5 things no insurance company will cover

Exclusion 1 – Damage caused by animals and insects

Have insects, vermin, birds, rodents, raccoons or bats damaged your property? Unfortunately, you’ll have to cover the costs since no home insurance covers this type of loss. The only exception is damage to windows. For example, if a large bird flies into a glass window and breaks it, you’re covered. It’s a good idea to have a look around your home in the fall and plug any openings or cover them with wire mesh.

Exclusion 2 – Some types of water damage

Your insurance policy protects you against some types of water damage, either through your basic policy or with endorsements. But according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), some types of water damage are never covered, including damage caused by continuous or repeated leaks or spills, whether the insured knows about them or not. “Examples of this can include a cracked pipe in the basement that’s been dripping for months, a toilet that overflows repeatedly, or a 25-year-old hot water heater that’s slowly draining via a hole caused by rust,” said Suzanne Michaud, CAA-Quebec Vice President, Insurance. Note that the average lifespan of a hot water heater is 10 to 15 years. After 10 years you should start thinking about replacing it.

Exclusion 3 – Gradual damaged caused over time

Your house needs maintenance such as new roofing, but you put it off year after year. As a result, water infiltration causes mold and rot in the attic. Unfortunately you won’t get any compensation because the damage occurred over time. You should be aware that damage to property caused by wear and tear, gradual or intermittent deterioration, rust, corrosion, moisture, excessive temperatures, rot, fungi, or spores is not covered, unless it is directly caused by a covered loss. For example, say there’s a fire in your kitchen and you have to rebuild the walls. If you find mold when you tear down the walls, you’ll receive compensation because the main cause of the damage is still fire. However, if you discovered mold in adjacent walls that were not affected by the fire, they would have to be repaired at your own expense.

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Exclusion 4 – Natural disasters caused by ground motion

Damage caused directly or indirectly by naturally occurring ground motion such as earthquakes, landslides, settling, or erosion or even freezing and thawing, cold, heat, dry conditions, irrigation, or drainage is excluded from basic home insurance policies. “These exclusions apply regardless of the existence of any other cause or covered loss that may have contributed to the damage,” said Suzanne Michaud. Even if you have coverage for a problem that was involved in the damage but is not the cause, you’re not covered. It should be noted, however, that additional coverage exists for earthquakes, although it remains relatively unpopular in Quebec due to its high price.

Check out our tips to learn more about additional coverage and services that can be added to your policy.

Exclusion 5 – Damage caused by pollution

Pollution refers to the emission, release, exhaust, or dispersal of pollutants. You could be affected if you live near a plant that releases pollutants and contaminants into the air, for example. The pollution could damage your property by changing the colour of your exterior siding, for example.