A Soot Damage Insurance Claim is Complicated

What’s In This Articles

• Introduction
• Does Homeowner Insurance Cover Soot Damage?
• What Should You Do if You Have a Soot Damage Insurance Claim?
• What types of Smoke Damage Are Covered?
• Is Structural Damage Covered?
• Is Soot and Ash Damage Covered?
• Should You Hire A Public Adjuster?

If you have had a fire in your home, your homeowners’ insurance company must pay the cost of repair for the damage to your home. However, you may not fully realize the extent of the damage to your home. That is because smoke, soot, ash and other smoke residues may have spread throughout the house. Indeed, smoke residue can get into rooms where there were no flames. Therefore, handling a soot damage insurance claim can be complicated and time-consuming.

Does Homeowner Insurance Cover Soot Damage?

The short answer is yes, you have insurance coverage for the damage smoke does to your home and contents lost in the fire. Dwelling coverage insures the structure of your home. That would include damage from the flames. It would also cover water damage by firefighters trying to put the fire out.

What Should You Do if You Have a Soot Damage Insurance Claim?

Once the fire is put out, make a record of the damage to your home.

For instance, take whatever pictures you can of the damaged parts of your house. Additionally, take pictures of any damaged items in your home. This includes furniture, carpeting, appliances, etc.

Your fire insurance will also cover water damage done during the firefighting efforts. If there is water damage to the interior of your home, get pictures.

Moreover, if firefighters had to break down doors or put holes in walls, take pictures.

You have to file a claim within a certain time. Therefore, review your insurance policy to see what the filing deadlines are. Or simply call your insurance agent. She can tell you when you have to file the claim.

You want to start the claim process as soon as you can. As an example, you may need professional cleaning companies to clean your house. They have specialized cleaning equipment to clean up soot, ash and other smoke residues. In addition, they have personal protective devices for the clean-up; soot and ash can be harmful.

Your fire insurance will cover those costs.

Similarly, you made need the services of professional restoration companies. Once again, your homeowners’ insurance will cover restoration costs.

What Types of Smoke, Soot and Ash Damages Are Covered in a Smoke Damage Insurance Claim?

There are various types of damages that smoke can cause throughout a home that your fire insurance will cover.

Structural damage

Smoke is often very hot and can cause damage to the structure of your home.

Additionally, smoke can often be very acidic. Smoke can come into contact with metal, such as doorknobs and kitchen fittings. At the very least, smoke can tarnish the metal. However, in a worst-case scenario, smoke can corrode metal, such as piping in your home.

As another example, smoke can get behind walls and into ceilings. It can discolor walls and ceilings. Moreover, it can get into insulation and cause an odor. As a result, a contractor may have to knock down walls and ceilings to replace the insulation.

Soot and ash damage

Smoke, soot and ash can spread throughout a house during a fire. They can make into parts of the house that flames never touched. Indeed, you can even get smoke damage in your house if a nearby neighbor has a house fire.

Smoke, soot and ash can work their way into carpeting, clothes, furniture, upholstery and drapes. In addition, smoke can damage plastics and marble countertops. Likewise, smoke can damage both the outside and inside of appliances.

If You Need a Public Adjuster for a Smoke, Soot and Ash Damage Insurance Claim, Call AllCity Adjusting

We are a family-owned claims company with five decades of combined adjusting experience. As a result, if there’s one thing we understand, it’s that you need 100% of your claim value.

You have already gone through a tumultuous event. For this reason, get an agency that gets you more.

At AllCity Adjusting we work to ensure you get 100% of your smoke damage insurance claim value. Equally important, with over 50 years of combined experience as insurance adjusters, we know insurance companies and understand where they cut corners.

Moreover, we help you build a larger claim and maximize your claim value. Indeed, we get you back to normal fast.

Lastly, don’t get fooled. Get the company that gets you more.

Does Insurance Cover a Soot and Ash Contamination Claim?

You bet it does. At AllCity, we have handled hundreds of smoke damage claims.

Therefore, if you have received a low-ball offer from the insurance company, or they are taking too long to process your smoke damage insurance claim or you just want to talk to someone on your side, call us at 844.692.3587. Or you can email us at info@allcityadhjusting.com.