Which Disasters Are Covered By Homeowners Insurance?

Here’s a handy guide to coverage by policy type—and what’s not typically covered

Standard homeowners policies cover a wide range of potential disasters, from tornadoes to lightning strikes to winter storm damage. Policies do vary, though, so for your own peace of mind, check yours for the specific perils covered. Learn what’s generally covered by each homeowners insurance policy type—and what’s not.

Disaster coverage by homeowners policy type

What type of disasters are covered?

	Dwelling & personal property		Dwelling	Personal property			Dwelling & personal property
Perils	Basic HO-1*+	Broad HO-2*	Special HO-3*	Special HO-3	Renters HO-4	Condo/Co-op HO-6	Modified Coverage HO-8
1. Fire or lightning	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
2. Windstorm or hail	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
3. Explosion	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
4. Riot or civil commotion	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
5. Damage caused by aircraft	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
6. Damage caused by vehicles	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
7. Smoke	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
8. Vandalism or malicious mischief	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
9. Theft	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
10. Volcanic eruption	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
11. Falling object		x	x	x	x	x
12. Weight of ice, snow or sleet		x	x	x	x	x
13. Accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam from within a plumbing, heating, air conditioning, or automatic fire-protective sprinkler system, or from a household appliance.		x	x	x	x	x
14. Sudden and accidental tearing apart, cracking, burning, or bulging of a steam or hot water heating system, an air conditioning or automatic fire-protective system.		x	x	x	x	x
15. Freezing of a plumbing, heating, air conditioning or automatic, fire-protective sprinkler system, or of a household appliance.		x	x	x	x	x
16. Sudden and accidental damage from artificially generated electrical current (does not include loss to a tube, transistor or similar electronic component)		x	x	x	x	x
17. All perils except flood, earthquake, war, nuclear accident, landslide, mudslide, sinkhole and others specified in your policy. Check your policy for a complete list of perils excluded.			x

Disasters that are not covered

Floods. Flood damage is excluded under standard homeowners and renters insurance policies. Separate flood insurance coverage, however, is available for both homeowners and renters as a separate policy both from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and from a few private insurers. Learn more about flood insurance—whether you need it, how to get it, and more.
Earthquakes. Earthquake coverage is available from most insurance companies as a separate policy or an endorsement to your homeowners or renters policy. Learn more about earthquake insurance.
Maintenance damage. It is your responsibility to maintain your home and take reasonable precautions to protect your home from damage. Your insurance policy will not cover damage due to lack of maintenance, mold or infestation from termites or other pests.
Sewer Backup. Sewer backups are not covered under a typical homeowners insurance policy, nor are they covered by flood insurance. This type of coverage must be purchased either as a separate product or as an endorsement to a homeowners policy, usually at a nominal cost. Learn more about sewers and sewer backup insurance.

Buffalo Grove, Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Mundelein, Vernon Hills, Illinois and Wisconsin residents, at R Hobbs Insurance Agency, we can work with you to make sure you’ve got the coverage you need, while at the same time using all possible credits and discounts to make that coverage affordable. Just give us a call at (847) 680-0888 or send us a note at [email protected]. We want to help you meet your goals, and make sure what’s important to you is protected!

Content Source: iii.org

Categories: Blog

Which Disasters Are Covered By Homeowners Insurance?

Here’s a handy guide to coverage by policy type—and what’s not typically covered

Disaster coverage by homeowners policy type

What type of disasters are covered?

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