Understanding Home Fires and Insurance

7/22/2021 (Permalink)

When a fire damages your home SERVPRO of can help you.

A home fire at your dwelling in Terrace Park, OH is devastating. There is soot damage, smoke damage and water damage from the firefighters putting out the flames. Many of your personal belongings are lost or in need of proper cleaning. Most residential fires are covered by insurance, but some are not. The cause is crucial to determining coverage. Read below to know what is typically covered and what is not. Each individual policy is different, so be sure to confirm with your agent.

What Causes Are Usually Covered?

For most homeowner’s insurance, almost all fire types are covered under the policy, including, but not limited to the following

• Kitchen fires are one of the main causes of residential fires. This type of fire spreads quickly and leads to significant damage.
• Failing electrical systems or appliances, especially those that are old or poorly maintained, pose a fire risk.
• The HVAC system, space heater or wood stove may ignite a house fire.
• Even though smoking rates have decreased over the past few decades, it remains a common reason for residential fires.
  • External causes, such as lightning strikes and wildfires, are rare but can be a fire hazard.

When Is a Home Fire Not Covered?

There are two main causes of house fires not covered by homeowner’s insurance: 

• Arson is never covered if the fire is set by the homeowner or someone acting on the homeowner’s behalf. If investigators find evidence of a fire set by the owner to collect insurance money, no damage is covered and criminal charges may be filed.
• A vacant home fire is not typically covered if it is unoccupied at the time of the fire. However, this is covered if the homeowner has an added endorsement to the policy.

When you have a home fire in Terrace Park, OH insurance coverage for fire and water damage is key to an affordable recovery. Work with your insurance adjustor and a fire restoration specialist to rebuild, replace and restore your home to pre-fire condition.