So you have ice dams and are wondering will insurance cover ice dam steaming. We have extensive knowledge about insurance company’s covering ice dam steaming costs but every insurance company is different. A lot of our association members have great success getting the property owner or themselves paid through insurance companies. Insurance companies pay because our members use the correct ice dam removal procedures. The short answer is yes, sometimes insurance companies will cover the cost of ice dam steaming. Generally if the insurance company sees that the damage being done to the inside of the property will increase greatly and put them at a greater pay out level they will generally want to pay for the cheaper fix. Generally the price of ice dam removal is cheaper than the interior repairs. Call IDSAFE # 612-460-0474 to learn more.
On the contrary many insurance claims will be denied because the adjuster will find that the property owner “neglected” the property by failing to remove the snow from the roof as necessary. So it is always a good idea to be able to prove to the adjuster that you have tried everything within your power to prevent the ice dams from forming and the roof from leaking.
One of the biggest ways insurance companies avoid paying is this example:
You notice icicles coming through your sofits as pictured above and call the insurance company to make a claim. The adjuster comes out, looks at the property and says we won’t pay because no damage is being done. This is where education is key! Damage is being done to the home regardless if the water is leaking inside the home or through the soffits etc. The water is under the roofing materials and is damaging the roof deck and other wood such as the trusses! This is especially true if the ice is brown as pictured! When you see water or ice through the soffits or on the siding it is time to make the call and file a claim. Don’t wait till water is in your building. If the insurance company doesn’t want to pay before the water enters the building that is their mistake.
If you have additional questions regarding will insurance cover ice dam steaming please contact us for assistance. We reply quickly!