What kinds of damages are covered by insurance?
Generally, homeowner's policies cover wind, hail, lightening, and rain as well as damage from trees or limbs falling
on the home.
What do I do first?
Call your insurance agent. Then call Towne to cover broken windows or patch a hole in the roof. These emergency
repairs prevent further damage and are covered by your homeowner's policy.
Lightening hit our house but we didn't have a fire... does that mean there's no damage?
Even if the lightening doesn't start a fire, you may have damage. Often electronics like computers, phones,
refrigerators, and TVs are damaged by the electrical surge even if they don't have visible damage. In addition the electrical circuits
themselves may have been damaged. Look to see if nails or screws have popped from the drywall; anything metal may conduct electricity.
I have a tree on my roof. Will my insurance company pay to have it removed?
Normally your insurance company will pay to have the tree removed, but only up to a certain limit. Check with
your agent.
What if the tree on my roof belongs to my neighbor? Will his insurance pay for the damage?
Your agent can tell you the specific provisions of your policy. Often your neighbor is responsible only if you
have informed him in writing that his tree is a danger to your home.
After a bad snow storm I had water marks on the bedroom ceiling. My roof looks OK. Where did the water come from?
Will my insurance company pay for the damage?
The water is most likely the result of an ice and snow dam at the edge of your roof. Generally the reason ice and
snow dams form is the presence of warm air in the space under the roof. This warm air causes the layer of snow against the shingles to melt,
but as it reaches the edge of the roof, it encounters a ridge of snow that is still frozen. The water is trapped and is eventually forced back
under the shingles and into your home. The standard homeowner's policy covers this kind of water damage. The best prevention? Make sure
your attic is well-insulated to keep warm air from reaching the roof.
