Water Damage Claims

Generally, house water damage that is considered “sudden and accidental” is covered (like a burst pipe) but not gradual damage, like a leaking bathroom sink. And flooding is not covered, such as damage from storm surge during a hurricane.

Water damage covered by homeowners insurance typically includes:

• Burst pipes. This might include a frozen pipe that bursts, but not if you neglected to keep the home properly heated.
• Accidental leaks, such as leaking plumbing or an appliance leak, like a broken washing machine or dishwasher.
• Water damage after a fire from water used to extinguish the flames, such as water from a sprinkler system or a hose from the fire department.
• Water damage from a roof leak, such as damage from a storm or a tree that falls on your roof. Keep in mind, if an accident (like a fallen tree) damages your roof, you’ll be required to fix the damage in a reasonable amount of time. Failure to do so could result in further water damage that won’t be covered.
• Water damage from storms, such as heavy rain or hail.
• Ice dams, such as ice that builds up in your gutter and damages your home, may be covered as long as the damage was sudden and wasn’t caused by a lack of maintenance.