Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Mold in Attic?

Homeowners insurance's terms are the stuff of legend. Some conditions should be considered when you claim compensation for your policy. Even the most experienced policyholder can get confused with them. Especially, when it comes to claiming for such a rare situation, as mold in the attic. Can you claim for mold in the attic's damage in your homeowner insurance policy terms?

What Causes of Mold in the Attic Could Be Covered?

First, make sure that no insurance company pays out compensation without a good reason. That is, you will need quite serious arguments in favor of the fact that mold in the attic falls under the insured event specified in your policy.

In addition, the reasons for the appearance of mold in the attic can also be different. Mold itself is a generic name for fungi that attack various surfaces. It thrives in damp and dark environments. Humidity and darkness are not uncommon for an attic. Do not forget that mold is also harmful to health. The CDC has put mold on the list of the most dangerous allergens. Therefore, the harm from it can be significant.

What can happen if you do not fight mold in the attic?

• It can destroy wood floors or bring down the roof.
• It can gradually spread to other parts of the house; for example, penetrate walls and ceilings, ruining the interior.
• Constant inhalation of mold spores is bad for the lungs.
• In addition, even if mold only grows in the attic, its characteristic odor can spread throughout the house.

In general, there is simply no positive side to mold in the attic. For the insurance company, compensation for your homeowner's insurance policy is possible only in the event that mold has appeared due to implicit reasons.

What reasons, can be called non-obvious which means weighty for the insurance company?

• This is the appearance of mold due to snow deposits on the roof or icing. For comparison, a leak in the roof, through which moisture enters the attic after the rain, can be noticed during the rain itself. A snowdrift on the roof does not make it possible to determine the location of the leak immediately, so insurance companies are supportive of such statements.
• You can also try to apply to the insurance company if mold is caused by a leak in the pipes that are in the walls of the attic. This option can also be considered non-obvious, and therefore subject to compensation.

But remember that if the leak happened due to the fact that you were not engaged in the inspection and regular maintenance of the pipes, this is a great opportunity for the insurance company to refuse you compensation.

If you are not sure whether the appearance of mold in the attic of your house is covered by an insured event, it is better not to act at random, but to hire a public adjuster. Such a specialist will help to prove the non-obviousness of the cause of the leak and the appearance of mold and at the same time will competently prepare all the documents for submission to the insurance company.

What else influences an insurance company's decision to reimburse you for mold damage in the attic? First, these are the very terms of your homeowner's insurance policy. Does this protect your property from mold at all? Carefully study the terms of the contract. You must know if the insurance company will compensate you for anything at all.

Is It Real to Be Compensated for Mold Removal from Attic?

For this part of claims to your insurance company the answer depends. Some companies provide coverage for mold removal yet lots of them do not include that option in their homeowner's insurance program. To get compensation for mold removal, you may need to sign a premium agreement that extends the policy's capabilities.

In any case, if you notice that mold is invading your attic, it is time to act immediately. There are several services, which will come in handy for fighting mold in the attic. These are leaking detection services, water mitigation services, damage repair services, and disinfection services that you should apply for.

Moreover, it is worth contacting all these services at the same moment when you discover the mold. Its very appearance is a sign that the structure of the attic and the roof is broken. Perhaps it is just a pipe leak, a weak ventilation system, or the aftermath of a major natural disaster. However, it may also be that the mold in the attic appeared due to an old leak in the roof or a crack in the wall. It is better to solve such a case immediately, because in the future, in addition to mold, you can get a collapse of the roof, destruction of the attic and other much more serious consequences.

Therefore, do not wait for the mold in the attic to begin to creep further. Contact the services you need and brand the insurance company to get the compensation that will help you get the loft back into habitable condition. Especially, when it comes to claiming for such a rare situation, as mold in the attic.