A house is the biggest purchase most people ever make, and they protect this investment with reliable home insurance. However, no policy covers every possible danger to the house. This leaves nervous homeowners with questions such as whether their policy will cover fire damage. 

Are you curious about whether your policy comes with fire coverage? Or maybe you want to brush up on what to know before wildfire season? To get answers to these questions and more, keep reading to discover how home insurance for fires works. 

Understanding Fire Coverage in Home Insurance 

Wondering if your own policy will cover a fire at your house? First and foremost, it is important to review your specific policy. No two policies are exactly alike, and you may have more (or perhaps less) protection than is found in standard policies. 

This guide will focus on what such standard policies cover and what is and is not typically covered with home fire insurance. In most cases, you can change your carrier whenever you want, and this information may help you determine whether it is time to get a better homeowners insurance policy. 

What Standard Home Insurance Typically Covers 

You may be asking yourself, “What does homeowners insurance cover?” A standard homeowners insurance policy provides protection for the house itself, detached structures (like garages or decks), and personal property. It also provides for additional living expenses that can help pay for a hotel and other costs associated with temporarily moving somewhere else while your home is repaired or rebuilt. 

Types of Fires Usually Covered by Policies 

Standard home insurance for fires is pretty robust. It will cover fires started by electrical damage, fire pit mishaps, and most other accidental fires. It is always recommended that you use and maintain smoke detectors to mitigate the chances of such an accident. 

Does Home Insurance Cover Wildfires? 

In California and other places, wildfire season presents a major risk to homes. No matter what precautions homeowners take (including installing smoke detectors and placing flammable objects well away from the house), their house may still be caught in a spreading wildfire. 

Does home insurance for fires actually protect you during wildfire season? The answer to that is complex, but this guide will cover everything you need to know. 

How Wildfire Coverage Varies by Location 

Some areas are more prone to wildfires than others. Accordingly, home fire insurance protection may vary. In areas where wildfires are prevalent, there may be higher premiums, strict coverage limits, and/or separate deductibles. In some areas, select insurance carriers may severely restrict the kinds of policies they offer to homeowners. 

What to Know If You Live in a High-Risk Area 

If you live in a high-risk area for wildfires, it is vital to review your policy and speak with your carrier to verify what is and is not covered. You may need to subsequently change or update your policy and take preventive measures to mitigate the risk of your home catching fire. It is also important to review state options, such as the FAIR plan in California, which offers protection to those who otherwise cannot get a policy. 

When Fire Damage Might Not Be Covered 

Aside from wildfires, there are other instances where fire damage may not be covered by most types of homeowners insurance policies. And in far too many cases, homeowners do not learn about these coverage restrictions until it is too late. 

What are these restrictions, and how can you review your own policy to ensure you are protected? Below, you will find the answers needed to give your home and family the protection they deserve. 

Common Exclusions in Fire Coverage 

The biggest exclusion when it comes to home insurance for fires is that no self-inflicted damage is covered. If the family child deliberately sets something on fire, for example, it will not be covered. Additionally, the policy will not pay out if an accidental fire was caused by poor maintenance, including faulty wiring that the homeowners should have previously repaired. 

How to Read the Fine Print in Your Policy 

When reviewing your homeowners policy, start by reviewing the limits on your dwelling, detached structures, and personal property coverage. See if there are words regarding wildfires, including special sublimits that limit payouts. Be sure to carefully review the exclusions to get a better idea of what perils are not covered by your policy. 

Enhancing Your Coverage for Better Protection 

Nobody wants to deal with a house fire. However, it is important to take precautions now to ensure you have enough financial protection in the future. 

For example, you may wish to get additional riders and add-ons to strengthen your fire coverage. Or you may wish to change to a different carrier altogether that can better provide the exact kinds of service and protection you need. 

Riders and Add-Ons to Strengthen Your Policy 

Many carriers offer special fire insurance riders that are worth the extra coverage because they protect against perils not normally covered. You can also get policy add-ons that add additional protection for your personal property (such as expensive jewelry collections or high-end electronics) or even HVAC equipment, all of which may be damaged in a fire and not sufficiently covered by your standard policy. 

