Peak Claims Season Is Here: Summer Risks to Watch

Severe weather, flooding, fire risks, and summertime liability exposures make summer one of the busiest times of year for Homeowners Insurance claims, according to a recent report from WPTV NewsChannel 5 in Florida. Storms involving wind, hail, and heavy rain contribute to seasonal claim activity, while pools, trampolines, and other outdoor activities can create additional liability concerns for homeowners, the outlet noted.

At the same time, insurance professionals say rising rebuilding costs and increasingly intense weather events make it more important for homeowners to fully understand their coverage.

“Summer is definitely peak season for claims,” said Corey Aupperle, Underwriter, Personal Insurance, Burns & Wilcox, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. “The warmer weather brings increased outdoor activity and creates more opportunities for both property damage and liability losses.”

The warmer weather brings increased outdoor activity and creates more opportunities for both property damage and liability losses.

Although summer often means more time outdoors, it can also bring thunderstorms, hail, high winds, heavy rain, and other hazards that create both property and liability risks for homeowners. As losses become more costly, homeowners should look beyond price when evaluating Personal Insurance options, said Marielle Charron, Regional Practice Group Leader, Burns & Wilcox, Boston, Massachusetts.

“I believe it is crucial that consumers stop treating insurance as a commodity,” she said. “One of the biggest mistakes consumers make is shopping solely based on price. Insurance should be viewed as a critical component of an overall financial planning strategy.”

Insurance should be viewed as a critical component of an overall financial planning strategy.

Flood risks extend beyond ‘flood zones’

Flooding is one of the most common — and most misunderstood — risks faced by homeowners. Earlier this month, a family in Waco, Texas, said they faced $30,000 in flood damage to their home after heavy rains and said that only $5,000 would be covered by their current insurance, KXXV reported. In March, flooding from higher-than-average rainfall affected communities across Michigan, including areas where some residents said they had previously spent tens of thousands of dollars repairing flood damage to their homes, WILX reported.

Homeowners Insurance policies typically exclude flood damage, making a separate Flood Insurance policy necessary. However, many homeowners do not believe they need Flood Insurance if it is not required by their mortgage lender.

“A common belief is you are not at risk if you do not live in a designated flood zone,” Charron said. “The reality is much simpler: If it rains where you live, you have a flood exposure. Flooding can occur anywhere and standard Homeowners Insurance policies do not cover flood damage.”

A common belief is you are not at risk if you do not live in a designated flood zone. The reality is much simpler: If it rains where you live, you have a flood exposure.

This is “one of the largest [coverage] gaps” homeowners face, she said.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a single inch of water can cause about $25,000 of damage to a home. Confusion surrounding water-related claims is common, Aupperle said, particularly when homeowners assume all types of water damage are treated equally by insurance policies.

“Flood is definitely a tricky area,” she said. “Where and how the water comes in determines whether it is covered under a Homeowners Insurance policy or not.”

Water damage can also come from other sources. According to Aupperle, sewer backups following intense rainstorms can create costly losses, yet many homeowners do not realize that Sewer Backup Coverage is often available only through an endorsement on their Homeowners Insurance.

“Unfortunately, a lot of individuals do not know how adequate the coverage they have is until a claim happens, and then it is too late,” she said.

Unfortunately, a lot of individuals do not know how adequate the coverage they have is until a claim happens, and then it is too late.

Understanding wind and hail coverage

More than a quarter of U.S. homes face at least one “severe or extreme climate risk,” a 2025 Realtor.com Climate Risk Report found. Outside of flood risk, 18.3% of homes were at severe or extreme risk of wind damage, and 5.6% of homes faced severe or extreme wildfire risk, according to the report. In recent days, severe summer storms brought damaging winds and heavy rains throughout the Midwest and Great Lakes.

“Summer brings thunderstorms, hail, high winds, and heavy rain, and that can cause property damage to roofs, siding, windows, fences, and more,” Aupperle said.

Increasing severe weather events and the continued rise in rebuilding costs create additional challenges for property owners, and some are finding that their Homeowners Insurance policies no longer reflect today’s construction costs, Charron said. “Summer weather is becoming increasingly more unpredictable and severe,” she said. “That is driving up the total cost of claims.”

Homeowners should review their replacement cost estimates and policy deductibles during each renewal period and ensure they understand how specific perils are addressed. Many insurance carriers have implemented separate Wind and Hail Deductibles that differ from a standard all-other-perils deductible, Aupperle pointed out.

“A lot of homeowners may not know or pay attention to that,” she said. “Those Wind and Hail Deductibles can be upwards of 5%, so it is important to find out in the very beginning.”

Many carriers are also implementing roof coverage restrictions or Roof Settlement Schedules that determine claim payouts based on the age of the roof. These policy details should be discussed with an insurance broker at renewal, or after renovations, major purchases, or life changes, Charron said.

“If the policy limit is not adequate, there could be a gap in coverage, which would then fall on the homeowner to cover,” she said.

Liability exposures often increase in summer

Summer activities can also increase liability exposures for homeowners. According to the recent WPTV report, pools and trampolines are among the home features that can contribute to injury claims. Backyard gatherings and increased foot traffic can also increase the risk of claims.

“The biggest thing is pools and the liability exposure that comes with them,” Aupperle said, pointing to “pool-related accidents, slips and falls, and diving accidents.”

Homeowners should be transparent with their insurance carrier about pools, trampolines, and other features that could affect coverage, and review their liability limits closely.

“Having adequate liability limits is imperative, especially in the litigious environment that we are all operating in,” Charron said. “The days of purchasing minimum liability limits are gone.”

Many homeowners may also benefit from Personal Umbrella Insurance, which can provide an additional layer of liability protection above underlying Homeowners Insurance limits.

“A standard Homeowners Insurance policy may have a minimum liability limit of $100,000,” Aupperle said, while a slip-and-fall accident with a trip to the ER could consume a substantial portion of that limit. “With pools and the risk of summertime accidents, the Personal Umbrella is definitely a coverage that individuals should not overlook.”

When reviewing coverage, homeowners should think beyond premium costs and focus on whether their policy adequately protects their assets and long-term financial well-being, Charron emphasized. “The cheapest policy is often the most expensive mistake after a claim,” she said.