Chimney Insurance Claim Specialists
At Blue Ridge Chimney Services, we specialize in helping homeowners with insurance claims related to chimney damage. Any kind of insurance claim can become a complicated process, and chimney-related claims are no different. If you’re in the process of making a claim for chimney damage, you’ll need to have a certified, licensed chimney technician inspect the damage and document their findings.
![Blue Ridge Chimney Services Original Photo of Damaged Chimney Damaged chimney with missing masonry and broken crown](https://blueridgechimney.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/We-Specialize-in-Insurance-Claims-Harrisonburg-VA-Blue-Ridge-Chimney.jpg)
What You Should Know About Insurance And Chimney Damage
Like anything else in your home, there are circumstances in which your homeowners’ policy will cover damage and circumstances in which it won’t.
You can expect your homeowners’ policy to cover chimney damage if it is shown to be the result of what’s referred to as a “sudden occurrence,” like a fire, wind damage or an earthquake. A chimney professional will be able to determine whether or not the damage you’re seeing falls under the category of a sudden occurrence.
Your insurance company won’t cover damage, however, if it is shown that it was the result of a poorly or improperly constructed chimney, or from negligence/lack of maintenance. If, for example, a clogged flue was the cause of a fire (because your chimney hasn’t been swept in years), you can expect the insurance company to reject your claim. The easiest way to avoid rejection is to annually schedule a chimney sweeping and an inspection.
How Do I Know If A Sudden Occurrence Caused My Damage?
If your damage emerged after a major weather incident, you can likely contribute your damage to the incident. With fire damage, it can be trickier, but either way, you’ll need a chimney professional to determine and document the cause and extent of your damage. That being said, some common signs of sudden occurrence chimney fires include:
- A warped stainless steel chimney liner
- Vertical cracks running in a clay tile chimney liner
- Creosote that has puffed out and is giving off a strong burned odor
How Can I Prepare For A Claim?
If you have experienced a chimney fire or a weather incident that you believe damaged your chimney, start by documenting everything you see. Write down the date of any incident, the time you noticed a problem, and details of what you discovered. When Blue Ridge Chimney Services technicians inspect your damage, your information will help us in documenting our findings.
If you’ve had chimney system damage and need to begin an insurance claim, call Blue Ridge Chimney Services at 540-217-2030 or click here to schedule an appointment online. We’d love to help!
Tracking down the cause of specific chimney problems can be a real challenge, but we handle that challenge every day. With all the experience under our belts, we can find what’s wrong and recommend any needed repairs.