Yes, homeowners insurance covers chimney repairs if the damage was caused by a covered loss. But chimneys that are damaged due to normal wear and tear or carelessness. However, chimneys that are damaged due to normal wear and tear or carelessness would not be covered. Homeowners insurance generally covers chimney repairs if the damage is caused by a covered hazard. Covered hazards often include unexpected and sudden events, such as lightning strikes, fires, and storm damage.
For example, if lightning struck the chimney and caused it to break or lean, your insurance will likely cover repair costs. Likewise, if a tree falls on the chimney during a storm, repairing the damage is usually covered. When it comes to covering chimney damage, your homeowners insurance policy will likely cover repairs, replacement, or even complete reconstruction of the chimney, if necessary. The policy also covers any cleaning or debris removal involved in the process. Of course, coverage for repair processes only applies if the original damage is the result of a covered hazard.
Even so, you should look for a professional chimney cleaning service at least once a year to keep everything in good condition. Chimneys that are old, poorly maintained, or need improvement or improvement before damage occurs are generally not covered by insurance policies; for example, a chimney that collapses due to pre-existing structural defects. In addition to annual chimney cleaning, there are some other good habits essential for chimney maintenance. But if the chimney fire was due to negligence and poor maintenance, your insurance company may not cover the damage, so it's a good idea to keep your chimney free of soot and anything else that could cause unexpected fires.
One of the biggest obstacles you can face when filing an insurance claim for damage caused by a chimney is that the insurance company accuses you of neglecting to maintain the chimney and, therefore, you feel complacent about the damage caused. In fact, I used to have several appraisers who would call me to inspect the chimneys on which were claiming. Homeowners insurance can also cover chimneys that collapse due to the weight of sleet, ice or snow, but it may not cover chimney repairs if they were already damaged before the collapse. If lightning strikes the chimney and causes it to shed bricks or lean, homeowners insurance would cover chimney repairs and damage to your home if it collapsed.
Chimney Doctors is ready to help you process the insurance claim process for repairing your chimney masonry. But even if the fire was caused by not having made every reasonable effort to keep the chimney clean, chimney repairs are covered. Your full-service chimney inspection report can be sent to your insurance after your appointment. Ultimately, the final decision regarding your home insurance, the scope of chimney repair, and when your chimney needs to be repaired is determined by your insurance policy, the company you're insured with, and the agent you're working with on the claim.
Because many types of chimney damage occur over the normal course of time, or because the chimney was not properly maintained, many chimney claims are denied. If a covered hazard, such as a falling tree, caused the chimney to sag and you can show that you took the necessary steps to repair it, homeowners insurance can cover any damage to the property and the costs of restoring the chimney. Inspections can help identify problems before they worsen, while a chimney sweep removes soot, creosote and other blockages that could cause chimney fires.
