In the home insurance industry, perils refer to an “event that damages your home or belongings”. Many of these perils such as storm/hail damage, water damage, and fire can impact your roof.
Your policy designates what perils are covered. Covered perils and events are often dependent on region. For example, homeowners insurance policies in Arizona might not include flood coverage.
There are many perils that can damage your home, property, and belongings. Here are the most common perils homeowners face and file claims for.
Fire/Lighting
These can often go hand in hand. Damage from fires caused by kitchen accidents, faulty electrical wiring, and heat such as lights or overworked electronics are all covered. Lighting strikes can often cause fire, but if lighting strikes an electronic and damages it, the property is covered under your policy.
Windstorm/Hail
Damage sustained from wind and hail are covered perils. This applies to strong thunderstorms and tornadoes.
Explosion
Explosions from propane tanks, grills, and aerosol are all covered under most policies.
Riots/Vandalism
Damage from riots, vandalism, and looting are covered. Not as common as other perils, damage from civil unrest is more common in urban areas and primarily impacts businesses.
Aircraft
In the rare event of a plane crash or aircraft damaging your home, policies will cover repair costs.
Vehicles
News stories about cars driving into houses are all too common. Luckily, these accidents are covered my homeowners insurance.
Smoke
Smoke damage can be just as if not more harmful to your property than the flames of a fire. Smoke leaves behind stains, smells, and can make a property inhabitable. In 2013, there was an estimated $2.9 billion in damages from smoke.
Theft
Any items stolen from your property are covered as long as your house or adjoining property like a shed were locked. If it wasn’t locked, that’d be considered negligence and your insurer most likely wouldn’t cover you in this case.
Weight of ice, snow, or sleet
This peril most commonly impacts roofs and causes cave-ins.
Accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam
This includes water from facets, leaks, or accidents that damage water sources.
Freezing
Cold weather can cause a variety of damage to your home such as frozen pipes that burst, ice dams in gutters ,damaged roofs, fallen trees/limbs, and leaks from melting ice.
