Is It Time to Review Your Home Insurance in Orleans?

The recent explosion near Tenth Line in Orleans serves as a stark reminder of the importance of having the right insurance protection for your home. For homeowners, landlords and tenants, home insurance is something that you need to know about and understand, regardless of whether you own or rent a house. Here’s what you need to know about home insurance in Orleans. 

What is Tenant Insurance? 

Tenant insurance is a type of policy that provides coverage for personal possessions, such as furniture and electronics, as well as liability coverage if someone is injured while on your property. This type of policy also provides coverage for additional living expenses, such as hotel and restaurant bills, if you are forced to leave your home due to an insured peril (e.g., fire). It’s important to note that tenant insurance does not provide coverage for the actual structure of your rental property; this type of coverage must be purchased separately by the landlord. 

What Does Home Insurance Cover?

Most home insurance policies will cover damage caused by fire, smoke, lightning, and explosions. However, there are some exceptions. So, if you live in an area that is prone to wildfires or you have a gas stove in your home, it’s important to check with your insurer to make sure you’re covered in the event of an explosion. 

As we mentioned above, the builder was lucky the homes were unoccupied and that no neighbours were severely injured or worse after the houses were destroyed by an explosion. Unfortunately, not all explosions are covered by home insurance. In order for an explosion to be covered, it must be caused by one of the following: 

-A sudden and accidental release of pressure from within a plumbing, heating, air conditioning or automatic fire-protective sprinkler system 

-An accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam from within a plumbing, heating, air conditioning or automatic fire-protective sprinkler system 

-A rupture or bursting of a water heater, heating or cooling system 

-A falling satellite or piece of spacecraft.  

If your explosion is not caused by one of the above scenarios, you may still be covered if you have purchased additional coverage for explosive events. This type of coverage is typically offered as an endorsement to your standard home insurance policy. 

Staying Safe and Reviewing Your Coverage 

Typically once an insurance is bought and paid, it is long forgotten until you need it. In the wake of this tragedy, it’s important to review your home insurance policy to make sure you have the coverage you need. It’s also important to take steps to prevent an explosion in your own home by having your gas appliances serviced regularly and ensuring that any flammable liquids are stored properly. 

No one ever expects their house to explode—but it can happen. As we saw in Orleans recently, explosions can cause major damage. That’s why it’s so important to review your home insurance policy regularly to make sure you’re fully protected against all types of disasters—explosions included.