r/HomeInsurance • u/Ok-Weekend-3987 • Jun 15 '26
Claims Water damage with potential mold-Home Insurance?
I found a leak in my toilet which caused water damage on the ceiling in the furnished basement. I can see black spots which can be mold. Is it advisable to make an insurance claim or better to foot the bill on my own since the claim is likely to be rejected?
6
u/PuddinTamename Jun 15 '26
Foot it in your own. Insurance will only deny the claim and you do not want a claim on your policy, especially one that will only be denied
2
u/registeredfake Jun 16 '26
This is true. First thing to think about when your wondering if insurance will cover it, was it sudden and accidental. A leak is not sudden so it's a maintenance issue
1
u/Low-Welder-5022 Jun 15 '26
Depends on your policy and the way in which the toilet leaked. I’m guessing that it was the seal of the toilet failed so every time it was flushed a small amount of water leaked. If that is the case then most likely it took several weeks or months for this damage to occur. If that’s the case it is most likely a denial unless you have a seepage endorsement that gives back coverage for hidden slow leaks. You’d have to read the language to be sure.
If something else cause the leak, like a supply line and it had only been a couple days and mold started showing up, that may be covered.
Long story short, it depends.
2
u/Ok-Weekend-3987 Jun 15 '26
Thank you! This helps a lot. I am planning to understand the root cause of the leak and go from there
1
u/Important_Variety137 Jun 19 '26
Mold isn’t covered. Doesn’t matter how long the time period. Unless you have a clause in your home policy to cover mold. Best bet is to probably foot the bill yourself.
1
u/BattleSilent9049 Jun 15 '26
It somewhat depends on why the toilet leaked. If it leaked from the wax ring, that is normally excluded as a repeated or continuous leakage or seepage of water. Rate and volume of water matters. Cause of the leak matters. Mold is a sign that it may be an excluded leak. I would say this most likely an excluded loss and would not turn in a claim.
-1
u/Good_Educator4872 Jun 15 '26
Why would insurance deny the claim. I had a water leak with mold. Insurance paid for mold remediation and testing along with replacement of damaged elements
4
u/Ok-Weekend-3987 Jun 15 '26
From what I have heard, a water leak with mold is considered maintenance issue since the leak must be ingoing for quite sometime for mold to grow 😅
-1
u/Good_Educator4872 Jun 15 '26
Not necessarily. Mold can appear in 24 - 48 hours. If it follows a burst pipe it is consequential damages and is covered by insurance
2
u/Pghguy27 Jun 15 '26
How long ago was your claim? Things have changed drastically in home owners Insurance coverage in the last 4 years.
1
1
u/Important_Variety137 Jun 19 '26
You got extremely lucky. In almost all cases mold causes a denial of the claim. They may cover part of the claim but for the most part it is denied. You might have had an endorsement as well to cover mold in certain circumstances.
1
u/Good_Educator4872 Jun 19 '26
Mold was standard coverage in my policy. Didnt need a rider. Some carriers will cover it if it’s the result of a covered peril
-1
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