Does home insurance cover mold?

Does homeowners insurance cover mold? Does affordable homeowners insurance cover mold? Specifically, is mold removal covered by insurance? When is mold covered by home insurance? Also, if your homeowners insurance does not cover mold damage, who pays for mold remediation?

The answers to these questions depend on your homeowners insurance company. For instance, consider the events the company will cover and the level of coverage you have on your policy.

In most cases, your policy may expressly exclude mold. Otherwise, you may find a way to reduce the costs of mold mitigation through the claims process.

If you want to buy homeowners insurance that covers mold, at least 22 top companies offer special coverage. You can compare home insurance by looking at the different types of coverage that these companies have.

Read on to learn when homeowners insurance covers mold mitigation and what you can do to ensure a successful homeowners insurance mold claims process. And if you want to see rates from top home insurance companies near you, enter your ZIP code into our free quote tool above.

When will homeowners insurance cover mold?

And when is mold remediation covered by insurance?

Mold can grow for many reasons, but you may be able to cover mold mitigation if your home insurance policy includes water damage. Your homeowners insurance policy may cover a wide range of named perils, some of which lead to mold buildup.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, these covered events may include tornados, thunderstorms, pipe bursts, vandalism, and accidental discharges from fire sprinkler systems.

If a falling object damages your roof and that leads to mold development, you may have coverage. And since a fire sprinkler system discharge often counts as a covered event, you may also be able to file a claim if mold builds up in your home after actual firefighting efforts.

Read more: Does my car insurance cover damage caused by a falling object?

Does house insurance cover mold in other cases? Depending on the type of homeowners insurance policy you buy, most or all these events are named. You may consider buying an HO-3 policy, which covers 16 types of perils. Still, mold removal may have coverage on a case-by-case basis.

Which insurance companies cover mold damage?

Most major insurance companies address mold, albeit indirectly.

*Note: Insurance companies usually work with the National Flood Insurance Program.

How can you file a mold insurance claim?

Filing a home insurance mold claim isn’t much different than filing any other home insurance claim. These are general steps that you may need to take during the mold insurance claims process:

• Take pictures of and make notes about the damage that led to mold buildup.
• Contact your insurance company and present the evidence.
• Do what you can to dry wet areas and remove as much mold as possible with basic cleaning methods.

You must reduce mold in your home to ensure a successful homeowners insurance claims process. That’s because claims adjusters need to see that you made every reasonable effort to remove the mold before approving your claim.

Additionally, you may need to get an appraisal to know how much it will cost for repairs and removal of the mold. It usually costs $10-$25 per square foot to remove mold from your home, and you may carry most of the cost for mold remediation.

Tips for Reducing the Mold in Your Home

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a list of resources regarding mold cleanup and remediation. To reduce mold in your home, the CDC offers the following advice:

• Use household cleaners or soap and water when cleaning your home. When using bleach, practice safety and consider using specialized mold-killing products for bathrooms.
• Remove or replace soaked rugs, carpets, and upholstery as soon as possible. You may also consider keeping rugs away from areas that collect moisture, like bathrooms and basements.
• Dry and clean your home within 24-48 hours after a flood, if possible.

The Environmental Protection Agency suggests that you reduce your indoor humidity to about 30%-60% to decrease mold growth in your home.

You can do this by venting areas like your bathroom and laundry room, using exhaust fans when you cook and clean, and using air conditioning and dehumidifiers.

Ultimately, you must be proactive when it comes to reducing mold in your home. Reduce humidity and clean your home regularly. Also, check things like pipes, plants, gutters, and your roof. Make sure that there is no excess moisture or leakage.

We hope this has answered your question, “Does homeowners insurance cover mold?” If you want to know a little more, read the frequently asked questions below.

Also, if you want to look at rates from some home insurance companies in your area right now, you can enter your ZIP code into our free quote tool below.

Case Studies: Does home insurance cover mold?

Case Study 1: Sarah’s Hidden Mold Infestation

Sarah discovered a hidden mold infestation in her basement due to a water leak that went unnoticed for months. Unfortunately, her standard home insurance policy did not cover mold damage resulting from neglect. She had to bear the cost of mold remediation and repairs out of pocket.

Case Study 2: Mark’s Sudden Pipe Burst

Mark experienced a sudden pipe burst in his kitchen, leading to significant water damage and subsequent mold growth. Fortunately, Mark had comprehensive home insurance coverage that included mold damage resulting from water leaks. His insurance company promptly initiated mold remediation and covered the associated expenses.

Case Study 3: Maria’s Slow Plumbing Leak

Maria noticed a persistent plumbing leak in her bathroom that eventually led to the development of mold. Unfortunately, her insurance policy did not cover mold damage resulting from long-term leaks. She had to hire professionals for mold remediation and bear the costs herself.