Being a homeowner comes with a wide variety of responsibilities, and one of the responsibilities of being a homeowner is replacing your windows after they break. Many homeowners purchase insurance policies on their homes to help with unexpected expenses such as replacing property stolen during a burglary or repairing storm damage. When you need to replace a window, making a homeowner’s insurance claim can be a viable option to help you pay for your new window.
Of course, the only way to be sure that your homeowner’s insurance covers broken windows is to contact your agent and discuss your policy. However, we have provided a few helpful tidbits that can help you determine if your insurance policy will replace your broken window.
How was the window broken?
Many insurance policies only provide coverage under specifically outlined circumstances in your policy. This means that how your window was broken is a significant factor in whether or not you are covered. These kinds of policies are referred to as named-risk policies. In contrast, open-peril policies cover any cause not explicitly excluded from your policy.
For instance, if your window was broken during a hail storm, then both policies would cover a new window. However, if you broke your window while trying to clean it, a named-risk policy would not cover a new window.
How much is your deductible?
Even if your policy covers a broken window for any reason, it may not make sense to make a claim with your insurance company if you have to pay a high deductible. Simply, if the cost of replacing your window is less than the cost of your deductible, you will just want to pay for your new window out of pocket.
You may also want to consider the fact that making multiple claims over a short period can raise your premiums and other insurance rates. If you have made another claim with your insurance provider recently, you may want to avoid making another claim.