Does Home Insurance Cover Mold?
What Every Homeowner Needs to Know Before Filing a Claim
You find mold in your home. Maybe it’s around the baseboards, under the sink, or hiding behind drywall. It smells musty, looks bad, and makes you wonder:
Will my home insurance cover this?
It’s a fair question—and the answer is:
Maybe.
Most insurance policies don’t automatically include mold coverage, but depending on the situation, it might still be covered.
At A/S General Contracting, we’ve worked with countless homeowners across Southern California dealing with mold problems and insurance confusion. We’ve seen claims denied for the smallest detail—and others approved even when there was “no mold coverage.”
Let’s walk through what determines coverage, what to watch for in your policy, and how to improve your chances of getting help when you need it most.
The Short Answer: It Depends
Most standard homeowner’s policies exclude mold damage unless it was caused by a sudden and accidental event that is otherwise covered. That means the mold itself might not be covered—but the water damage that led to it might be.
Here’s a breakdown:
- Covered?
Mold from a sudden pipe burst, appliance leak, or roof damage caused by a storm—maybe yes. - Not covered?
Mold from long-term leaks, humidity, poor ventilation, or neglect—usually no.
Even with exclusions, we’ve seen homeowners successfully file claims by showing that the mold was tied to a covered water event and wasn’t the result of ongoing damage.
What Your Insurance Company Is Looking At
1. The Cause of the Mold
2. How Long the Damage Has Been There
3. What Your Policy Says
Some policies have mold limits (like $5,000 max), while others require a mold endorsement to get any coverage at all. Others may deny mold outright—but still approve cleanup tied to a covered water loss.
Real Talk: We’ve Seen It Go Both Ways
We’ve seen insurance companies:
- Approve mold cleanup for a water heater leak—even though the mold was technically excluded
- Deny coverage because the mold was caused by a slow leak the homeowner “should have known about”
- Pay partial claims for mold remediation but deny full reconstruction costs
That’s why it’s so important to document everything, act quickly, and work with a contractor who understands the claims process.
Need help figuring out your next step? Check out our Insurance Claim Support page.
What to Do If You Find Mold
Whether or not you plan to file a claim, you should take these steps immediately:
- Stop the moisture source. Turn off the water, fix the leak, or call a plumber.
- Document the damage. Take photos and notes—date everything.
- Don’t clean it yourself (yet). Improper cleanup can spread spores and hurt your chances of coverage.
- Call a licensed mold remediation contractor. A pro can assess the cause, contain the area, and safely remove the mold.
- Contact your insurance company. If there’s a chance of coverage, open a claim and mention the source (e.g., pipe burst, roof leak).
When Mold Coverage Might Be Denied
- Old or neglected damage: If the mold damage appears to have been present for a long time or was not addressed promptly, insurers may deny coverage. This suggests that the issue was not handled in a timely manner.
- Delayed reporting: If the homeowner waited too long to report the mold after its discovery, the insurance company might argue that the delay worsened the problem or prevented early mitigation, leading to a denial.
- Humidity or lack of ventilation: Mold resulting from ongoing environmental conditions like high humidity or poor ventilation (common in bathrooms or crawlspaces) is often considered preventable. Insurance policies typically cover sudden and accidental damage, not issues arising from conditions that could have been managed with proper home maintenance.
- Maintenance issues: If the mold was caused by a homeowner’s failure to address foreseeable problems, such as ignoring a slow drip, the insurer may deem it the homeowner’s responsibility. This falls under the expectation that homeowners will undertake reasonable maintenance to prevent significant damage.
How A/S General Contracting Can Help
We’re more than just a cleanup crew. We’re a full-service licensed general contractor that provides:
- Certified mold remediation (Learn more here)
- Detailed moisture and mold reports for insurance adjusters
- Transparent, insurance-compliant documentation
- Repairs and reconstruction after cleanup
- Direct communication with your adjuster—so you don’t have to fight for your own coverage
Whether your claim is approved, denied, or still under review, we’ll work with you to find a solution—out-of-pocket pricing included.
What If Insurance Won’t Pay?
If your mold claim is denied, that doesn’t mean you’re out of options.
We offer:
- Clear estimates for self-pay mold cleanup
- Full breakdowns of materials and labor
- Prioritized pricing to remove hazards first and manage costs
- Honest guidance so you only pay for what you actually need
You can also learn more about our approach on the Mold Remediation Services page.
It’s All About the Details
So, does home insurance cover mold? Sometimes.
It comes down to:
- What caused the mold
- How fast you responded
- What’s written in your policy
- How the situation is presented in your claim
Our best advice? Act fast, document well, and work with professionals who know the process. At A/S General Contracting, we’ve been helping homeowners through mold damage for over two decades—and we’re ready to help you too.
Call A/S General Contracting for Mold Help Today
Whether you’re in the middle of a claim, prepping to file one, or need help dealing with out-of-pocket mold cleanup, we’re here for you.
Contact A/S General Contracting
We’ll inspect the damage, explain your options, and walk you through the cleanup process—step by step.
