Knowing what your home insurance covers if your home suffers from water damage is essential because water is one of the most significant risks to your home and possessions. According to the Insurance Information Institute, nearly one in fifty homeowners report water damage or freezing yearly, making up 29% of all homeowners insurance claims.
It is also one of the most frequent and expensive categories of homeowner insurance claims (including damage from freezing). Damage caused by specific water issues, such as burst pipes, may be covered by homeowners insurance, but there are also situations when your homeowners insurance won’t protect you.
Check out the blog to learn more about water damage and whether your homeowners insurance policy fully covers it.
When Is Water Damage Covered By Homeowners Insurance?
In general, “sudden and unintentional” water damage (like a burst pipe) is covered, but gradual damage (like a leaking bathroom sink) is not. Flooding, including damage from a hurricane’s storm surge, is also not covered.
Typical examples of water damage covered by homeowners insurance are:
- Ruptured pipes- This might involve a frozen pipe that breaks, but not if you fail to maintain a sufficient level of heating in the house.
- Accidental leaks- In cases such as plumbing leaks or appliance leaks from a damaged dishwasher or washing machine.
- Damage from a tree falling on your roof, as well as water damage from a roof leak.
- Storm-related water damage from hail or torrential rain.
- Ice dams– In cases such as ice dams that accumulate in your gutter and damage your home, it may be covered as long as the damage was unexpected and wasn’t the result of poor maintenance.
When Is Water Damage Not Covered by Homeowners Insurance?
A normal homeowners insurance policy won’t often cover the following common issue
- Flood water damage- This may include flood water from hurricanes, tsunamis, storm surges, overflowing rivers, and rainwater.
- Lack of upkeep or carelessness- Failing to fix a plumbing issue or not being able to keep the heat on during freezing weather can result in water damage.
- Water damage due to sewers or drains- These are damages caused by sources outside your home.
- Leaks from a swimming pool or other constructions- These cause water damage.
- Damage to a foundation- Caused due to seepage or leaks of water.
- Failure of the sump pump or associated equipment leads to water damage. For those kinds of issues, you might want to take sump and water backup coverage into account.
How To Prevent Water Damage?
- Make sure your appliances are properly installed and maintained. If something is not working right, don’t wait until there’s a problem – take it into your own hands and fix it.
- Check for leaks regularly. A small leak can quickly become a major one, so be on the lookout for anything that might be leaking – even if you think it’s minor.
- Keep your home and property well-maintained. This means keeping the lawn mowed, the gutters cleaned, and any other areas that could potentially cause water damage in good condition.
Final Thoughts
Water damage can be a devastating event, and it’s important to have the proper insurance coverage in place to help cover the costs of repairs. Make sure you understand what is protected under your policy and know how to use them to protect yourself should an unfortunate event occur.
Consult with Advanced Insurance Group
Are you looking for a policy that is specially designed to meet your needs? Contact our experts at Advanced Insurance Group to find the best homeowners insurance plan for your requirements.
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