Frozen Pipes Insurance Coverage

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Frozen Pipes Insurance Coverage
The state of Oklahoma has had record-breaking
cold temperatures and above average snowfall so
far this winter season. With colder temperatures,
the danger of frozen pipes and pipe bursts
increase significantly. If a broken pipe is not
caught quickly, the subsequent water damage can
be devastating.
Most insurance policies do provide coverage for
water damage, but with varying criteria for what
type of water loss is covered and/or stipulations
that must be met in order for coverage to apply.
For example, some policies require that all
utilities are active and turned on in order for a
water loss to be covered others simply require
that the property has heat for coverage to apply.
Still others have set limits for how much the
insurance company will pay for a water loss that
is usually less than the policy limit stated on
the declaration page. Knowing what immediate
steps to take following a water loss is also
vital. The insurance policy requires that a home
or property owner take the necessary steps to
mitigate the damage. This includes stopping the
water source by turning the water off to stop
the flow of water, having a plumber repair the
damaged pipe or failed part, and cleaning up wet
materials timely to prevent further
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damage. Once these steps have been started, the
insurance company will send out an adjuster to
assess and document the damages. Understanding
what the insurance company is responsible to pay
for and knowing what steps to take can be a
challenging task for any property owner. Brown
OHaver has a staff of licensed public adjusters
that are knowledgeable in navigating a loss and
can help you with your claim.