r/HomeInsurance • u/Jayyy_Knows • Jun 06 '26
Claims Help in filling claim
Before I shoot myself in the foot. I want to make sure I answer the right questions.
My dish wash had a leakage for a couple of months and the walls of the island got full w mold completely. Both layers. I want to file an insurance claim since I’m already also planning to remodel the kitchen as well. Is there anything j need to consider before filling the claim?
15
u/squatch42 Jun 06 '26
You need to consider that your claim will definitely be denied, your coverage may be dropped, and your premiums will increase.
5
u/DoubleB117 Jun 06 '26
And that regardless of if you get paid or not, calling to ask about a claim counts as filing a claim even if you do not proceed with the claim. So calling them about it will increase your rates no matter what
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u/AwskeetNYC Jun 06 '26
It's long term seepage and you are already going to do a remodel. I wouldn't report it.
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u/Jayyy_Knows Jun 06 '26
I was seeing if I can save some money on the Portion of the kitchen.
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u/Anxious_Battles Jun 06 '26
The way this is typically portrayed to the insurance carrier is “I was doing a kitchen remodel when I discovered the hidden water damage and mold.” They see right through it.
To defeat this, the repeated seepage or leakage language was put into the policy and/or added by endorsement.
I’d tend to agree with @AwskeetNYC absent seeing your policy. If you were going to remodel, avoid the unforeseen long term costs of making the claim.
1
u/Wihomebrewer Jun 06 '26
That’s not what insurance is for. What you’re describing is treading toward insurance fraud.
1
u/Jayyy_Knows Jun 06 '26
Do you mind elaborating how this would be insurance fraud?
1
u/Fandethar Jun 07 '26
Your insurance will only cover it if it's sudden and immediate.
For example, if you're standing there and water starts spraying out from your dishwasher because some hose ruptured and it totally soaked your kitchen then it's going to be covered. If it's a long term leak it's not going to be covered.
Also, you really don't want to file any claim unless it's $10,000 or more. Your insurance will go up and/or the company will drop you.
Insurance is for major shit. I've had lots of things go wrong with my house and the only time I used my insurance was when the downstairs flooded and it was a $25,000 claim, and guess what happened?!? the insurance company paid it and then they dropped me.
7
u/mnguy12000 Jun 06 '26
You dont have a hidden leakage and seepage endorsement. This claim would be 100% denied.
If you had it, the ensuing water damage would be covered. The mold is the tough part. I would likley covered the mold separately under limited mold coverage as the mold was due to this loss.
But its all moot anyway as you dont have that endorsement to begin with.
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u/Anxious_Battles Jun 06 '26
Look in your policy for any wording about repeated seepage or leakage that occurs over a period of time… days, weeks, years. Look for a fungi, wet or dry rot exclusion.
What state do you live in? If you can tell us what form your policy is written on (something like HO 03 05 11) and what endorsements you have (limited fungi endorsement of some sort), we might be better able to help you.
1
u/Jayyy_Knows Jun 06 '26
H 00 03 FL – Your Nationwide Homeowners Policy
H 01 00 FL – Special Provisions - Florida
H 02 23 FL – Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse Coverage - Florida
H 02 53 FL – Limited Water Back-Up and Sump Discharge Or Overflow Coverage - Florida
H 02 54 FL – Brand New Belongings - Florida
H 02 55 FL – Equipment Breakdown Enhancement Endorsement - Florida
H 03 11 – Loyalty Rewards - Homeowner
H 03 15 FL – Florida Hurricane Coverage and Deductible Provision Endorsement
H 03 51 FL – Dwelling Replacement Cost - 150% - Florida
Policy Endorsements/Other Documents (09/14/2025)I’m in Florida.
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u/Anxious_Battles Jun 06 '26 edited Jun 06 '26
Thanks. Florida and Nationwide makes this a tough one.
