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. View Carriers Please enter valid zip Compare top carriers in your area Written by Nupur GambhirNupur GambhirEditor-in-ChiefNupur Gambhir is the editor-in-chief of Insure.com and a licensed life, health and disability insurance agent in New York with seven years of experience covering insurance. Her expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Balance, The Financial Gym and MSN. 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Homeowners insurance usually covers water damage from a leaking washing machine when the leak is sudden and accidental, like a supply hose that suddenly bursts. It won’t cover damage from a slow leak you ignored, a worn-out hose you should have replaced, or the cost of fixing the machine itself. A leaking washing machine is one of the most common sources of home water damage, partly because a failed supply hose can release an enormous amount of water fast. Whether you’re covered comes down to the same thing that governs most water claims, the cause and the timing. A hose that snaps without warning reads as an accident, while a leak that’s been building for weeks reads as a maintenance problem you were responsible for. What to do the moment you find the leak Shut off the water at the valves behind the washer, or the main if it won’t stop Stay clear of standing water if the machine is still plugged in Photograph everything before you mop up or move anything Weigh the cost against your deductible, since a small loss may be cheaper to pay out of pocket than to claim If needed, call your insurer to report it and ask what they need next What washing machine damage does homeowners insurance cover? Homeowners insurance covers the water damage a washing machine causes when the failure is sudden and accidental, such as a supply hose that bursts. Depending on what the water hits, that damage is paid through up to three parts of your policy. Dwelling coverage repairs the structure of your home, like flooring, subfloor, drywall, and baseboards Personal property coverage repairs or replaces belongings the water ruined, like rugs, furniture, or anything stored nearby Loss of use coverage helps with added costs like temporary housing if the damage forces you out during repairs A second-floor washer that floods the rooms below is a common example where dwelling and personal property coverage both apply. What washing machine damage is not covered? The gaps almost always trace back to wear and tear or neglect, since insurers expect you to maintain your own appliances. The most common exclusions are below. The washing machine itself. Your policy pays to fix the floor the water ruined, not to repair or replace the broken machine. Old or worn hoses. A rubber supply hose that finally gives out after years of use is treated as maintenance, not an accident. Slow, ongoing leaks. A drip you noticed and left alone is considered neglect. Gradual damage. Staining, rot, or warped flooring that built up over time points to a problem you should have caught sooner. Why the machine isn’t covered, but your floor is Homeowners insurance protects against sudden accidents, not the natural aging of your stuff A worn-out appliance is considered your responsibility to maintain or replace The one exception is when a separate covered event damages the machine, like a tree falling through the roof onto it Why does the cause of a washing machine leak matter so much? The cause matters because insurers only pay for damage that was sudden and unavoidable, not damage they consider preventable. A supply hose bursting out of nowhere is a clear, single event, so it reads as an accident. A hose that was visibly cracked, a connection that had been dripping, or flooring that warped slowly all point to something you could have addressed sooner, which is why those claims get denied. This is also why documentation matters so much. Clear photos of a clean break or a failed valve support the sudden-and-accidental story, while signs of long-term moisture can work against you. What to read next Does homeowners insurance cover rotting wood? Does homeowners insurance cover power surges and outages? How do I find the homeowners insurance policy after a parent passes away? Is carpenter ant damage covered by homeowners insurance? Guide to the insurance claims history report (CLUE) How much do claims increase home insurance premiums? How to file a successful mold claim Home insurance claims: How to file and what you should know Can insurance companies cancel your policy if your home is vacant? Does homeowners insurance cover water damage? Does home insurance cover lightning strikes? Does homeowners insurance cover tornado damage? Does homeowners insurance cover mold? Does home insurance cover damage from fallen trees? Does home insurance cover roof damage from heavy snow? What is sewer backup insurance? Does homeowners insurance cover storage units? Does home insurance cover accidental kitchen fires? Can insurance companies enter your house or examine your car? Are pools and hot tubs covered by homeowners insurance? Mistakes to avoid when filing a car insurance claim We left a faucet turned on in my home and it caused water damage Show more How do I file a claim for a washing machine leak? Start by stopping the water and documenting the scene, then report the claim before you do any permanent cleanup. A well-documented claim moves faster and is far likelier to be approved. Here’s the order that works best. Shut off the water at the valves behind the washer, or the main shutoff if needed. Stay safe by keeping out of standing water while the machine is still powered. Photograph and film everything, including the water, the damaged areas, and the source if you can see it. Make emergency repairs to limit further damage, like drying the area, and keep the receipts. Weigh the repair cost against your deductible, since a small loss may be cheaper to pay out of pocket than to file. If needed, call your insurer to report the claim and ask about your deductible and next steps. Save the damaged items and the failed hose or part until the adjuster has seen them. Hang on to the broken part Keep the failed hose, valve, or part rather than throwing it out It can show the failure was sudden, which supports your claim Let the adjuster see the damage before you do permanent repairs How can I prevent washing machine leaks? The best protection is catching a weak hose or connection before it fails, since prevention costs far less than any claim. A burst supply line can pour out hundreds of gallons an hour, so small habits make a big difference. Check the hoses monthly for cracks, bulges, or moisture, and replace them every few years Upgrade to braided steel hoses, which hold up far better than basic rubber ones Tighten and inspect connections so nothing works loose over time Turn off the supply valves when you’re away for a long stretch Add a leak detector or auto-shutoff, which can catch a problem while it’s still small Frequently asked questions Does homeowners insurance cover a burst washing machine hose? Usually yes, as long as the hose burst suddenly. If it failed because it was old and worn and you hadn’t replaced it, the claim may be denied as neglect. Will my insurance replace the washing machine itself? Generally no. Your policy covers the water damage the machine causes, not the appliance, unless the machine was damaged by a separate covered event like a fire or a falling tree. Does insurance cover a slow washing machine leak? Typically not. A leak that developed gradually or that you knew about and left unaddressed is treated as a maintenance issue rather than a sudden accident. What if the leak caused mold? Mold may be covered if it resulted directly from a sudden, covered leak and you dried the area quickly, usually within a day or two. Mold from a slow leak or ongoing dampness is usually excluded or capped. Will filing a washing machine leak claim raise my rates? It can, since water damage is a common and costly claim type. For smaller losses, compare the repair cost to your deductible, since paying out of pocket may protect your rate. Nupur GambhirManaging Editor | . .Nupur Gambhir is the editor-in-chief of Insure.com and a licensed life, health and disability insurance agent in New York with seven years of experience covering insurance. Her expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Balance, The Financial Gym and MSN. 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By Nupur Gambhir Does homeowners insurance cover laptop or computer damage? By Nupur Gambhir Does homeowners insurance cover rotting wood? By Nupur Gambhir How do I find the homeowners insurance policy after a parent passes away? By Alisha Ambre What is HO-6 condo insurance and how much does it cost? By Shivani Gite Home insurance inspection checklist By Nupur Gambhir On this page What washing machine damage does homeowners insurance cover?What washing machine damage is not covered?Why does the cause of a washing machine leak matter so much?How do I file a claim for a washing machine leak?How can I prevent washing machine leaks?Frequently asked questions ZIP Code Please enter valid ZIP See rates 1-833-708-6021