Tips for Choosing the Right Fire Insurance 

After reviewing your policy, you may decide you need to update things or switch to a new carrier altogether. When doing so, try to find a policy offering the most robust protection at the best possible price. Because you can typically switch policies at any time, you should shop around for a local carrier like InsureOne that offers the best protection at the most competitive prices. 

Protect Your Home from Fire Risks with the Right Coverage 

Now you know the most important things about home insurance for fires. This includes what is and is not covered, how you can protect your house, and what riders and add-ons are most important. But do you know which carrier is ready to give your home the protection it deserves? 

At InsureOne, we specialize in protecting your house from fires and other future threats. When you are ready for the best prices and customer service, as well as the best coverage, come get a quote online. Of course, you can also pick up the phone and give us a quick call at 800-836-2240. Finally, feel free to come find an InsureOne office near you. 

Even if you have great homeowners insurance, filing a claim is usually a stressful experience that includes plenty of paperwork. On top of that, if you do have to file a claim, your premium is likely to increase afterward. 

Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to keep your house safe and make it less likely you’ll need to use your homeowners insurance. Keep reading to discover the top home insurance claims and how to avoid them! 

Water Damage: Tips to Protect Your Home from Floods and Leaks 

Water damage is one of the top home insurance claims, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s easy for pipes to burst, for washing machines to malfunction, or for toilets to leak. The end result is the same: The water spreads and can cause more damage than you might think. 

In this case, avoiding insurance claims is as simple as improving your house maintenance. Regularly inspect your pipes and insulate outside pipes during colder weather so they don’t burst. Finally, you’ll need to inspect your appliances and your plumbing on a schedule to make sure no flooding accidents occur. 

Burglary: Preventing Break-Ins and Keeping Your Home Secure 

The good news is that burglary and theft are some of the rarest reasons for filing home insurance claims. It’s still scary to imagine someone breaking into your house. With a few easy steps, though, you can reduce the odds of getting burglarized even further. 

Consider installing security cameras inside and outside your house, and be sure to lock all doors and windows when they are not open. Finally, you should turn interior lights on and leave a car parked in the driveway if possible to make people think someone is inside the house when you are on vacation. 

Fire Damage: Tips for Fire Prevention and Safe Use of Home Appliances 

House fires are a very common source of insurance claims. Cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the United States, but fire can also be a result of frayed wires, overcrowded outlets, and other sources of electrical damage inside the house. 

Fire is particularly scary because it causes plenty of damage in a short amount of time. Once again, our best advice to avoid making a claim is to reduce fire risks and increase your ability to detect small problems before they get bigger. Make sure to install smoke alarms and do regular inspections and maintenance of your home heating system. Repair any damaged wires, don’t overcrowd outlets, and unplug your appliances when you aren’t using them. 

Natural Disasters: Preparing for Hurricane, Tornado, and Earthquake Damage 

Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes are often referred to as “acts of God.” Because of this, many homeowners think there is no way to prepare for the damage caused by these events. On that matter, we have good news and bad news.  

The bad news is that you can’t keep a natural disaster from happening. The good news is that with the right preparation, you can be ready for the damage and potentially keep yourself from having to file a home insurance claim. 

First things first: Your safety and that of your family is paramount. Have a home emergency kit with canned food, water, medicine, batteries, flashlights, and anything else you may need to survive in the event of an emergency.  

Trim trees and other greenery so your roof and windows have less chance of impact during high winds. Inside the house, you need to put away any light objects that might turn into flying projectiles during a tornado, hurricane, or earthquake.  

To avoid such objects and stay safe during these events, make sure you have a safe room to escape to that is as low to the ground as possible. 

The Importance of Routine Maintenance: Preventing Insurance Claims for Wear and Tear 

Most of the time, things like home appliances don’t suddenly break overnight. Instead, they break down due to wear and tear. A malfunctioning washing machine can end up flooding your basement, so it’s fair to say that wear and tear has the potential to cause some serious damage. 