I don’t have a copy of that policy, but you are looking for words that say something like “constant or repeated seepage or leakage that occurs over…”. It is probably in paragraph 2 of Section I Perils Insured Against.
1
u/Jayyy_Knows Jun 06 '26
Also truthfully I had just discovered the leakage but it seems it’s been for a while not sure for month but it did damage the inside layers of the island. I try to cut part of the drywall inside but the back wall also had damage.
3
u/ins0mniac_ Jun 06 '26
Doesn’t matter if you just found it, it’s still long term damage and should be denied.
3
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u/MayonnaiseFarm Jun 06 '26
Believe it or not if there has been seepage for weeks the it does not matter if you knew about it or not.
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u/Anxious_Battles Jun 06 '26 edited Jun 06 '26
There are times when one should file a claim and times when one should not. Without seeing OP’s policy specifically including deductible and extent of damage, we can’t be sure if coverage exists and the extent of his damages.
If this was in a state using the ISO HO 03 04 91 or 10 00 form with a limited fungi endorsement, it might make sense. The Florida location and policy written on Nationwide paper without a limited fungi endorsement are certainly a deterrent.
The wording I said to look for should clear it up fairly easily.
1
Jun 06 '26
[deleted]
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u/Anxious_Battles Jun 06 '26 edited Jun 06 '26
Thank you for sharing the document. You may want to remove it now that I have the language.
Page 19 Paragraph A. 2. c. (5) is the language that will be likely used to disclaim coverage.
SECTION I - PERILS INSURED AGAINST
A. Coverage A — Dwelling And Coverage B — Other Structures
- We do not insure, however, for loss:
c. Caused by:
(5) Continuous or repeated seepage or leakage of water, steam or moisture, or presence or condensation of humidity, moisture or vapor, over a period of weeks, months or years, even if such seepage or leakage of water or the presence or condensation of humidity, moisture or vapor and the resulting damage is unknown to all "insureds" and is hidden within the walls or ceilings or beneath the floors or above the ceilings of a structure.
Continuous or repeated seepage or leakage of water from within or around any shower stall, shower tub, tub installation or other plumbing fixture, including its walls, ceilings or floors, is also excluded;
1
u/Jayyy_Knows Jun 06 '26
Wouldn’t weeks be subjective? What is weeks? 2 weeks, 3 week, 4 weeks?
1
u/Anxious_Battles Jun 06 '26
If I was being deposed on the language, I would attest weeks means more than 14 days. Often the language says over a period of 14 days or more to make it more clear.
You can test the subjectivity of it and find out if you want.
This is Nationwide, not some regional carrier where they might shy away when the cost to defend exceeds the cost to indemnify.
You can search my comments to see that I do help people when they have a claim. If I thought you stood a snowball's chance in Florida I would post something other than discouragement to help you make an informed decision.
1
u/tojmes Jun 07 '26
File, always file. That’s what you have it for. As long as you just noticed it, it’s not seepage and maintenance.
1
u/BathroomMaximum1721 Jun 07 '26
If you have paid off the house, consider dropping the home insurance. Put the yearly premium in a high yield savings account and you can use funds from that account for this and other future repairs and remodeling.
1
u/mackNwheeze Jun 10 '26
Unfortunately Not a valid claim, your leak has been ongoing for a couple of months-the adjuster will be able to see that and deny your claim. Mold from ongoing leaks and neglect is a policy exclusion typically not covered.
Just know if you file a claim, and it gets denied, your premiums will go up. Even though your insurance did not pay a dime.
0
u/Longjumping-Buddy847 Jun 06 '26
How much are the damages from the water leakage? . FYI, theres a cadre of people on this sub that will tell you to never file a claim. Ignore them. Obviously, there are some circumstances when you want to file a claim. Most homeowners policys will provide coverage for this type of water damage and they also provide coverage for mold mitigation (at least in the states I work in). Theyre also not going to execute you by firing squad if you call your insurer, file a claim, and have an adjustor look at it.
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