Is excavation included? My townhouse is protected by condo insurance, but when a pipe on the HOA property broke, we needed to dig to find the cause and replace it. While the insurance claim for the pipe repair was denied due to wear and tear—something I get—I feel they should cover the excavation costs that were essential to identify the issue. The policy does cover other damages, and we have back-up water/sewer damage coverage in our HOA policy. This is a Montana condo policy we’re dealing with. What are your thoughts?
Excavation covered?
It sounds like you’re dealing with a frustrating situation regarding your condo insurance coverage. In general, standard homeowners or condo insurance policies tend to cover sudden and accidental damages but often exclude wear and tear issues, which is likely why the insurance denied the repair for the broken pipe itself.
Regarding the excavation costs, it largely depends on the specifics of your policy. If the excavation was necessary to assess the extent of the damage and to make necessary repairs, you should review your policy’s language on the coverage of related expenses. Some policies may cover costs associated with necessary investigations or repairs related to a covered loss, even if the primary cause isn’t covered.
It might be worth contacting your insurance agent to clarify this point or reviewing your HOA’s coverage, as well. If the excavation was fundamentally connected to the necessary repairs of a covered incident, you may have grounds to appeal the decision. Consulting with a legal professional or an insurance claims expert could also help clarify your rights and options moving forward.