You can avoid having to file home insurance claims by inspecting areas most in danger of damage over time. That means regularly checking on your HVAC system, monitoring your plumbing, inspecting your roof, and cleaning your gutters. If you aren’t skilled enough to inspect or repair the HVAC or plumbing, make sure to have them checked out by someone you trust. 

Don’t Fall Short: Safety Advice for Avoiding Home Insurance Claims Due to Accidents 

Unfortunately, another potential source of future home insurance claims is that someone injures themselves on your property. In those cases, you may need the liability protection of your coverage in order to pay your legal fees and their medical bills. 

To prevent this from happening, make sure to keep your dog leashed around visitors, and consider putting up a warning sign for more aggressive breeds. Pick up toys that anyone might trip on, and make sure to cover or fence off common potential hazards like swimming pools. Finally, make sure you childproof your front yard and consider buying some slip-proof rugs that reduce the odds of anyone slipping while walking. 

Protect Yourself with the Best Home Insurance Available 

Now you know the best ways to avoid having to file a home insurance claim. But do you know where to find the best coverage to protect you if disaster strikes? 

Here at InsureOne, we’re the experts when it comes to protecting families just like yours. When you’re ready to give your family the protection they deserve, we’re always ready for you to get a quote online. Alternatively, you can pick up the phone and give us a quick call at 800-836-2240. Finally, feel free to come into one of our nearby offices at your earliest convenience! 

Emergency family plan

While the majority of us would rather not think about such things as disasters, having an emergency family plan to include your dog or cat makes a lot of sense. Keeping them comfortable and safe can make it easier for you to deal with their anxiety as well as yours.

Below are some valuable emergency planning tips for families with pets courtesy of Ready.com:

• Prepare your pet for an emergency

• Keep an ID on your pet

This should include your home address and/or phone number on a tag attached to your pet’s collar. Many states require pets to have a microchip implanted in case the tags fall off. If your pet doesn’t have one, you may want to consider having it done.

• Have a current or recent photo of your pet on hand
  Should it become necessary to identify your pet in the event the tags are lost and no microchip is available, take a photo of your pet to show around. You can print them ahead of time to create a “lost pet” flyer. Or, use your cellphone to share the photo on social media.

• Identify shelters or pet-friendly hotels

Do a little research ahead of an unforeseen disaster by listing the phone numbers and addresses of local shelters, boarding facilities and pet-friendly hotels where you can stay or drop off your pet in an emergency.

• Security a priority

When disaster strikes, pets can panic and run away. If you anticipate a serious weather event, you may want to keep a secure pet carrier, crate or harness so your pet can be controlled and stay safe.

• Pet emergency kit

Just as you should have an emergency kit for your family, your pet should have his own emergency supply kit. Store several cans of moist dog food to reduce the need for water along with blankets, bottled water, pet first-aid supplies, veterinary records, medications, an extra collar and leash, food dishes and other pet-specific supplies, such as cat litter.

• Create a buddy plan

In other words, talk with your friends and neighbors to set up a buddy plan to care for each other’s pets in case of an emergency. That way, should disaster strike, and one person isn’t home, another can take in the animals to keep them safe until the owner returns. Decide on a specific meeting place to join up after an evacuation or following the event.

Tending to your pets’ needs during a disaster

You’ll have to be a good pet parent and tend to your pets’ many needs during a disaster. It will be a trying time for both of you, so:

• Don’t leave pets outside or tied up

Not only is this unsafe for your pet, but they may become frightened and run off.

• Separate your dogs, cats, and other animals

Regardless of how well they normally get along, when situations become stressful, your pets can behave irrationally.

• Unique pets, such as birds
  Every pet has specific needs in emergencies. Discuss this with your veterinarian so you know what to expect.

• Don’t leave your pet behind if you have to evacuate

If at all possible, avoid leaving your animals behind. Should you be forced to evacuate and you can’t take them with you, try to leave them with plenty of food and water, even if it means leaving the toilet seat up so they have access to water.

Your homeowners insurance or renters insurance can protect your home or apartment. But, by planning ahead, you can also help protect yourself and your pet in an emergency.

