverage on our homeowner policies.  We are also able to provide you with a flood policy at your request as well.  We are available for a professional review of your Ohio homeowner insurance policy at absolutely no charge.