Wake Up Call about Your Home Insurance: Mold is Not Covered

There have been several cases in the news about the dangers of toxic mold in homes and the reluctance of home insurance companies to pay damages for health related problems that result from homeowners who are exposed to this condition. Many homeowners do not understand why toxic mold is not covered by their home insurance.

But the reason is very simple as far as the insurance company is concerned: toxic mold is not the same as a peril such as fire or windstorm damage; toxic mold is a problem that grows over time and there are several preventative measures that homeowners can take to avoid or rectify this problem before it spreads throughout the house and makes it uninhabitable.

Insurance companies state that regular maintenance of a home can prevent toxic mold from becoming a problem. The presence of mold in a house is not always obvious. The best way to be sure of the health of your house is to have a certified professional inspector perform the tests that will identify if there is mold in your home. This is especially important if you are in the process of purchasing a new home or your home is located in or near a floodplain. There are also mold testing kits available for purchase by homeowners who prefer to check their houses themselves.

Mold is not the same as a leaky pipe that can be repaired. If you discover mold in your home, do not ignore it, have the area where the mold exists removed immediately to prevent it from spreading. Do not make the mistake of simply painting over the area or treating it with disinfectant that will not solve the problem. Maintain cleaning gutters and a solid roof is essential and there are air purifiers on the market that will clean the air of mole spores.

As the debate continues to decide if insurance companies should be responsible for paying claims to homeowners with this problem, it is important for every homeowner to be aware of what their home insurance policy states regarding this condition. Many insurance companies have already included specific exclusions to mold in their coverage benefits. Without insurance coverage if your home develops mold and you do not act immediately to rectify the situation you could face serious risk to your health. Protect yourself and your family, test your house for mold and take preventative measures to avoid this problem.