When Does Home Insurance Cover Mold?

Mold is a problem that all too many homeowners in San Francisco have had to deal with at one point or another. Not only does untreated mold cause structural damage, it also poses some serious health risks. But can you file an insurance claim for mold remediation?

Because it so often accompanies water damage, you would think that mold removal would be covered in your home insurance policy. However, most insurance policies do not cover property damage from mold or the cost of mold removal.

Here’s more about when mold is covered by home insurance and when you can file a claim for mold removal.

When Does Home Insurance Cover Mold?

Home insurance only covers sudden or accidental damage.

Standard home insurance policies do not cover mold remediation unless it was the result of a problem already covered in the policy. For example, if your policy covers water damage from a burst pipe, and mold grew in your walls because of that damage, it might cover the cost of mold removal.

Home insurance does not cover preventable damage.

If the mold was caused by neglect, typical wear and tear, a construction issue, or a bad repair, the insurance provider won’t cover it. For instance, mold that grew because of a leaky pipe would not be covered, because it was due to "preventable damage” from gradual wear or poor installation.

Schedule a mold inspection and file a claim as soon as possible.

If your home ever suffers any type of water damage, you should schedule a professional mold inspection. Mold can start growing in as little as 24 hours, but it’s not always easy to detect.

A mold inspector knows exactly what to look for and will be able to take air and surface samples to test for dangerous levels of mold. If they do find mold, they can help you document the damage for your claim and give you an estimate for mold remediation.

The sooner you deal with mold, the better, and the same goes for filing a claim. If you have mold from structural damage that is covered by your homeowners insurance, you may be able to get reimbursed for mold remediation. But if you wait too long, there won’t be enough proof that the mold problem started because of sudden or accidental damage.

Some insurance riders will cover mold remediation.

If you live in a humid climate like San Francisco, you might want to find a homeowners insurance policy that covers mold removal. Review your current policy to see what it includes—if it does not cover mold remediation, you should consider adding additional coverage.

Depending on your provider, you may be able to add supplemental insurance that covers things like water backups or hidden water damage. Some flood insurance policies will also cover mold that resulted from a flood.

Affordable Mold Remediation in San Francisco

Even in cases where mold removal is covered, there is typically a limit on how much the policy will pay. But you can keep the costs of mold remediation low by avoiding demolition. My Pure Environment uses a patented “dry fog" method that gives great results without the need for any costly demo or cleanup.

Protect your health and your home—our dry fog mold remediation is safe, quick, and effective. It won’t cause any further damage, and it’s guaranteed by our experts to keep your home mold-free for the next 365 days. For mold inspections and remediation services in the San Francisco Bay Area, call My Pure Environment at 415-687-5374 today.

Photo by Daniel Abadia on Unsplash used with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 3/31/2023.