Is Asbestos Removal Covered by Your Homeowner’s Policy?
If you own a home in Colorado, you no doubt understand that having it insured is a safety net against any possible disasters. Of course, if you’re still carrying a mortgage on it, your lender will require you to have insurance until the loan is paid off. But either way, insurance is a must for homeowners to protect their property and investment.
Home insurance will cover disasters in most instances, whether it be water damage, fire damage, or damage caused by weatherdamage caused by weather such as hail, wind, or lightning. But there may be a hidden danger in your home or business that may not be covered. Asbestos was used for many decades in the manufacturing of many items, including many building materials. For that reason, there’s a good chance you have asbestos lurking somewhere within your property.
Although those materials are safe if left alone, any repairs or renovations can disturb them, causing toxic asbestos fibers to fill the air. If these are breathed in for a long time, serious health consequences may eventually occur. So, since asbestos can be a danger to you, is it also considered a disaster or peril so that the remediation of it is also covered by your homeowner’s insurance?
Damage Caused by Weather
Most Colorado home insurance policies do not have an exclusion for pollution coverage. This would include things like asbestos and chemical spills. In fact, it’s difficult to find such coverage in today’s market. There are a couple of reasons for this:
1. Most asbestos found in homes is fairly stable and doesn’t require remediation if left alone.
2. By not covering it, it lays the financial responsibility of environmental rehab on asbestos removal companies.
However, a homeowner’s policy might cover asbestos removal and remediation if it’s part of a covered disaster or loss, such as roof repair from storm damage. During the repair and restoration process, some asbestos may need to be removed and the cost of that added to the complete repair amount. But a homeowner will want to speak with their agent to confirm this.
The Cost to Remove Asbestos
Although asbestos removal isn’t covered by insurance, a homeowner should never try to remove it themselves. The safest way to handle asbestos in a home is by hiring a licensed asbestos abatement professional. The cost of having this done can range from $1K to $3K, according to info from HomeAdvisor. How much you pay will vary depending on:
- where you live
- the size of the contaminated area
- where it’s located in your home
These Precautions Won’t Cost You a Dime
Okay, so asbestos removal isn’t covered. But you also don’t have the money to have it done by a contractor. What do you do? Here are some suggestions by the EPA to keep your home safe from asbestos exposure:
- Leave undamaged asbestos-containing materials alone.
- Avoid damaging asbestos-containing materials.
- Don't saw, sand, scrape, or drill holes in asbestos-containing materials.
- Don't dust, sweep, or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos.
When Asbestos Must Be Removed
The EPA has another suggestion should you need asbestos remediation done to your property:
- Have removal and major repair performed by people trained and qualified in handling asbestos. It is highly recommended that sampling and minor repair also be done by trained and accredited asbestos professionals.
To find those professionals in the Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and the central Colorado area, just call Cyclone Kleen Up. Their quick action and reasonable rates will give you the peace of mind you need.