In fact, not only are earthquakes happening in unexpected places across the country, tornadoes have struck all 50 states in the U.S. And, with so many peculiar weather patterns passing through in recent years; no one can be 100 percent sure where they’ll strike next – only that they will.

Devastating Nature of Tornadoes

Because of their devastating nature, tornadoes or twisters can crush a small town into oblivion in a matter of seconds, leaving scores of people hurt or homeless. While homeowners insurance companies do their best to help out from an insurance perspective, the emotional scars left behind are more difficult to heal.

Earlier this year, safety officials and disaster response experts gathered at the National Tornado Summit in Oklahoma City to discuss a variety of concerns. Among those addressed were breakthroughs in storm-safe homes, disaster preparedness, and emergency management.

No Stopping Mother Nature

Though you may not be able to stop Mother Nature from doing what she wants to do, when she wants to do it, you can learn more about tornadoes and how to prepare for them.

Here is some information about tornadoes to start:

1. Tornadoes are meteorological phenomena of violently rotating columns of unstable air that extend from a thunderstorm or supercell to come into contact with the ground, generally causing massive damage.

1. Tornado intensity is measured by the enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, which rates them on a scale of F0 through F5, based on the amount and type of wind damage, with an F5 causing the most destruction. The categories and wind speeds are as follows:

• F0 have wind speeds between 40-72 mph
• F1 have wind speeds between 73-112 mph
• F2 have wind speeds between 113-157 mph
• F3 have wind speeds between 158–206 mph
• F4 have wind speeds between 207-260 mph
• F5 have wind speeds between 261–318 mph

With an F5, residents can expect total devastation. Few if any structures will remain standing and cars will become missiles flying through the air. Anyone not taking cover in a basement or other protected area runs the risk of being severely injured or killed.

1. Tornadoes strike quickly. Preparedness is the key to survival – from knowing where the nearest emergency shelter is to collecting supplies you and your family will need in the event of an emergency.

Building Your Own Emergency Supply Kit

Below are some of the basic items you may want to include in your emergency supply kit:

• Water – at least one gallon per person per day for a minimum of three days
• Food – enough non-perishable food for at least three days

• Battery-powered radio and a NOAA Weather Radio to monitor the storm’s progress with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and plenty of extra batteries

• Well-stocked first aid kit
• Whistle to signal your location or for help, if needed
• Dust mask to help filter possibly contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to be used as needed for shelter
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Manual can opener for your food and pet food
• Cell phone with chargers – preferably solar and car, if power is not available for several days.

Remember – you can never be overly-prepared for a natural disaster. Be sure to review your homeowners insurance policy ahead of time and store a copy in a safe place so you can get to it should your home be damaged or destroyed. Stay alert and stay safe.

Do you live in Tornado Alley? Tornado Alley is defined as the area of the Central Plains from Texas to Nebraska. This is where most tornadoes form each season. Most of the damage that tornadoes inflict each year occurs in Tornado Alley and Texas has the highest number of tornadoes, with an average of 124 each year.

Here are some tips courtesy of the American Red Cross to keep you safe this Tornado Season.

Preparing for a Tornado

• During any storm, listen to local news or an NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed about tornado watches and warnings.
• Know your community’s warning system. Communities have different ways of warning residents about tornados, with many having sirens intended for outdoor warning purposes.
• Pick a safe room in your home where household members and pets may gather during a tornado. This should be a basement, storm cellar or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows.
• Practice periodic tornado drills so that everyone knows what to do if a tornado is approaching.
• Consider having your safe room reinforced. Plans for reinforcing an interior room to provide better protection can be found on the FEMA web site.
• Prepare for high winds by removing diseased and damaged limbs from trees.
• Move or secure lawn furniture, trash cans, hanging plants or anything else that can be picked up by the wind and become a projectile.

Know the Signs – Tornado Danger Signs

• Dark, often greenish clouds – a phenomenon caused by hail
• Wall cloud – an isolated lowering of the base of a thunderstorm
• Cloud of debris
• Large hail
• Funnel cloud – a visible rotating extension of the cloud base
• Roaring noise