Home Home insurance Claims Does homeowners insurance cover a leaking washing machine? Does homeowners insurance cover a leaking washing machine? Water damage from a leaking appliance like a washing machine is covered by home insurance as long as it wasn't due to negligence. The washing machine itself is generally not covered. Written by: Laura Longero Laura Longero Laura Longero is a content strategist and communications leader with more than 15 years of experience in content development in journalism, marketing and communications for start-ups to global companies. She started her career as a reporter and editor and honed her journalistic skills at the USA Today Network, working in several roles, as well as managing content and writing at MoneyGeek and XYZ Media. | Reviewed by: Nupur Gambhir Nupur Gambhir Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service. | Updated on April 26, 2024 Why you can trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing the timely, accurate and expert information consumers need to make smart insurance decisions. All our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. Our team carefully vets our rate data to ensure we only provide reliable and up-to-date insurance pricing. We follow the highest editorial standards. Our content is based solely on objective research and data gathering. We maintain strict editorial independence to ensure unbiased coverage of the insurance industry. Water damage caused by a leaking washing machine is covered by home insurance if the damage is sudden and accidental, and not the result of poor maintenance or neglect. While the resulting damage from the water leak will be covered, the washing machine itself will not, unless a covered peril damaged the machine and caused it to leak. You’ll have to pay your deductible before insurance covers anything. Read on to learn how home insurance works when a washing machine leaks. Key Takeaways Homeowners insurance typically covers water damage from a leaking washing machine as long as it’s not due to negligence and is sudden and accidental. Repairs to the washing machine itself will not be covered unless it was damaged by a covered peril. Proactive maintenance is the best way to ensure that your appliances, such as a washing machine or dishwasher, don’t leak. Does homeowners insurance cover water damage from a washing machine? A homeowners insurance policy will cover water damage when it happens suddenly and accidentally due to a covered peril. If a hose suddenly bursts and water comes out of the washing machine, it will be considered sudden and accidental and likely covered. Generally, insurance companies can deny claims if they determine the problem stemmed from owners failing to do necessary upkeep to prevent damage from happening. Claims can also be denied if the damage was from a slow leak that the owner was aware of and didn’t repair. Will insurance pay for a new washing machine if it leaks? Generally, no. Insurance will cover the water damage caused by the leak, but not the appliance that caused the leak. An exception to this would be if the washing machine was damaged by a covered peril. For example, if a tree falls through a window or wall, crashes into the washing machine and damages it. In this case, the washing machine was damaged by a covered peril, which also caused it to leak, and both the appliance and the damage will likely be covered. Insurance claim tips for water damage If you notice water pooling around your washing machine or if the connection hose is lose or wet, address the issue immediately. Contact your insurance company immediately to file a claim. Your insurer may send a water remediation team out to dry out the house and likely will conduct an investigation to determine how the accident happened. Here are a few tips for filing water damage claims with your insurance company: First, take photos of the damage and water surrounding the faulty appliance to document the water leak. Call your insurance company to file a homeowners claim for water damage and ask them what happens next. Make sure to consult your policy as well to see what’s covered – especially if there’s any sort of hassle or questioning with your insurer. Stop the leak if possible and clean up the water so it doesn’t damage the surrounding area. Contact an assessor to get an estimate of the damage. Get the OK from your insurance company to repair the damage to your home caused by the water leak. Remember, your deductible will apply. So, if your insurer says it will pay $4,000 to cover the water damage from a leaking washing machine and your deductible is $1,000, your payout will be $3,000. QuickTake How do I find the homeowners insurance policy after a parent passes away? Does homeowners insurance cover water leaks? Can my homeowners insurance get canceled because my house is empty? Does home insurance cover accidental kitchen fires? How to file a successful mold claim Can insurance companies enter your house or examine your car? Are pools and hot tubs covered by homeowners insurance? Is carpenter ant damage covered by homeowners insurance? 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Ensure that all water supply lines are clean and free from debris. Keep an eye out for water around all appliances – if you see even a small leak, something’s amiss and it needs to be handled immediately. Frequently asked questions Does homeowners insurance cover plumbing? Not necessarily. The water damage must originate in the home for it to be covered by your homeowners insurance policy, so consider purchasing an additional provision that includes sewer backup insurance. Does homeowners insurance cover the water heater? Your policy will cover any damage caused by a sudden and accidental leak from the water heater, but the replacement of appliances is not covered by most homeowners insurance policies. Does homeowners insurance cover water damage from broken or leaking pipes? As long as the pipes have been maintained, homeowners insurance will cover the water damage caused by sudden and accidental leaking or broken pipes. Does homeowners insurance cover water damage from the dishwasher? A: Similar to the washing machine, a homeowners insurance policy will cover water damage due to appliance malfunctions, but will not pay to replace the dishwasher itself. Laura LongeroExecutive Editor | . .Laura Longero is a content strategist and communications leader with more than 15 years of experience in content development in journalism, marketing and communications for start-ups to global companies. She started her career as a reporter and editor and honed her journalistic skills at the USA Today Network, working in several roles, as well as managing content and writing at MoneyGeek and XYZ Media. In case you missed it What is HO-6 condo insurance and what does it cover? Average homeowners insurance cost by ZIP code in 2024 What is dwelling coverage and how much do you need? 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By Nupur Gambhir What is HO-6 condo insurance and what does it cover? By Shivani Gite Home insurance inspection: How to prepare a checklist By Daniel Bortz Does homeowners insurance cover car damage? By Nupur Gambhir On this page Does homeowners insurance cover water damage from a washing machine?Will insurance pay for a new washing machine if it leaks?Insurance claim tips for water damageHow to prevent your washing machine from leakingFrequently asked questions Get instant quotes now ! Please enter valid zip Get Quotes