Does intact insurance cover rodent damage? More than just a minor annoyance, rodent infestations can cause severe electrical and structural damage to your homes, leading to expensive repairs.
Mice, rats, squirrels, and other rodents are well known for their ability to eat through objects, contaminate living areas, and even pose a safety risk by gnawing wires and starting electrical fires.
When those damages occur, homeowners naturally look to their insurance companies for financial support.
This poses a crucial question for homeowners: Does their insurance pay for these damages? While insurance is supposed to protect you from things that don’t make sense, rodent damage coverage often has restrictions and exclusions.
It is essential that you understand what your policy says, what you should do when you have damages, and what you can do to prevent them.
In this article, I want to explore whether Intact Insurance will cover damages caused by rodents, examine standard exclusions, and give practical tips to protect your house.
Each of the following subheadings offers comprehensive answers to essential queries that policyholders may have, guaranteeing that you know everything there is to know about this subject.
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Now, let’s get started.
What Are The Common Damages Caused By Dents
The structure, electrical systems, and general hygienic conditions of your house can all be harmed by rodents.
Knowing how much of an impact they have emphasizes the importance of rodent control:
- Structural Damage
Because of their constantly growing, strong teeth, rodents will chew on concrete, drywall, insulation, and wood.
This continuous gnawing can erode walls, weaken beams, and leave openings that allow weather or other pests to enter.
- Electrical Hazards
Chewing electrical wiring is one of the most hazardous effects of rat behaviour. Short circuits caused by exposed cables may result in system failures or possible fires.
For insurers, the biggest worry is the possibility of electrical fires brought on by rodent interference.
- Health Hazards
Rodents contaminate food sources and surfaces, spreading infections such as salmonella and hantavirus. They also produce urine and droppings, which can compound respiratory problems within residents’ walls.
- Damage To HVAC And Plumbing
While rodents can enter into HVAC systems, this reduces efficiency and contributes pollutants to the air supply. They also chew PVC pipes and can cause leaks or water damage.
These damages highlight a rodent infestation’s financial and safety consequences, emphasizing the importance of dealing with the issue immediately and reducing hazards.
Does Intact Insurance Cover Rodent Damage Directly
Your insurance’s precise terms and conditions will determine whether you are covered for rodent damage. The response is complex for the majority of homeowners covered by Intact:
- Pest Related Damage (General Exclusion)
Like many other insurance companies, Intact doesn’t often cover damage from rodents or pests. Because they believe pest management is the homeowner’s responsibility, they exclude it, assuming this includes regular pest maintenance.
- Damage from Insured Perils Triggered By Rodents
Intact may cover secondary damage brought on by insured risks, even though direct rodent damage is usually not covered.
For example, even though the rodent activity is not covered, fire damage may occur if chewed wires result in an electrical fire.
- Unexpected And Sudden Cases
Policies may offer limited coverage for unexpected and unplanned events, such as rodents breaking pipes concealed within walls that cause flooding.
Nonetheless, the policyholder must prove that the harm was unforeseen and unavoidable.
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Why Do Insurance Policies Exclude Rodent Damage
Insurance plans aim to guard against unanticipated circumstances rather than slow or avoidable problems. Damage from rodents is frequently disregarded because
- Lack Of Preventative Measures
Routine property care can usually avoid rodent infestations. Insurers expect homeowners to eliminate food sources, close entry points, and, if necessary, engage in pest management.
- Gradual Damage
Since rat damage happens gradually rather than abruptly, like storms or fires, it is more difficult to classify it as an “insurable event.”
Insurance companies categorize it as normal wear and tear instead of unintentional harm.
High Frequency Of Claims
Covering rodent damage would lead to more claims, raising policyholders’ overall premiums.
Such damages are excluded to keep expenses reasonable for more comprehensive coverage packages.
How To Prevent Rodent Damage To The Home
It’s frequently more economical and efficient to prevent rodent damage than to cope with the fallout. To reduce danger, homeowners can take the following actions:
- Perform Routine Inspections
Look for openings, cracks, or other possible entrance points outside your house. Look for evidence of rodent activity in crawl spaces, basements, and attics, such as droppings, nests, or gnaw marks.
- Seal Points of Entry
Seal the spaces around pipes, vents, and doors using caulk, steel wool, or hardware cloth. Areas where utilities enter the house should receive extra attention.
- Maintain Cleanliness
Keep food in sealed containers, immediately wipe up spills and crumbs, and ensure trash can lids are securely fastened. Removing food sources reduces rodent activity.
- Invest In Professional Pest Control
Infestations can be addressed before they worsen, and vulnerabilities can be found through routine visits from pest control specialists.
- Install Deterrents
Rodents can be kept out of your house by using traps, ultrasonic devices, and natural repellents like peppermint oil.
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What Should You Do If Rodent Damage Occurs
Take these actions to reduce more problems and look into your insurance alternatives if you find rodent damage:
- Document The Damage
Take pictures of every impacted location and document the associated repair expenses. Documentation helps you make a stronger argument when speaking with your insurer.
- Address The Root Cause
Use pest control services to get rid of the rodent problem. This procedure, frequently necessary before processing insurance claims, is crucial to preventing further harm.
- Contact Your Insurance Provider
Talk with your Intact Insurance representative to determine if your policy covers rodent-related occurrences or secondary losses caused by insured risks.
- File A Claim If Applicable
If your policy covers any part of the damage, file a claim immediately and include all necessary supporting evidence.
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Final Thought
Homeowners have many difficulties due to rodent damage, but you can deal with these issues more skillfully if you know your insurance policy.
Although direct rodent damage is typically not covered by intact insurance, related incidents brought on by insured risks may be.
Preventative measures, regular inspections and immediate eradication of infestations are all things you should invest in to protect your home.
We have spoken at length, mainly trying to convince you that your best bet is to be proactive, as it helps you avoid damage and save your house’s worth.
If you have questions about what is or is not covered or excluded by your policy for rodent damage, speak with your broker or insurance company about the coverage and exclusions.