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Question: This is regarding an insured who carries an H-O3 5/11 homeowners’ policy. A tree fell on the in ground pool cover and damaged the cover, liner and coping.
To make the repairs to the in-ground pool, the water in the pool will have to be removed and replaced.
The policy language addresses “property not covered” and “water or steam.”
My question is: Would this exclusion apply to the pool water?
— Rhode Island subscriber
Answer: As you stated, in order for the pool cover, lining and coping to be repaired, the water has to be removed from the pool. This is part of the repair, and not coverage for the water itself. However, refilling the pool once the repairs are completed is not covered, since that would be providing coverage for the water. It is not directly part of the repair, as water is excluded with no exceptions.
See also: 15 ways to avoid home insurance claims during the winter holiday season
Underground leaks leads to exorbitant water bill
Question: Our commercial client recently got a water bill that was thousands of dollars. When he called the town to dispute it, they investigated and found a leak in the water main to his building. The leak occurred after the meter, so he was being charged for the increased water usage.
He knows that underground pipes are excluded, but the question is whether the water and increased bill can somehow be claimed under his policy.
— Connecticut subscriber
Answer: It is our opinion that the insured cannot make a claim for the water and the increased bill under the policy. Water is listed under property that’s not covered, so the loss of the water is not insurable under the standard commercial policy.
Broken pipes and water loss costs
Question: I have had two recent scenarios that involve an increased water bill following a covered loss. In both cases, we have substantial increased water usage due to the break in a pipe that is covered. We have always presented this increased water bill as a loss of use claim for increased living expenses as the water is a utility. It has always been paid in the past but recently we have had two denials of coverage for this increased cost. In both cases they are saying that the water falls under coverage C as personal property. Since there is an exclusion for water as personal property they are not covering the increased water bill. Again, we have always presented previous water usage and the increased usage and made claim for an increase in living expenses. What is your thought on this?
— New Hampshire subscriber
Answer: While loss of use is a broad coverage, the insured has to be displaced in order for it to come into play. Water is specifically excluded, and it is not part of coverage A or B. Under older ISO forms it was not excluded, but it is now. Your previous losses that were covered were likely on the old form, and the newer losses are falling under the newer form. The carriers are correct; there is no coverage for the loss of water.
See also: 7 parts of your home to check for winter weather damage