Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage?

If your house has recently been victim to water damage, whether a result of a burst pipe or flooding due to severe weather conditions, you’re likely wondering whether or not this is covered under home insurance.

Firstly, different homeowners and flood policies vary, so this should be your first point of contact when tackling the insurance issue. However, for most households, it’s not all doom and gloom – some water damage is covered under most policies, but it does depend on where the water came from (inside vs. outside).

With this in mind, the remainder of this blog post will discuss more on water damage and homeowners insurance, particularly whether or not it covers any associated damages.

Accidental water damage

Generally, if the water damage is accidental, such as a burst pipe or leaking radiator inside your home, then your homeowner’s insurance policy should cover these costs. However, if the damage is from the outside, such as flooding or flood-related damages, then this will not be covered in the standard policy.

With this being said, you may qualify for some form of compensation or support, so it’s definitely worthwhile contacting your insurance provider and providing them with all of the details.

The extent of the damage

Although some water damage may have been accidental, if these are a result of negligent household items, such as a leaking sink that has not been fixed in months, then you may not qualify for homeowners flood insurance.

The same applies to damages from appliances, such as a washing machine – you may be provided the funds to fix or replace your flood, but not to substitute the washing machine itself.

Flood insurance is required for external water damage and flooding

Finally, flood insurance is required for any external water damage and flood-related incidents. Even if you live in an area that is not likely to flood, purchasing this protects you worst-case scenario, providing security during what can only be described as the worst of times.