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The property owner's rental dwelling sustained water damage when the water softener tank ruptured. The coverage provided is for basic named perils. In other words, accidental water discharge is not one of the perils. However, we are wondering if the explosion peril might apply. The explosion perils reads as follows: Explosion, including the explosion of gases or fuel within the furnace of any vessel or within the flues or passages of such vessel from which the gases of combustion pass.

The water softener container ruptured at the seam. It is believed that over time the container weakened and the normal pressure caused the seam to let go. There was a bang sound when the seam let go, but there was no violent bursting of tank parts, just the release of the water in the container. Your opinion on this would be appreciated.

North Dakota Subscriber

Merriam Webster Online defines "explosion" as "a large-scale, rapid, or spectacular expansion or bursting out or forth." The policy references gases, fuel, and combustion, none of which is water; water is not combustible. Courts are split on the explosion issue although reviewing a number of cases your situation does not seem to fit; the following article should be helpful: Explosion Coverage.

In your situation the container just weakened, and while there was a bang, there was no combustion, so there is no coverage.

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