Saturday, February 5, 2011

Homeowners Insurance & Ice Dams Claims

This past week, Markham Priest received many phone calls concerning ice dam claims. Below are some recommendations/facts should you have ice dam problems in your home.


1. Once you see water dripping or collecting inside the house or ice damaging the exterior of the house, please call your insurance agency to report the claim. Early notice is needed in order to help the insurance company to manage the loss.


2. It is highly recommended to hire a contractor to remove any snow or ice on the roof to prevent any future potential problems. Please make sure the contractor is insured by asking for a Certificate of Insurance. You will want to verify that the contractor has general liability insurance and a workers compensation insurance policy.

3. One of the many questions asked is if the cost of snow removal from the roof is covered under your insurance policy. The answer is most likely yes if the ice dam is causing interior or exterior damages to your house. The insurance company will not pay for snow removal if it is for preventative measures. Please check with your insurance agency. This coverage will depend on your type of policy and insurance company that insures your home.

4. Another question asked is how will the deductible apply to an ice dam loss? Most insurance companies will consider a one deductible occurrence until the snow is no longer on the roof. Agian, your insurance company or agency can provide you the details on how the deductible will apply to your ice dam loss.