When you think about "worst case scenarios" in regard to your home, you probably envision catastrophic damage, but then relax knowing that you have insurance.

However, misconceptions and bad information can arguably cause you more grief than the worst storm, flood or incident. Many people assume that since they have home insurance, they are protected for anything that might happen to, and within their properties.

Unfortunately, there are a several areas that are not always covered by standard home insurance, and it is important that you are aware of them. Two such examples are sewer backups / sump pump failure and Ice Dam damage.

Many people mistakenly believe that sewer backups are the responsibility of the municipal government, or wrongfully assume sewer backups are covered as a standard part of home insurance. This is not the case, and in the event of a sewer backup, your home could be damaged in the order of tens of thousands of dollars.

Last year, the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) released a major study about homeowner perception of sewer backups. They found that despite millions of dollars in damages occurring each year from backups, many people are still unaware of their own coverage in this regard.

ICLR concluded that since heavy rainfall and sewer backups are unpredictable, homeowners who aren’t sure if they have this type of coverage should check their policies or call their insurance brokers or insurance companies.

Ice Dam damage is another issue that is especially relevant to those of us who live in the north. Ice Dam damage is caused by snow that melts on your roof and re-freezes, building up a layer of ice at the edge of your roof.

Ice dams themselves are caused by heat build-up in your attic and inadequate ventilation. The result is water backing up through your shingles and into your attic and wherever else gravity allows water to flow, including interior walls and ceilings.

One warning sign is an abundance of icicles on your roof. If you notice this, then you may have a problem that needs to be corrected. More importantly however, is that you review your policy to make sure you are properly covered.

At Dawson & Keenan we believe that you deserve the right information before you make any decisions about insurance. We’re happy to talk to our current customers and anyone else about insurance myths, misconceptions and issues.

Give us a call today and make sure you’re properly prepared, adequately insured, and have nothing to worry about in regards to your home insurance.