Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage?

There are many perils that are covered by home insurance coverage plans, and knowing what is covered is vital. Also essential is knowing what is not covered by your insurance policies. There are a number of steps to determining how much coverage you need, and which types.

One of the most common questions when it comes to insurance is whether or not water damage is covered by homeowners insurance policies. The answer can be a little complex at times, however. Each insurance company can have different exceptions listed on a policy, so make sure to take the time to not only read what is included in the policies you are considering are, but also what is not included.

If there are things that are excluded and you would like to have coverage for them, take steps to see if supplemental insurance can be added to your policy to cover what you are looking to have covered. Also, remember that each company offers policies that can be different.

The tools here at Homeowners can help you get free quotes on home coverage. Remember that comparing policies can help you save on home insurance in the long run. Also, revisit your homeowner's insurance coverage needs every few years, or whenever a life milestone occurs. Life milestones can include getting married, having a child, building a home add-on, and others as well.

When Does Homeowner’s Insurance Cover Water Damage?

This is important information to know. Check in your policy to make sure your individual policy follows this format. The vast majority of them do, but there are many different types of policies available. In most standard homeowners insurance policies, one of the listed perils is water damage. This most often refers to water damage that is considered sudden internal water damage.

That said, home coverage plans do not cover damage that is caused by a lack of maintenance or neglect. Due to this, and variation in policies, it is not always easy to determine what will be covered by a policy and what will not. There are many distinctions in policy wording, so having the tools like the ones here are important for clarification.

Most standard home insurance plans cover between 13 and 16 perils. These include things like coverage for damage due to wind, fire, and others. If the water damage is something that resulted from this list of covered perils, you may be covered financially for the damage.

There are numerous examples of what can be covered, and if any of these happen to you, make sure to contact your homeowner's insurance provider to make a claim. Some of the most common claims come from the result of water damage due to a rainstorm or a snowstorm. These types of storms can do a lot of damage to things like roofing, basements, and more. Make sure to maintain your home though, or some of these coverages could be void.

Another common type of damage is from burst pipes, accidental overflow, frozen plumbing systems, and faulty plumbing. Walls in your home, as well as plumbing systems, heating systems, and electric systems can be damaged. If you have insurance that covers your personal items, make sure to consider if any of these need to be claimed.

Water damage that occurs from putting out a fire is also covered, as well as damage from a leaking roof. Be aware that the roof itself might not be covered, as some policies only cover damage of this type to the interior of your home.

If an overflow occurs from an appliance, there can also be damage to your home. This type of damage is usually covered. Also covered tends to be damage from mold when it is a result of water damage. If someone damages your home, using water as an act of vandalism, you are also covered.

Verify that each of these things is not listed in the exclusions section of your policy, and remember that if there is extensive damage to your home, you will want to consult professionals to make sure you are getting all of the money that you should be getting.

There are situations where a home insurance provider will not cover damage that is caused by water as well. If the damage is not the result of an accident or sudden occurrence, or if it is the result of neglect or a lack of maintenance, you will be responsible for the costs of repairing the damage.

Some of the things that are not covered by a standard insurance plan include ground seepage, sewage pipe backups, flooding, and coverage for leaks to improperly maintained pipes.

Additional insurance coverage is available for flood damage, and there are tools available to help you determine if your home is in a high-risk area in terms of flooding. Even if you are in a lower risk area, getting this additional coverage may make sense.

How To File A Claim After Water Damage?

Knowing how to identify what is covered by your policy, and what is traditionally covered is an important first step. Once you have identified that you are covered when a peril that causes damage occurs, you can file a claim.

Contact your insurance company at once after you discover water damage. Also, take pictures of the entire damaged area, as well as any specific items that were damaged. Photos of where the water came from should also be taken. If you have photos of the area before the damage occurred, access them to show the assessor. These pictures are helpful if mold develops, and having them to support your claim that the mold was caused by the water damage, and not neglect, is important.

Contact the insurance company next to file your claim. Do not accept the claim right away if the number seems low. Sometimes you need to negotiate with your insurance company to get all the money you need for repairs. Contact a professional if you have any questions, and use the tools here on Homeowners to stay up to date on the most current information.