Arizona monsoon season runs from June 15 to September 30, and every year we get clients whose homes were hit by wind, hail, or microburst water damage, only to discover their homeowners policy does not fully cover it. The short answer to the question in this headline: it depends, and most standard policies have gaps. Here is how to find out where yours stands before the storms hit.
What monsoon damage looks like in Scottsdale
Real claims we have seen from clients in the last three monsoon seasons:
- Roof shingles torn off by 60+ mph wind gusts in north Scottsdale
- Hail damage on tile roofs in Cave Creek and Carefree
- Microburst water intrusion through poorly sealed roof valleys
- Fence destruction from straight-line winds
- HVAC unit damage from blown debris
- Pool equipment damage from flooding
- Dust storm sandblasting on stucco and windows
What standard policies typically cover
- Wind damage (usually with a separate windstorm deductible)
- Hail damage (subject to the same deductible)
- Falling objects (tree limbs, debris)
- Sudden and accidental water damage from a covered event
What standard policies often exclude or limit
- Flood damage (this is the big one, flood is excluded from EVERY standard policy and requires a separate flood policy)
- Ground water seepage
- Mold (some policies cap mold remediation at $5,000 to $10,000)
- Cosmetic roof damage (some cap or exclude older roofs entirely)
- Wear-and-tear (insurers often dispute claims as pre-existing)
Arizona-specific endorsements worth asking about
- Roof age endorsement: extends coverage on roofs over a certain age
- Water backup coverage: covers damage from sewer or drain backup, common in microburst flooding
- Service line coverage: covers underground utility line damage
- Equipment breakdown: covers HVAC failures from power surges
- Ordinance or law coverage: pays the gap between current building codes and your policy
How to check your own policy in 10 minutes
- Pull out your declarations page
- Find your dwelling coverage amount. Does it match your current rebuild cost? Arizona construction costs are up significantly since 2020.
- Find your wind/hail deductible. Is it a flat dollar amount or a percentage of dwelling value?
- Check for any roof age or roof condition exclusions
- Confirm you have a separate flood policy if you are in a flood zone
Free Scottsdale-area policy review
Call (480) 922-8820 or request a free policy review online. We will go through your existing home insurance policy and tell you exactly what is covered, what is not, and where the most cost-effective gap fixes are.
Barr Insurance serves Scottsdale, Phoenix, Paradise Valley, and all of Arizona.
