During the summer, wet weather and high heat might put surfaces at risk of developing mold. While small amounts of mold are often relatively low-risk, accumulations might prove toxic. If mold begins to develop in your home, then you need to remove it as soon as possible. You might wonder if your homeowners insurance might help you do so.

Your home’s insurance might be a benefit when mold develops. But, it will help only in certain circumstances. When you file a claim on your policy, you might have to prove how the mold developed. If you can’t, then you might have no coverage.

Understanding Mold

Mold is a fungus that can develop on hard surfaces when warm air interacts with standing water. There are many types of mold, and some are not a threat. However, certain types of mold might prove deadly if inhaled or ingested by humans. The more mold that accumulates, the more likely it is that such contact will happen. So, if mold begins to develop, you need to dispose of it. Usually, a little bleach or other household cleaner will do the trick.

Mold might develop inside air vents, on walls that are not properly insulated, around exposed piping or behind broken tiling in bathrooms. A small trickle of water might cause a puddle to build up over time, and eventually cause mold to develop.

But the thing about mold is that you usually can stop it well before it becomes a problem. As a result, most homeowners insurance providers won’t cover it.

Insurance for Mold Damage

Most homeowners policies do not cover mold damage because of specific policy language. Policies usually only cover household damage that results from unexpected or unpreventable hazards. So, if you failed to repair a pipe leak that caused mold to develop, then your policy likely won’t compensate you.

However, some mold might have coverage. For example, if a burst pipe causes a flood, then your policy might pay for repairs, cleanup and mold removal. Mold from other hazards might also have coverage if your policy covers the cause.

Yet, if severe weather causes the flood, then a homeowners policy is unlikely to cover it. To insure your property against flood damage, you will have to buy flood insurance. This coverage is separate and different from homeowners coverage.

If you are curious about how best to insure your home against mold damage, talk to your insurance agent. They can tell you where your policy will and won’t help and offer tips on where you might be able to increase your coverage.