Most homes in Gainesville, FL contain a wide range of valuable electrical equipment, such as wiring, outlets, light fixtures, switches and circuit breaker panels. Many homeowners eventually need to repair or replace some of these devices. Before you call an electrician to schedule professional electrical work, it’s important to know if your home insurance will cover this project.
What’s Covered?
This kind of insurance generally protects your electrical system when a covered incident damages it. Most home policies cover several different events, including fire, lightning, vandalism and explosions. They don’t insure against earthquakes or flooding. Likewise, insurance won’t cover regular updates or improvements, such as replacing fuses with modern circuit breakers. Only a sudden, unexpected event can be covered.
In some cases, home insurance will cover damage caused by power surges. You might also be able to make a claim if an electrical outage results in the loss of refrigerated or frozen food. On the other hand, gradual decay over time doesn’t qualify. Keep in mind that some electrical issues may be covered by equipment, surge protector or home warranties.
Outdated Wiring
Some insurers refuse to cover homes with certain types of antiquated electrical systems. This can be an issue with aluminum and especially knob-and-tube wiring. It’s harder to qualify for insurance because this equipment may increase the risk of fire and/or electric shocks. Updates can help you obtain coverage, but an insurer won’t cover the electrical work involved in this process.
If you’re looking for a policy that can reliably protect electrical equipment and the rest of your home, Peninsula Underwriters Insurance Agency can help. We provide conventional home and mobile home insurance to residents of the Gainesville, FL area. Our independent agency helps homeowners compare different options and find an appropriate solution.
