MATT GEPHARDT

What kind of snow damage does insurance cover?

Mar 10, 2023, 6:30 AM

PARK CITY, Utah — A home in Park City is one of the many Utah homes left damaged by this long winter. An ice dam pushed water up under the shingles and caused part of the ceiling to come crashing down. The good news for the homeowner who sent KSL these pics is it will probably be covered by insurance.

“Typically, broadly speaking, ice dams are covered when you have interior water damage,” Bekka Carlson, an insurance agent with State Farm said.

Also typically covered, damage caused by the weight of the snow.

“If you have a buildup of ice and snow on the roof and it collapses, usually some coverage in that,” she said. “You want to be careful if it’s ancillary items, fences pools, stuff like that, there could be some limitations.”

Snow on branches can also lead to fallen trees and damage, and that is also covered by most standard homeowners’ policies.

But if you were to hire someone to remove snow in hopes of avoiding damage, that is usually something you will have to pay yourself. Don’t expect your homeowner’s insurance to cover those costs, which can range from several hundred dollars to thousands, depending on the job. Having someone climb up on your roof with a shovel means hazard pay.

And when clearing snow, be mindful of where you put it.

“People don’t think of this, keep it away from your house,” Carlson warned. “Typically seeping, leaking, entering of foundations of snow when the ground is wet and saturated, it’s going to cause you problems.”

Problems for which you are likely not covered.

One of the big concerns with snow is flooding. When flood warnings pop up in forecasts, it is already too late to get flood insurance. In most cases, for it to pay, you must have had a policy in place 30 days prior to the flood.

KSL 5 TV Live

Top Stories

Matt Gephardt

(KSL TV)...
Matt Gephardt

Get Gephardt helps restore West Valley man’s Social Security disability payments

Jeff Davis gets disability payments from the Social Security Administration. At least, he did up until his mom passed away in December.
2 days ago
The Pearsons tell KSL’s Matt Gephardt they should be reimbursed by either the airline or the onli...
Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage

Sandy couple Gets Gephardt after booking error left them paying out for pricey return flights

A Sandy couple bought roundtrip tickets to Hawaii, but when they discovered their return tickets were no good, they had to buy pricey replacements. When they were refused reimbursement, they decided to Get Gephardt.
3 days ago
Amy Olsen...
Matt Gephardt

Utahns cleared of DUI accusations are forced to pay to get their licenses back

Amy Olsen has her driving privilege back now, but it cost her $255. For her, it is a frustrating ordeal that began months earlier when a trooper pulled her over.
7 days ago
Gas bill...
Matt Gephardt

Gas company increasing bills for customers on fixed payments plan

If you're told you're going to pay the same price for 12 months, you wouldn't expect the price to go up. But when the natural gas company raised the rates on a Payson woman, she decided to Get Gephardt to investigate.
7 days ago
Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...
Matt Gephardt

$21 billion in gift cards go unused. Here’s how to avoid letting them go to waste

Gift cards: they are one of the most popular gifts to give and to receive, but that does not necessarily mean they are going to get used.
9 days ago
(KSL TV)...
Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage

How to beat the dynamic pricing used by Amazon and many other retailers to pay less

The KSL Investigates team gives you information on how to beat dynamic pricing to get your money's worth and pay less.
10 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Happy diverse college or university students are having fun on their graduation day...
BYU MBA at the Marriott School of Business

How to Choose What MBA Program is Right for You: Take this Quiz Before You Apply!

Wondering what MBA program is right for you? Take this quiz before you apply to see if it will help you meet your goals.
Close up of an offset printing machine during production...
Les Olson IT

Top 7 Reasons to Add a Production Printer to Your Business

Learn about the different digital production printers and how they can help your company save time and money.
vintage photo of lighting showroom featuring chandeliers, lamps, wall lights and mirrors...
Lighting Design

History of Lighting Design | Over 25 Years of Providing Utah With the Latest Trends and Styles

Read about the history of Lighting Design, a family-owned and operated business that paved the way for the lighting industry in Utah.
Fiber Optical cables connected to an optic ports and Network cables connected to ethernet ports...
Brian Huston, CE and Anthony Perkins, BICSI

Why Every Business Needs a Structured Cabling System

A structured cabling system benefits businesses by giving you faster processing speeds and making your network more efficient and reliable.
notebook with password notes highlighted...
PC Laptops

How to Create Strong Passwords You Can Actually Remember

Learn how you can create strong passwords that are actually easy to remember! In a short time you can create new ones in seconds.
house with for rent sign posted...
Chase Harrington, president and COO of Entrata

Top 5 Reasons You May Want to Consider Apartment Life Over Owning a Home

There are many benefits of renting that can be overshadowed by the allure of buying a home. Here are five reasons why renting might be right for you.
What kind of snow damage does insurance cover?