What type of water damage is covered by homeowners insurance

Some of the most common home insurance claims come from water damage. When it comes to covering water damage, most homeowner insurance policies will cover you. Although, there are circumstances like gradual damage that are not covered. As you can see, knowing what’s included in your policy can be important. Around 1 out of every 50 homeowners will file a claim due to water damage each year. 

Homeowners insurance can help you pay for repairs if the drywall within the home becomes water logged. There are other situations for example if a pipe bursts unexpectedly and the water from the tank damages your home, you may be covered in situations like these. 

There are two types of homeowners insurance coverages that may apply, depending on what exactly is damaged. 

Personal Property Coverage

The first being personal property coverage which helps to pay for damages to your personal belongings. You should be covered as long as it was caused by an insured risk. For example if your water heater unexpectedly has a pipe that ruptures and causes water damage to your personal belongings within the house, you may be covered. Personal property coverage might pay to repair or replace any damaged property. 

Dwelling Coverage

Dwelling coverage is designed to cover the structure of the home. For example if that same water heater has a pipe that unexpectedly breaks and damages the walls within the home, dwelling coverage might pay to repair or replace parts of the home that are damaged. The source of the damage would have to come from a “covered peril” to be covered. If you’re interested in finding out what covered perils are included in your policy, please feel free to reach out to one of our professional homeowners insurance agents 916 313 6100

Water Damage Often Not Included in Homeowners Insurance Policies

There are a few types of water damage that will more than likely not be covered in your homeowners insurance policy. It’s good to know of them beforehand so you can take any appropriate measures to prevent these sorts of damages.

Water Damage from Lingering Maintenance Issues

If water damage results from unresolved maintenance issues due to a leaky pipe or faucet you more than likely will not be covered under your homeowners insurance policy. If you notice issues that may result in future water damage, it’s always best to fix them as soon as you can. 

The Source of the Water Damage

When it comes to replacing or repairing the source of the water damage, most homeowners insurance policies will not cover the actual source. For example, your homeowners insurance policy may cover the repairs of the damaged walls within your home, but will more than likely not cover the water heater that burst and caused the damage. 

Exterior Cause of the Water Damage

Different forms of insurance will cover different things. A typical homeowners insurance policy will not cover damages caused from outside sources. For example if an exterior drain backs up and causes water damage within your home, you probably won’t be covered. Although, there are insurance policies that will cover you for situations like these. If you are interested in learning more about ways to cover damages from outside sources, please reach out to one of wonderful agents. They can answer all of your questions and get you the home insurance policy you actually need! Call us today 916 313 6100.

Water Damage Caused by Flooding

Water damage caused by flooding needs to covered under a flood insurance policy. Your typical homeowners insurance policy will not cover flooding, no matter the cause of the water. Usual causes for flooding are from bodies of water, like rivers, lakes, ponds etc. If you need coverage for potential flood issues, you want to look into flood insurance. The agents at Eugene C Yates Insurance Agency can help you with that as well.

So When is Water Damage Covered in My Homeowners Insurance Policy?

Although exterior sources of water damage are not included in your standard homeowners insurance policy, if the cause of the damage is sudden and internal, there’s a chance it may be covered. Always keep in mind, lack of maintenance or neglect is never covered in an insurance policy. It is your job as the homeowner to keep the repairs and maintenance up to date and in proper working function. 

There’s usually a special requirement that the water have never touched the outside ground. This means the cause of the damage would have to be one of the sixteen covered perils within your homeowners insurance policy. It would have to be accidental or sudden, like a crack, burn or break that causes water to flow out. 

A few examples might be;

• A snow storm or excess rain
• A broken pipe that all the sudden bursts from being frozen
• A fire extinguisher that bursts
• Vandalism
• Mold (depending on if it is actually covered in your personal policy)
• One of your appliances accidentally bursts
• A leaky roof (coverage would apply to the home, not the roof)

When it comes to what is and isn’t covered within your homeowners insurance policy it can vary depending on the home insurance company you use. This is why we always have expert homeowners insurance agents standing by to answer all of your questions regarding your new home insurance policy. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out to us directly. We’re nice people & we have great rates! 916 313 6100