Flooding and water damage to your Illinois home can be a financial nightmare. As one of the top five risks for Illinois homeowners, understanding your home insurance coverage and knowing whether it covers water and flood damage can help you in an unexpected event.

Fortunately, an Illinois independent insurance agent can answer any questions about your home insurance coverage. They can also help you get set up with new coverage, increase your policy limits, or adjust your coverage for better protection. 

Can My Gutters Cause Indoor Flooding?

Yes, poorly maintained gutters and gutters that are improperly installed can lead to indoor flooding in your basement and your home. Gutters flood for various reasons, most of which can be avoided with proper maintenance. 

Five causes of gutter floods in homes:

• Clogged gutters: Experts recommend you clean your gutters at least twice a year. A clogged gutter can result in piping back-ups, basement flooding, and even damage to the foundation of your home or the roof. 
• Missing splash blocks: Splash blocks reroute water away from your home as it flows through your gutters. Without the blocks, water can build up and lead to flooding.
• Loose gutters: Loose gutters result in gaps that lead to water being able to get into your home in unwanted places. 
• Defective pitches: The pitch in your gutters helps guide water to flow to the downspouts. If the water cannot flow correctly, it can result in standing water. Roof damage, erosion, siding damage, and system damage can result from standing water in your home.
• Faulty downspouts: The downspouts are another aspect of your gutters that help water flow properly. If they're not functioning correctly, you could be left with standing water.

Who's Responsible If the Gutter Floods My Basement?

Suppose you just moved into a brand-new home, and the gutters were installed improperly. In that case, you could make a claim against the construction company that negligence in installing the gutters resulted in the water damage. You'd need to have a clear case to prove it was their fault. Sadly, in most cases, gutter floods are the homeowner's responsibility.

Maintaining your gutters is an important part of owning a home. If you fail to do so correctly and your gutters flood your basement, you must pay for the damage. Depending on the cause of the damage and severity, your home insurance may help pay, but probably not for all the damage.

When Will My Home Insurance Cover Basement Flood Damage?

Unfortunately, flood damage coverage is not black and white in insurance. Many factors come into play, including the cause of the damage, what is damaged, and where in your house it occurs. One thing that is outlined clearly is that flooding from natural waters, such as severe storms, is never covered under home insurance. 

Your home insurance would help pay for the damage for basement floods as long as it was caused by a covered peril and was from something internal like burst pipes or an accidental overflowing bathtub. Your agent can help you determine when your Illinois home insurance would cover water damage and when you'd be responsible for the mess yourself. 

What Does Home Insurance Cover in Illinois?

Your home consists of the structure of your home, your property, and all of your stuff. Home insurance protects these things from perils such as fire, severe storms, theft, vandalism, and third-party liability suits. 

There are four main coverages that makeup Illinois home insurance: 

• Dwelling coverage: Protects the home’s structure or “dwelling” from covered perils. This coverage often extends to detached structures like sheds and garages. 
• Contents coverage: Protects the stuff inside and around your home, such as brought-in appliances, electronics, valuable collections, furniture, etc. 
• Liability coverage: Reimburses for legal costs, such as attorney and court fees, if a third party sues you for injuries or property damage. 
• Additional living expenses coverage: Pays for hotel stays, meals, gas mileage, and other related costs if your home becomes temporarily uninhabitable after a covered disaster. 

Understanding your risks as a homeowner can help when working with an independent insurance agent and determining the proper amount of coverage. 

Do I Need Flood Insurance in Illinois?

Since home insurance does not cover damage from natural water, flood insurance can help fill this gap. Flood insurance is offered through private insurers as well as the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Illinois does not regulate flood insurance purchased through the NFIP, but it's still worth checking to see if you qualify for coverage. An agent can help you secure flood coverage either through the NFIP or through a private seller.

If you secure coverage through the NFIP, you'll receive up to $250,000 in building coverage and $100,000 in contents coverage.

Even with flood insurance, there are exclusions for basement floods. Often, items like heating and cooling systems will be covered, but your personal belongings may not be. An agent can walk you through the list of what's covered and what is not. 

Why Work with an Illinois Independent Insurance Agent?

Flood and water damage can cost thousands of dollars in repairs. Since home insurance can be a bit of a gray area for flooding, working with an Illinois independent insurance agent can help clarify when you'd have protection and when you'd be left financially exposed.

Agents will work with you, free of charge, to learn about your needs and set you up with the proper coverage. If you ever have questions or need your insurance reviewed, they can help. Work with a local agent in your area today.