Kingwood, WV, sits high in the Alleghenies, and anyone who has lived through a winter here knows that the weather doesn’t mess around. Lows often dipping into the teens. And more than 100 inches of snow some years.

Cold snaps can keep the temp below freezing for days at a time. This is the kind of cold that puts real stress on your plumbing. If you’re renting the place where you live, you need renters insurance to cover your personal belongings.

What Renters Insurance Usually Covers When You Have a Busted Pipe

When the freezing cold causes a pipe to burst in your home, renters insurance can help you repair or replace your personal belongings. This includes furniture, your electronics, clothing, books, valuables, and anything else that gets soaked or destroyed.

Most renters insurance policies also include coverage for loss of use. This means that if you can’t stay in your rental while the landlord is repairing the place, your policy may help you pay for temporary housing and the costs that go along with it.

Why the Cause of the Damage Matters a Lot

Not all water damage is treated the same. We at the Smith Insurance Agency of West Virginia see these misconceptions all the time. For example, pipes that freeze and burst during freezing weather are usually covered.

But a pipe that’s been leaking for a while because of poor maintenance is a whole different situation. Your insurance company will typically see that as neglect. So it’s not covered.

Your Landlord’s Insurance Doesn’t Cover Your Stuff

You may think if you’re renting, that’s no biggie. After all, your landlord covers this kind of stuff. Right? Sure, they’ll take care of damage to the home or apartment. But what they don’t cover is your personal belongings. That’s where renters insurance comes in.

Talk to Smith Insurance Agency of West Virginia

One thing you don’t want to do is start shopping for renters insurance in the dead of winter. This is something you need to have in place before the first freeze. Get in touch with the Smith Insurance Agency of West Virginia today so we can get you going or go over your current policy.