Filing a claim for basement water damage

Insurance question for homeowners insurance

Filing a claim for basement water damage

Our basement had some water damage from what seems to be groundwater: this resulted in a large area of the carpet being damaged and likely our walls had some damage.

My partner and I have been busy and working on other projects and haven’t filed a claim with insurance because we don’t use the basement much. We finally are getting around to it.

Does anyone have any insight on if there will be issues filing a claim if the water damages were done around 2 months ago?

Edit: clarified it is water damage and not flooding

  1. Do you have flood insurance? Normal home owners does not cover this. 2. They will likely deny, as there was no proper abatement.

Sterling said:

  1. Do you have flood insurance? Normal home owners does not cover this. 2. They will likely deny, as there was no proper abatement.

No flood insurance. If we file a claim and it is denied will our premiums go up?

Do you have flood insurance?

Rey said:
Do you have flood insurance?

No, but I’m not sure it was flooding per the people we had look at it right away.

Parker said:

Rey said:
Do you have flood insurance?

No, but I’m not sure it was flooding per the people we had look at it right away.

Get them to write it up, and send in a claim. Wet carpet, and ‘bottom up’ is generally flooding though.

You edited your post, but water damage from groundwater is called flooding. Unless a water pipe broke, a wall fell down, or your roof was torn off, you’ll need flood insurance.

You need to have overland water coverage or flood coverage for that. Also, most insurers REQUIRE that you take action right away. Failing to do so could be a denial, as it is only going to get worse.

Cael said:
You need to have overland water coverage or flood coverage for that. Also, most insurers REQUIRE that you take action right away. Failing to do so could be a denial, as it is only going to get worse.

Got ya! I mean we dried up the area with towels and fans and bought a dehumidifier right away. Hopefully that may help? The other thing is we didn’t have any issues after.

@Parker
You may want to consider getting a sump pump in the future! Should help with this.

Do you have a sump pump? My policy will pay if that failed, but not if water just came in.

Azar said:
Do you have a sump pump? My policy will pay if that failed, but not if water just came in.

Shoot, no sump pump!

Parker said:

Azar said:
Do you have a sump pump? My policy will pay if that failed, but not if water just came in.

Shoot, no sump pump!

This would be the first thing I installed before doing any repairs.

Parker said:

Azar said:
Do you have a sump pump? My policy will pay if that failed, but not if water just came in.

Shoot, no sump pump!

Not impossible to DIY. Just did one myself.

@Rey
Nice! What was the cost as well as man-hours to install yourself? Been considering this…

Parker said:
@Rey
Nice! What was the cost as well as man-hours to install yourself? Been considering this…

~10 hours + 400 bucks in materials vs 1500-2000 bucks

Rey said:

Parker said:
@Rey
Nice! What was the cost as well as man-hours to install yourself? Been considering this…

~10 hours + 400 bucks in materials vs 1500-2000 bucks

You’re inspiring me to do it myself!

  • unless you have some specific coverage for groundwater damage, this will not be covered. Read your policy.