Protecting Your Health and Property from Water Damage

Basement flooding can cause substantial water damage to your home and personal belongings. While most homeowners insurance policies provide some coverage for basement flooding, it’s essential to understand the limits of your policy and consider increasing your coverage if necessary.

Coverage Limits

The amount of coverage provided for basement flooding varies depending on your insurance policy. Most policies have a separate deductible for basement flooding, which is typically higher than the deductible for other types of damage.

The coverage limit for basement flooding is also typically lower than the overall coverage limit for your home. For example, if you have a $250,000 homeowners insurance policy, you may only have $10,000 of coverage for basement flooding.

Increasing Coverage

If you’re concerned about the coverage limits for basement flooding, you can increase your coverage by purchasing a flood insurance policy. Flood insurance policies are available from the federal government through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and from private insurers.

Flood insurance policies provide coverage for both basement flooding and flooding from other sources, such as rivers and streams. The coverage limits for flood insurance policies vary depending on the policy you purchase.

Can I Shower if My Basement Is Flooded?

If your basement is flooded, it’s important to avoid using water from the basement, including for showering. The water in a flooded basement may be contaminated with sewage or other hazardous materials.

Water Damage

Basement flooding can cause significant water damage to your home and personal belongings. Water damage can weaken the structure of your home, damage flooring, and ruin furniture.

It’s important to take steps to prevent water damage from basement flooding, such as installing a sump pump and waterproofing your basement.