Got insurance?

[KRG]

Has any of you ever successfully been able to add your larger tanks to your homeowners insurance policy? I haven't called my agent yet and don't even know how to approach the subject. I am in the middle of my latest and biggest project, a custom through wall, and it's getting quite large (the project....the tanks still 125g ) If a big earthquake happens, or something else, and the tank breaks I want water damage coverage. I have earthquake coverage but don't know if there is such a thing as aquarium coverage. It seems that I heard somewhere that most insurance companies don't even insure damage from waterbeds, I could be wrong though. Does anyone know how to go about insuring a reef tank? Has anyone tried?

~ Krystee

 

[balogh03]

your telling me....that would suck if all 3 tanks went down. that would be roughly 650 gallons of water flowing through the house .

 

[LakeEd]

Krystee,

I don't have a clue how to go about doing that either... but it is a great thought! I'll tag along to see what information other's may have.

 

[Detri]

All I had to do was tell my Insurance comapany that I had a tank and they adjusted my premium accordingly.

 

[Jiddy]

I also had "tank insurance" for the just in case situation

 

[Scooterman]

Sounds like a good idea in case you get a few hundred gallons of water on the floor, I wonder what exactly do they cover?

 

[szidls]

I suppose you would have to get a rider coverage for the individual tank and inhabitants if that is what you want to insure. In case of a flood not sure. Many years ago I had a house where a water pipe broke when we were on vacation. Long story short was that the damage caused by the leak was covered but the actual plumbing break was not. Also might be a good thing to check on fire protection with all the various tank related electrical equipment in use.
Scott

 

[KRG]

I had a similar situation and I was on vacation too. When we returned home we found water in our basement and the main water pipe had cracked inside the wall. Our homeowners did not cover it because the break was due to an old pipe and not a tree falling on our house etc.... We had to pay out of pocket for all of the damage. We also had some mold on the interior of the wall where the break was, and I don't know about other insurance companies but State Farm quit insuring for mold damage in WA state because apparently they just go too many claims. That really bummed me out and got me thinking about how to insure a tank.

 

[burning2nd]

depend on your carrier.

the real only thing you can do is add water damage coverage. (if you dont live by water) your agent will most likely look at you sideways.

as far as a seperate insurence policy for a tank, i dont think so. thats like asking to insure your tv from brakeing.

altho the idea does pos, a possabul money makeing situation. i dont know of anything like that.

like szidls said, i had the same story. pipe bust'd filled the bassment with about 2 and 1/2 feet of water destoryed everything that was within thos 2 and half feet.

the repair was about $.50 a clamp and some glue, the damage was the brand new carpet the brand new finished bassment (where im siting now) almost everything the couch's all kinds of stuff.

from now on i dont let extention cords and power stripes sit on the floor anymore. i put it about 3 feet up on the wall.



its bin named "the great flood" and hopefully doesnt happen till we move.

 

[DonW]

depend on your carrier.

the real only thing you can do is add water damage coverage. (if you dont live by water) your agent will most likely look at you sideways.

Water damage and flood insurance are two different things. Ask for a rider for the tank and livestock in case of fire, tree falling ect. If you have water damage ask if there is a aquarium exclusion or inclusion adendom. Your agent should be able to print one out for you either way get it in writing.

Don

 

[KRG]

Scott,
Don,

That's smart, I will definately look into the rider. We run a business out of our home and had to get a rider for our home office so hopefully there is some sort of rider for the tank. And like you said Don, hopefully there is another add on for water damage. I'll make the call and see what they say.

 

[KRG]

Ok!

I got some really interesting news! Because my newest tank is being built through the wall and all of the construction is making this a permanent part of the dwelling, the tank itself becomes a part of the "dwelling". State Farm told me to submit the construction pictures and the end project pictures and it will be included in the policy as part of the house. They will not cover a breakage from the house settling or if my son were to smash it with a baseball bat etc.... But, fire, tree on the house, earthquake (because we added earthquake insurance) and any other things that would be covered under normal homeowners insurance will be covered for the tank! They will not cover any of the tank occupants and they will not offer a rider for the tank by itself. They also said they wouldn't cover any tanks that I have on stands and not built directly into the house. It has to be a part of the house to be covered. It's interesting and at least I know that now I will be covered for some things regarding the tank!

~ Krystee

 

[KRG]

It has to be a part of the house to be covered.

Just to clarify....It (the tank) has to be part of the house (for the damage that the tank breaking would cause) to be covered under the homeowners insurance policy.

Sorry if that was confusing in my last post.

 

[wrightme43]

So just cut two small holes into the drywall on all the tanks. Run short 2x4 runs to the framing and whalaa even stand alone tanks are part of the house. Fill the holes with drywall mud, sand smooth and paint the wall and 2x4 to match. Everything is covered. God Bless America!!! I love this place.

 

[KRG]

:lol: Luv it!

 

[DonW]

Just to clarify....It (the tank) has to be part of the house (for the damage that the tank breaking would cause) to be covered under the homeowners insurance policy.

Sorry if that was confusing in my last post.

Farmers was a little easier. $30 a year if the tank explodes or a tree falls on it. They wont cover coral or lr but they will cover fish. To hard to set a value of coral and lr. They will pay for anything that has a sales slip.

Don

 

[KRG]

Will Farners cover water damage and all? What do you mean by explodes ? If it is a homeowner error in the setup that causes the break is it still covered??? (State Farm said "no way")

Also, how are the fish covered? Obviously they are'nt covered when they die of old age . Is it just if they splatter to the floor during a natural disaster or are you covered when they jump ship? How come they wont cover LR, it sticks around a lot longer and also has a sales receipt?

Let me know, maybe I need to call around a bit more. State Farm has insured everything for me for the last 19 years (ouch, that sounds bad...but let me state that starting out was just car insurance)

 

[Brenden]

I have State Farm. I called when I added my current tank. When I told him I had 700 gallons of water in the house he about flipped out. In short any damage to the house and furnishings is 100% covered in case of a leak or failure. They will not pay to replace the tank but it has a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer. Fish and corals are not covered unless you get a seperate policy.

 

[DonW]

Will Farners cover water damage and all? What do you mean by explodes ? If it is a homeowner error in the setup that causes the break is it still covered??? (State Farm said "no way")

Also, how are the fish covered? Obviously they are'nt covered when they die of old age . Is it just if they splatter to the floor during a natural disaster or are you covered when they jump ship? How come they wont cover LR, it sticks around a lot longer and also has a sales receipt?

Let me know, maybe I need to call around a bit more. State Farm has insured everything for me for the last 19 years (ouch, that sounds bad...but let me state that starting out was just car insurance)

They will cover fish if something happens like a house fire. They will cover lr and coral if you have the origonal sales slip. If you have a $10 frag that you grew into a $1000 colony they will give $10. If a seem breaks on the tank (acrylic only) its covered for water damage. The tank and its parts like pumps are covered if the house burns. I'm sure with a bit of lawyering you could get the real value for coral.

Don

 

[KRG]

Brenden,

I thought the manufacturers warranty was only valid if placed on thieir own stand? Am I wrong? My tank is not top of the line, it is All-Glass and they are very picky about their warranties.

How did you go about getting Farmers to cover a leak from a cause other than a natural disaster?

I was told I could not get a policy from State Farm to insure the tank by itself being with inhabitants or without.

Is this a variance in States, I notice your are from NC?

Sorry my post reads like a question drilling for a political event.....not intended!!! ~ Krystee