Rain gutters are an important part of your home’s construction that help maintain the property’s exterior. When rain gutters are installed correctly and kept clean, they serve the essential function of keeping moisture away from your structure. If your rain gutters are broken or coming away from the side of your home, then you may have a problem.
Won’t My Home Insurance Cover Damaged Rain Gutters?
The answer to the question of coverage is maybe. It’s important to read your policy to determine what the covered perils are. In the home insurance industry, a peril means a specific cause of damage. Perils are also known as risks on your homeowner’s policy. The most common covered perils on home insurance policies are fire, smoke, lightning strikes, vandalism, theft and damage from falling objects.
Certain Scenarios That Might Be Considered A Covered Peril
Here’s the deal: if your rain gutters need to be repaired due to a tree falling on the house, then your homeowner’s insurance may accept the claim. Other scenarios that could possibly be covered by insurance are weather-related incidents like ice, wind or snowstorm causing damage to your rain gutters. If your home is vandalized and the criminal decides to pull the rain gutters, then you have a good chance of this being covered.
What Your Homeowner’s Insurance Won’t Cover
If your rain gutters are in disrepair due to lack of maintenance or because they’re past their prime, then it’s unlikely that your policy will consider this a covered peril. As a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to maintain them. This means cleaning and checking them for wear and tear on a regular schedule.
Something else to be aware of when it comes to filing a claim is that your claim could be denied if the claims adjuster finds the damage was caused by your own lack of maintenance. For example, if you make a claim for water damage that was caused by a broken rain gutter, then the claim may be denied due to a failure to keep the property well maintained.
Rain Gutter Maintenance Is Important
Make cleaning your gutters a regular part of your home maintenance routine. You should remove all leaves, debris, and moss that could clog the rain gutters. Check your gutters to ensure they’re secure, and check your downspouts to make sure they’re clear. You can direct water runoff away from your home using splash blocks or piping.
Additional Gutter Maintenance & Repair Help in San Antonio
We can assist you with your insurance claims to get your gutters repaired or replaced in no time. Contact us today for the best quality rain gutters in Texas.