Home Home insurance Claims We left a faucet turned on in my home and it caused water damage We left a faucet turned on in my home and it caused water damage By Insure.com | Posted on September 27, 2010 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. To insurance companies, “flood” means water that leaks into your home from a nearby lake, stream, river or other body of water. Damage from flooding is not covered under standard home insurance policies. However, water that comes from a leaky dishwasher, a burst pipe or a running faucet doesn’t meet the insurer’s definition of flood, even if the water is knee deep. Damage from these causes should be covered under your home insurance policy. (That’s of course assuming you didn’t leave the faucet on intentionally.) Be careful how you report your water damage claim to your insurance company. Avoid using the word “flood” because in this case it’s inaccurate, by insurance standards, to describe what happened. Telling your insurance agent about a flood in your home will only confuse matters and could lead to a denial of your claim. Explain truthfully what happened. Water damage is one of the most common home insurance claims people make. The issue of water damage and coverage can be tricky, not only because of the confusion over what constitutes a flood but questions about homeowner responsibility in providing necessary upkeep. For instance, a home insurance policy would cover the damages if the temperature dropped below zero and caused a pipe to burst and cover your floor with water. However the insurance company could deny that claim if you had left the house unoccupied and without heat. In that case, the insurer would argue you had failed to take the necessary steps to avoid the accident. To learn more, read about water damage: seven home insurance scenarios. QuickTake Home insurance claims: How to file and what you should know Does homeowners insurance cover rotting wood? Guide to the insurance claims history report (CLUE) Does homeowners insurance cover power surges and outages? How much do claims increase home insurance rates? Does home insurance cover accidental kitchen fires? Is carpenter ant damage covered by homeowners insurance? Can insurance companies enter your house or examine your car? Mistakes to avoid when filing a car insurance claim Does homeowners insurance cover water leaks? Can my homeowners insurance get canceled because my house is empty? Does homeowners insurance cover storage units? How to protect your home from lightning strikes Are pools and hot tubs covered by homeowners insurance? Does homeowners insurance cover mold? Does homeowners insurance cover a leaking washing machine? How to file a successful mold claim Does homeowners insurance cover tornado damage? If the roof on my house caves in due to the weight of snow, is this covered by home insurance? Don't get snookered by fake roof damage scams The basics of sewer backup insurance What to do when lightning hits your house Chain saw massacre: Insurance for downed trees My husband fell in our home and broke his ankle. Will our homeowners insurance cover this since the accident happened in our home? My dad passed away and we need to find the homeowners insurance policy. What should we do? One of my trees fell into my neighbor's yard last night during a storm. It did not cause any damage. Do I need to call my home insurance company to file a claim? That's gross! Why home insurance won't pay for disgusting problems Homeowners premiums fluctuate with community's fire-fighting ability The trouble with drunk friends Home insurance policies cover damage from trees downed by ice and snow See more > 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? Personal liability insurance: What it is and why you need it Renters insurance quotes: Compare rates Hurricanes and home insurance: How hurricane insurance works Replacement cost policies for your home: Getting what you pay for How much do claims increase home insurance rates? Mobile home insurance cost and coverage in 2024 Homeowners insurance basics Home Insurance Advisor The Best Cheap Homeowners Insurance of 2021: Guide How much flood insurance do I need? How to bundle home and auto insurance policies to save money The largest home insurance companies by market share Home insurance discounts for cheaper rates Guide to dog liability insurance: cost and coverage Do you have an emergency go-bag? Most Americans don’t 1/1 Related Articles How long do I have until my home insurance policy lapses for nonpayment? By Penny Gusner How can I get homeowners insurance after non-renewal? By Tanza Loudenback Does homeowners insurance cover rotting wood? By Penny Gusner What is HO-6 condo insurance and what does it cover? By Shivani Gite Are landlords responsible for tree damage to your car? By Casey Bond Can my homeowners insurance get canceled because my house is empty? By Nupur Gambhir Get instant quotes now ! Please enter valid zip Get Quotes