Mold removal is only covered when the source of the mold is a hazard already covered by your home insurance policy, such as water damage. Standard home insurance policies protect you from water damage caused by sudden and accidental incidents, such as a broken pipe or an overflow caused by a malfunction of the air conditioning unit. Homeowners insurance usually doesn't cover mold damage or removal, unless it's the result of a covered hazard. If the mold in your home was caused by something sudden or accidental, such as a broken pipe or some other incident covered by your policy, you can be protected.
However, if mold has existed for weeks or longer, your policy probably won't cover the costs. If your policy doesn't exclude mold damage from covered losses, it's best to separate mold repair costs from other repair costs. FEMA recommends hiring a mold remediation specialist who is affiliated or certified by the National Environmental Health Association, the American Industrial Hygiene Association, the Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification Institute, or the American Accredited Certification Council. In addition, if other people in your household show similar symptoms for a long period of time, you may have a mold problem.
Some policies may have exceptions to the exclusions and will offer minimal coverage for mold contamination. For example, if your washing machine suddenly leaks and black mold forms on the floor, a housing policy will likely pay to remove mold. However, coverage for sump pump and water reserve failures may not resolve gradual problems, such as water seeping through the foundation of the house. You may be covered for the sudden mold-related incidents specified in your policy, such as a water heater bursting and flooding your basement, causing mold afterwards.
Home insurance will not cover the remediation and removal of mold, unless the mold is the result of a covered hazard, and coverage is often limited. Generally, a homeowners policy pays for mold damage only if it's caused by a covered problem, such as a broken pipe. If you think there is mold in your home, here are some tips for successfully processing your claim. Usually, home insurance will cover mold, fungus, or spores if they were the result of a specific problem covered by your policy.
If mold is not listed as an exclusion in your home insurance policy and the provider denies your claim, you can appeal the judgment to the insurer. It's almost impossible to keep your home mold-free all the time, but with proper maintenance, you can prevent mold from getting out of hand. For example, if storm damage soaks up the drywall in your bedroom and mold forms, the contractor is likely to charge you a mold remediation fee. But will your homeowners insurance cover mold or pay the cost of removing it? Before you file a mold damage claim, it's important to know your home insurance coverage.
Similarly, if a broken pipe causes extensive water damage and causes mold, your home policy can provide coverage to eliminate mold as part of the mitigation effort to restore your property.
