Repairing your windows with replacement glass or an entire window replacement can be a great move if you’re looking to upgrade your energy efficiency or can be a must if the windows have been damaged in an accident or weather event. But the replacement reasons and other details of the job can affect whether you’ll pay depending on insurance or out of pocket.
Here are some things that can dictate whether your insurance policy covers your residential glass repair.
Typical homeowners’ insurance will cover damage from specific causes such as fire, vandalism, and some types of weather. You may be able to pay extra to have additional causes covered (such as flooding).
However, any cause related to negligence or lack of maintenance won’t be covered. Similarly, suppose your window breaks, and you exacerbate the damage by not taking care of it immediately (which could let water in and cause windowsill rot). In that case, your insurance may refuse to cover the repairs.
If your deductible is higher than the replacement’s cost, you may need to pay for the entire job yourself. If the deductible is lower than the replacement cost, you may pay for part of the replacement while the rest is covered by insurance.
Insurance adjusters can be notoriously stingy since the insurance company employs them, which means their priority is to save the company money rather than keep your house in good condition. However, it’s understandable that your insurance company may not want to pay out for a brand-new window if your current one is only a tiny bit damaged.
The extent of the damage should affect whether the adjuster approves the repair. Still, in reality, the individual adjuster’s judgment also comes into play, so the decisions made may vary between individuals.
Sometimes, homeowners get bitten by the fine print on their insurance contracts. Your insurance company may require you to use only the repair contractors they choose, for example. So make sure you talk to the insurance company and follow all their procedures to the letter so you don’t pay out of pocket for a glass repair that should be covered.
New windows can often be a great deal for your house, regardless of whether they’re covered by insurance. So check out your insurance policy first, then call a residential glass repair company to schedule an appointment and fix your window glass problems.
Marian Sahakyan is a content writer and a journalism graduate from California State University, Long Beach with a background in marketing as well as UI and UX design. Marian’s previous writing and reporting has been featured in several community newspapers throughout Southern California.
