Will a Homeowner’s Insurance Policy Cover Chimney Damage?
This is a question we get a lot. And fortunately, there’s a fairly simple answer. The Chimney Guys of Pataskala, OH, would like to present some helpful information on the types of chimney damage typically covered and typically not covered by most homeowner’s insurance policies.
Read your policy
If you have an existing homeowner’s policy, read it. There may be a lot of convoluted language and confusing terminology, but somewhere in there, it will outline what the carrier will and won’t cover when a chimney is damaged. Below is a basic treatment of this subject.
Types of chimney damage homeowner’s insurance usually covers
Insurance companies normally cover cases of “unexpected damage,” which might be caused by the following:
- Fallen tree branches
- Lightning strikes
- Earthquakes
- Pounding hail
- Heavy winds
- Chimney fires, in some instances
The insurance policy is in place to protect you against a variety of unexpected events, most of them weather-related, that could damage your chimney and make it unsafe to use.
Situations that normally aren’t covered by insurance
The above instances are things you have no control over. When a chimney becomes damaged because of things you can control, insurance providers may decline your claim.
It’s understood that active chimneys require certain types of maintenance to keep them safe and in good repair. If a homeowner neglects to arrange for this maintenance, insurance carriers consider the result to be “expected damage.” This means that, in the absence of proper maintenance, one should expect certain types of damage in a chimney system.
Again, read your policy for specifics. But for the moment, here are some damage situations homeowner’s policies usually won’t cover.
- Chimney fire damage because of failure to have the chimney swept once a year, as recommended by most fire safety agencies in the United States.
- A house fire that originates in an unmaintained chimney.
- A leaning or collapsed chimney that could have been prevented by having bricks, mortar or other parts of the system repaired.
- Water damage to the chimney or home stemming from a chimney leak that could have been repaired.
Put simply, if the damage could reasonably have been prevented by the homeowner, most insurance carriers will deny the claim.
Chimney maintenance to prevent “expected damage”
Keeping your chimney in good shape and preventing the damage that comes from neglect isn’t difficult. Here are the three keys:
- Annual chimney sweeping
Chimney sweep technicians use specialized tools to remove built-up creosote from the chimney flue. Creosote is highly flammable and causes most reported chimney fires in Ohio each year.
- Chimney inspections
Inspections should also happen once a year. A basic Level 1 chimney inspection will cover all readily accessible areas of your chimney. Your inspector will be looking for existing damage and early signs of problems that could lead to damage. You should receive a report showing the inspector’s findings.
- Chimney repairs
Timely repair work will keep problems from escalating and becoming major issues that could end up destroying some or all of the chimney and nullifying homeowner’s insurance claims. Common repairs include:
- Masonry repair and brick replacement
- Chimney crown rebuilding and resealing
- Chimney cap repair and replacement
- Chimney flashing repair and installation
- Chimney relining and liner repair
The right solution for your Ohio chimney
The Chimney Guys is here to keep your chimney safe, clean and efficient. We provide CSIA-certified chimney sweeping, inspections and all manner of repair work. Give us a call for more information or to schedule service. You can also reach us through our contact form.
