In Texas, many homes use a boiler as a heat source. Sometimes this device may not work properly due to various issues and it can damage your property. Attorney Bill Voss explains the specific risks of boilers to property and what you need to do if a boiler explodes or fails to increase your home damage insurance claim.
Risks associated with boilers
While many homes use a boiler as a heat source, it can come with some risks and dangers. Boilers at home can have the following risks:
If you have a boiler at home, it is important to keep the area around it free of debris and clutter. Items near the boiler are at risk of fire. It is also important to inspect the boiler annually and keep up with any routine maintenance or service.
In the event of a boiler failure or explosion, you will need to take care of this as soon as possible to ensure that your home is safe. You may need to turn off the gas to your home, stop any other water leakage, or clean up damage from a boiler failure to prevent additional damage. It is important to contact your insurance company as soon as possible to file a boiler damage claim. Your policy may have certain time limits for doing so, and you’ll need to make sure you follow them to recover damages. The insurance company will send a corrector to document the damage to your home. You have to be there to point out anything and everything that has been damaged as a result of a boiler failure or exploding.
Property Insurance Options for Boiler Cover
When choosing an insurance policy, it is important to have the appropriate coverage for the type of equipment in your home. This includes covering the boiler used for heating. It is important to review and understand your insurance policy to ensure that it covers boilers. Not every policy is the same, so depending on your specific policy, some things may not be included or covered. If you have questions or aren’t sure what’s covered, ask your insurance agent to explain your policy coverage.
In a standard homeowner’s policy, boiler malfunctions may be covered under certain conditions, such as:
- The boiler collapses due to the explosion
- The boiler was destroyed in a natural disaster (A natural disaster may include fires, windstorms, or hailstorms. However, floods, mudslides, and earthquakes are usually not included in a standard homeowner’s policy and require the purchase of additional coverage.)
In addition, standard policies usually do not cover boiler breakdown due to the following:
- Misuse
- Improper installation
- Failure to maintain equipment properly
- general wear and tear
Denied or underpaid claims
If your insurance company rejects an insurance claim or underpays it due to an explosion or boiler failure, you must do the following immediately:
- Keep a record of all interactions between the insurance agent and you
- Document any damage from a boiler explosion or collapse to provide evidence of your loss (this can include photos of the damage and any receipts.)
- Contact insurance claims attorneys such as The Voss Law Firm to discuss your case and help protect your rights and increase the value of your claim
Contact us to help with your claim
If you have suffered damage to your property due to a boiler collapse or explosion and have been treated unfairly by an insurance company, an experienced insurance claims attorney at Voss Law Firm can work to protect your legal rights and increase the value of your claim. To find out more or to schedule a free initial consultation, complete our online contact form or call our office at 888-614-7730. We’ve recovered billions of dollars in settlements for our policyholders’ clients and don’t charge any fees unless we win your case.
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