Winter damage claims that insurance might not cover

Dec. 19--Winter storms can bring havoc to homes, with heavy snows or deep freezes causing damage to roofs, furnace malfunctions or burst water pipes.

These mishaps should be covered by your homeowners insurance, right? Maybe -- or maybe not. It depends on two factors: your individual policy and your responsibility to keep your house in good shape.

Before the depths of winter settle in, homeowners should check with their insurance agent about what will be covered, said Fran O'Brien, division president of Chubb Personal Risk Services.

"They will help address your exposure to these different types of (winter-weather) events and make sure you have the appropriate information," she said.

Hugo Alvarez, an attorney who works on real estate and insurance-related claims at law firm Becker & Poliakoff, said some policies limit what damages they will cover.

"The reason for that is it's cheaper for the homeowner to purchase," Alvarez said.

A less-expensive policy may have been tailored to keep premiums down by limiting what the insurance company will pay for, known as covered perils, he said. Homeowners may not realize their bare-bones policy won't cover certain incidents.

"That matters because when the winter season rolls around ... those very specific, narrow policies may not afford any insurance coverage," he said.

Once homeowners understand their policy, they also need to realize there are some steps they may need to take to mitigate potential damage, said Carl Gross, vice president and chief administrative officer at Globe Midwest Adjusters International.

We looked at three common household accidents during winter and how insurance might treat coverage.

Frozen or burst water pipes. Homeowners are 40 percent more likely to experience a water leak due to cold weather, O'Brien said. Pipes near the exterior of the home can become much colder than those in the interior. During extended cold snaps, these pipes can burst, causing water to gush out. If the homeowner is at home and quickly shuts off the water and the house temperatures are warm, this claim should be covered, O'Brien, Alvarez and Gross said.

The problem comes if you don't maintain high enough heat in the property. People who go away for the winter, whether on a short trip or an extended vacation, and turn down the home's thermostat significantly to save on heating bills may come home to busted pipes and water damage.

"There's responsibility on part of the homeowner. If you don't maintain heat in your home and there's a broken pipe, the insurance company might not cover the claim," Gross said.

Even temperatures as high as 50 degrees might not be warm enough to keep those pipes closest to outside walls from freezing during prolonged cold spells. O'Brien said it's recommended that temperatures be maintained around 65 to keep the whole house warm enough to prevent freezing.

Ice dams. Ice can build up on sloped roofs at the eaves and prevent meltwater drainage, which can cause roof and gutter damage. Damage from these events is generally covered, but there may be times when insurance companies will try to fight the claim, such as if the roof is old or of low quality.

"In all insurance policies, we see exclusions such as not covering poor workmanship, or if the roof was not properly installed. That can increase the chance of an ice dam, and then the exclusion is triggered. If the roof is old, there might be exclusion with long-term wear and tear. That might be basis for a denial, in respect to coverage," Alvarez said.

Especially with roofs that are 20 or 30 years old, depending on the policy, it's possible the insurer might say wear and tear ultimately caused the roof to fail. If the roof is old and an ice dam occurred, Gross said, it's possible the insurer may only pay a depreciated value, if it does pay.

Dead furnace. A lot of furnaces fail during deep freezes, as the HVAC system has to work harder to keep the house warm. But don't expect your homeowners policy to cover a broken furnace, they said.

"Maintenance of home systems is generally not covered under a homeowners policy," O'Brien said.

What if the furnace dies while you're gone and causes damage in the house? Some of the ensuing damage that might occur could be covered, she said.

"For example, if your HVAC system conks out and causes your pipes to freeze, the pipes might be covered, but the (heating) system might not be," O'Brien said.

Debbie Carlson is a freelance writer.

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