Chimneys are covered under your homeowners insurance under the dwelling coverage portion of your policy.
Chimneys can pose a serious risk to your home if not maintained properly. If not cleaned, they could cause a chimney fire, smoke damage to the rest of your home, or even harbor mold infestations
. Whether they're dirty or in need or repairs, you need to maintain them. So, when are chimneys covered by your homeowners insurance? Read on to learn about how your homeowners insurance works with chimney repairs, presented by Jerry
. Does home insurance cover chimney repairs and damage?
Yes, your chimney falls under the dwelling coverage of your home insurance policy because it is considered a structural element of your home. Structural elements are features of your home that you cannot carry away with you (without wrenching them off the wall).
When are chimneys covered by homeowners insurance?
Whether or not your chimney is covered largely depends on how it became damaged or broken.
If your chimney was damaged by a covered peril
on your policy, it will most likely be covered; however, it's important to remember that the coverage provided by most standard homeowners policies is usually limited to unavoidable and unexpected circumstances (namely, fires, lightning strikes, falling objects, and vandalism). Therefore, if your chimney is neglected and causes fire damage as a result, you will likely not be covered.
MORE: How to get smoke smell out of your house
If you need to file a claim
If your chimney has suffered damage due to an unexpected or sudden event, you should file a claim with your insurance company to cover the chimney repair.
The first step to filing a claim is gathering evidence. Compile everything you can that proves that your chimney was damaged in the way you specified. You can do this by taking pictures.
It's also a good idea to hire a professional chimney specialist to inspect your chimney. The specialist will give you a detailed report on what might have caused the damage.
You should also produce any paperwork showing when you last had the chimney cleaned, inspected, or repaired. This shows that you’ve taken steps to keep your chimney maintained. Once you've filed a claim and submitted your evidence, your insurance provider will determine whether or not they will cover your broken or damaged chimney. If the damage costs less than your deductible, it is not worth filing an insurance claim.
If you want additional coverage that is not provided by your policy, it might be worth investing in a home warranty
. Home warranties protect you from big financial losses by covering the repair or replacement cost of home systems or major appliances that aren’t included in a standard home insurance policy. Does home insurance cover chimney fires?
Most often, home insurance won't cover chimney fires. Chimney fires are usually caused by a poorly maintained chimney, and this is the owner's fault.
Fires are a covered peril under home insurance policies, so if some kind of unforeseeable accident with your chimney causes a fire, insurance would pay for it. However, most chimney fires are a result of negligence, which isn't covered by homeowners insurance.
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