Do You Need to File a Hail Damage Claim?

A severe storm can be quite frightening. When large hailstones rain down from the sky, it can be dangerous to step foot outdoors. Unfortunately, your home is always exposed to the elements. A hailstorm could cause serious damage to your home that should be repaired before another storm strikes.

Paying for hail damage repairs can be costly, so you may want to take advantage of the financial help an insurance claim can offer. Check for hail damage immediately after a storm to determine if you need to file a claim with your insurance company.

Check the Fiberglass Membrane

If your home is equipped with an asphalt shingle roof, you need to take a close look at the condition of the roof after a hailstorm. Asphalt shingles rely on a protective fiberglass membrane for structural support. Damage to the membrane will allow water to seep through your roof over time, causing shingles to deteriorate.

Hailstones can tear the fiberglass membrane with their jagged edges. It can be difficult to spot membrane damage from the ground, so you should carefully climb up on your roof or hire a roofing contractor to complete a full inspection. An insurance claim may reimburse you for the cost of the inspection and pay for any necessary roof repairs.

Check Each Window

Modern windows are designed to withstand a lot, but the impact from a large hailstone could crack or chip your residential glass. Windows that are compromised can negatively affect the energy efficiency of your home. A cracked or broken window can also be a serious safety hazard.

Take the time to thoroughly check each pane of glass in your home after a hailstorm. Evaluate any glass doors as well. If you do spot hail damage to your residential glass, an insurance claim can help you pay for replacement windows and doors to restore the structural stability of your home.

Check Your Air Conditioner

Cool air is something that many homeowners take for granted during the summer months. Your home is cooled, in part, by an outdoor compressor unit. Large hailstones can come into contact with the condenser coils in the compressor unit and cause them to get bent out of shape.

Bent coils could result in refrigerant leaks or a loss in efficiency. The money you will receive from an insurance claim can be used to replace damaged condenser coils so that your home's interior temperature will remain as cool and comfortable as possible in the future.

Contact an insurance company like Skipton Claims Management for more information.


Share