Generally speaking, the answer is sometimes your homeowners insurance policy may help cover broken windows. However, your coverage can only come in depending on the cause of the damage.
For instance, if the broken window was because of a storm or falling tree, then it may be covered. But if the broken windows were simply because of negligence or poor maintenance, then your home insurance policy may not help pay for the repairs or replacements.
When Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Broken Windows?
Insurance coverage for broken windows depends on how the damage happened. Generally, home insurance covers sudden, accidental damage, but it does not cover irregular maintenance issues.
The key factor in whether the policy kicks in or not is what caused the window to be broken. Dwelling coverage in your home insurance policy protects your home’s structure from different perils (causes of loss). If your window breaks because of a covered peril, your insurance policy will likely pay for the repairs.
However, you need to keep in mind that what’s covered can vary by policy. Your home insurance can be either named-peril or open-peril. A named-peril policy only helps to cover specific listed perils, such as:
- Fire and smoke
- Lightning
- Windstorms and hail
- Explosions
- malicious mischief or vandalism
- Damage from an aircraft or vehicle
- Theft
- Falling objects
- Weight of ice, snow, or sleet
- Volcanic eruption
- Accidental water overflow or steam
- Sudden and accidental tearing apart, bulging, cracking, or burning of some specific household systems
- Freezing
- Sudden and accidental damage from artificially generated electrical current
Open-peril policies, also known as all-risk policies in homeowners policies, cover any peril unless that is being excluded specifically. Common exclusions include damage from intentional acts, floods, earthquakes, war, and many more.
In some states or areas within a certain state, windstorm damage is excluded from coverage. In certain cases, wind damage will be covered but may be subjected to either a wind/hail deductible or a hurricane deductible.
When Doesn’t Home Insurance Cover Broken Windows?
The mistake most people make when purchasing a homeowners insurance policy is thinking it covers everything or damages that occur in the home. Always keep in mind that home insurance will not help to cover maintenance issues like dry rot or drafty windows.
For instance, if condensation builds up between double-pane windows because of a broken seal, your insurance provider won’t pay for the repair or replacement.
To know if your insurance will cover a certain window damage, you will need to check your policy for a list of covered perils. For instance, if a windstorm blows through and flying debris breaks a large window, the damage would be covered since windstorms is listed as a covered peril.
How Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Broken Windows?
Just as we all know, home insurance contains different categories of coverage. The coverage for broken windows may fall under different types of coverage, depending on where and how the damage happened.
The first thing to discuss is your dwelling coverage. This will kick in for damages caused to the windows that are part of the structure of your primary residence structure. However, if a window was damaged in a shed or your garage, that claim will fall under your other structures coverage.
But what will happen if you or someone in your home accidentally causes damage to your neighbor’s window? In this case, you will have to pay for the damage. And the homeowners liability coverage part of your policy may help you cover the costs.
Will My Homeowners Insurance Policy cover broken window seals?
Usually, broken window seals are caused by poor maintenance, negligence, or normal wear and tear. It is not always caused by unexpected or accidental events such as vandalism or hail. And due to this reason, homeowners insurance does not cover broken window seals.
Deductibles and Broken Windows
You will have to pay for deductible first before any coverage for your broken windows starts. The deductible is known as the money you will pay toward a claim that is covered before your insurers pay the rest. Usually, when you purchase your policy, you will get the chance to choose your deductible amount.
Always remember that if the cost to repair the window is less than your deductible, the insurance company won’t reimburse you. The coverage limits of your policy may also apply. This means that the insurer will only pay you for the repairs up to the limit listed in your policy for a covered loss.
