Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage?

No matter where you live, water damage is a risk for every home. It’s not just flooding from heavy rains or rising water levels that can cause water damage. A leaky roof, broken pipe or overflowing sink, toilet or tub could mean water harming your home. And even a little bit of water can cause a lot of damage. Here’s what to know about water damage insurance coverage.

What Type of Water Damage Is Covered by Homeowners Insurance?

According to the Insurance Information Institute, most standard homeowners insurance and renters insurance policies generally cover sudden and accidental water damage from things , like:

• Heavy rain or wind-driven rain if a storm causes an opening to the roof or wall
• Overflow from appliances or home heating and cooling systems
• Frozen or burst pipes
• Harm from ice dams on your roof caused by weight of ice, snow or sleet.

Water that comes from flooding isn’t typically covered. If you need or want flood insurance, you can learn more information from the National Flood Insurance Program. 

You’ll need to check your specific coverage to see if water backup of drains or sewers are covered. If they aren’t, you may want to add additional coverage to your policy.  

How to File a Home Insurance Claim for Water Damage          

You can start the process of filing a claim by contacting your insurance agent. The next steps depend on whether you can live in your home or whether there’s so much damage that it’s not safe to live there. 

As part of your renters or homeowners insurance coverage, you may have what’s called additional living expenses (ALE) insurance. That type of coverage may offer you financial support to help pay for your housing, meals, laundry and even a place to care for your pet if you are unable to live in your home because of a covered loss

You’ll need to describe the damage in your claim, and your insurance company likely will arrange to have an adjuster examine your home and property to estimate the repair and replacement costs. You will be asked to provide documentation of items damaged or destroyed, with receipts if possible.

Consider Your Coverage

You may need to take some steps right away to keep damage from getting worse. For example, you might need to have a plumber close off your water lines. Your insurance agent can help you figure out what needs to be done. Save any receipts in case you need them to get reimbursed later.

Make sure to review your coverage with your agent, including your deductible. You may have replacement cost coverage, which may pay for the value of replacing your home and possessions without depreciation. Or you may have actual cash value coverage, which may pay for your possessions at the amount they were worth when they were damaged. 

Be Prepared Before Water Damage Strikes

You don’t want to be facing any unpleasant surprises after a leak or overflow damages your home. Review your homeowners policy coverage with your Farm Bureau agent to make sure you have the protection you need for your home and possessions.