Your homeowner's insurance probably covers a lot of things, but does it cover flooding and mold growth? The answer is that it probably does not because most homeowner's insurance companies do not cover natural floods at all (at least, not in their normal policies) and most will not cover mold growth unless it is due to something else that is a viable claim on the insurance policy.

For example, if a water pipe bursts in the house and mold starts growing before you can get it repaired completely, then the mold growth will be covered under your insurance policy because it was a direct result of something else that is covered under your policy. If, however, the mold growth is due to negligence regarding the moisture levels in different rooms of your home, it is not covered. Mold growth in the bathroom or kitchen is not considered normal wear and tear because it is almost completely avoidable as long as you make sure that the rooms are properly ventilated.

Another example of when mold growth would be covered under your insurance policy is if a tree limb falls on the house, punctures the roof, and allows rain inside, then it would be covered under your policy. Almost any time something is a direct result of another item covered in your homeowner's insurance policy it is covered by default.

To guard against being a victim of mold growth in your house, try to keep the humidity in your home down as much as possible, especially in rooms like the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room. Humidity and steam builds up in these rooms faster than you think and is absorbed into the walls. It will start to mildew over the next 24 to 48 hours before you even realize what is happening. This is rarely ever covered under your insurance policy, so make sure that these rooms are properly ventilated by installing an exhaust fan in each one of these rooms. This will draw the humid air outside the house instead of letting it build up inside. Making sure your dryer vent is expelling air outside the house correctly is also a good idea.

Sometimes mold is in the home when you purchase it and you do not realize it. The best thing to do when you buy a home is to have a complete home inspection done to make sure mold does not exist on the property. Your insurance policy will likely not cover any pre-existing mold on the property.