Will Home Insurance Cover Cleanup After a Fire

House fires, no matter how small, can be incredibly expensive, damaging and frightening, not to mention inconvenient. After the fire is extinguished, the long process of repairs and cleanup will begin. Not only can the fire itself be extremely damaging to a home, but also the steps taken to extinguish it can create an even bigger mess. 

The good news is that homeowners insurance can ensure that your repairs are covered after the fire. Additionally, it can guarantee that the costs of the cleanup are covered, too. After all, this is part of the repair process. 

Still, not all fires will have coverage under your homeowners plan, and therefore, neither the damage nor the requisite cleanup expenses will have appropriate benefits provided. Here are a few things to keep in mind when considering how to pay for the costs of repairs and cleanup, & how your insurance can be of benefit to you. 

What was the cause of the fire? 

Home insurance is designed to help you pay for household damage resulting from unexpected, unavoidable accidents. House fires are almost always covered as a result. After all, whether it was a problem in your electrical wiring, or a chimney fire that starts unexpectedly, there is probably only so much you could have done to protect yourself. 

However, if a fire starts as a result of a clearly neglected wiring system, or if you intentionally set it to claim the insurance benefits, then you will likely have no coverage at all. In the latter case, you will also probably be investigated for insurance fraud, too. 

When Coverage Is Available 

At the time of the fire, your insurer will review your coverage and also determine the underlying cause of the blaze. They will then determine if your plan offers coverage for the loss scenario, and at this time will determine your settlement from your plan. 

To calculate your settlement, your insurer will probably do the following: