Two very different winters
Eastern Washington winters are cold and snowy. Spokane’s Ice Storm ’96 in November 1996 coated trees and power lines across the city. Wenatchee, Leavenworth and Ellensburg see heavy snow loads on roofs most years. In western Washington, the big events are less frequent but more disruptive: the December 2008 snow and ice, the February 2019 snowstorms, the February 2021 ice storm around Vancouver and the January 2024 arctic blast.
What winter claims look like
- Snow load collapse. Carports, patio covers, barns and older flat roofs that fail under weight.
- Ice dams. Water backed up behind ice at the eaves leaks into walls and ceilings.
- Frozen pipes. Pipes in crawl spaces, exterior walls and unheated garages split and flood the home when they thaw.
- Ice storms. Limbs, power lines and whole trees fall on roofs and vehicles.
- Interior damage from all of the above: drywall, insulation, flooring and cabinets.
Policy conditions that come up
Frozen-pipe coverage often depends on whether you kept the home heated or drained the plumbing while it was vacant. Ice-dam leaks may be argued as maintenance. Collapse coverage has its own definitions. These are coverage points the insurer may raise. Once coverage is accepted, the appraisal panel values the damage.
For the water side of a winter loss, see water and rain intrusion appraisal.
Frequently asked questions
Is an ice dam leak covered?
Many policies cover sudden water damage from ice dams, though some limit it. The insurer may raise maintenance arguments, so photos of the ice and the interior damage are important.
My second home froze while I was away. Is it covered?
Policies often require reasonable care to keep heat on or the water shut off and drained. Coverage depends on the facts and wording.
What about the cost to find the frozen pipe?
Tearing out and replacing walls or floors to reach the broken pipe is usually part of the covered damage, even if the pipe itself isn’t.
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