Home Home insurance Claims Does homeowners insurance cover water damage? Does homeowners insurance cover water damage? Water damage is covered by home insurance as long as it is accidental, caused by a covered peril and not the result of neglect or poor maintenance. View Carriers Please enter valid zip Compare top carriers in your area Written 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. Reviewed by John McCormick John McCormick John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology. Updated on: July 24, 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. Homeowners insurance covers water damage, but only in specific circumstances. Homeowners insurance won’t pay out for water damage due to poor maintenance, wear and tear or negligence. However, water damage from faulty plumbing or ruptured pipes are usually covered. Damage that happened as a result of weather damage will also be covered. For example, if a storm damages your roof and water leaks in, the damage is covered. Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover damage from floods, however; you need a separate flood insurance policy for that. Key Takeaways Home insurance does not cover damage from normal wear and tear, but it does cover leaks from sudden events, like a ruptured appliance hose. A standard home policy also does not cover overland flooding, but does cover water entering your home from above, such as rain leaking in when a storm damages your roof. Prevent water damage by periodically checking behind appliances and under sinks to ensure everything is dry. When does homeowners insurance cover water damage? Not all water damage is covered by homeowners insurance. Water damage that is covered includes: Burst pipes Frozen pipes Faulty plumbing Faulty appliances, like washing machines and dishwashers Leaks through a roof that was damaged by a covered peril Remember that homeowners insurance will not pay to replace the faulty appliance that caused the damage. For example, while home insurance may cover the water damage to the ceiling, floor, walls or furniture, it won’t pay for replacing the burst pipe or the broken washing machine. Additionally, before the insurance company pays out, they will want to see that you’ve regularly maintained your house and that none of the damage is caused due to neglect. And, that as soon as the damage happened, you took steps to fix it. “What’s really important to know for leaks is when did the insured notice it and take action,” says Christine G. Barlow, a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter and managing editor of National Underwriter and FC&S Online, which interprets insurance policies for the industry. What types of water damage aren’t covered by homeowners insurance? Unfortunately, not all water damage is covered by homeowners insurance. If the cause of the water damage is gradual, or if the damage happened over time and because of deterioration, you likely won’t get a payout. Most of the time, you won’t get a payout for water damage that happened due to one of these reasons: Leaks due to neglect or poor maintenance Flooding Clogged pipes Sewer line backups There are, however, some rare policies that cover gradual damage. Also, if you can prove that the gradual damage wasn’t caused by neglect and that you were unable to see it happening to stop it, you may be able to get money for the damage from your homeowners insurance company. What to do if you experience water damage By taking these steps, you will be more likely to receive a claim payout from your homeowners insurance company: Document everything, from the initial damage to any additional damage you find Try to repair and control the damage Contact a contractor to evaluate the damage and determine the cost of the repairs Additionally, you should also regularly maintain your home throughout the year to demonstrate that any damage is not due to neglect and keep all of your receipts. You’ll also want to carefully check your policy details before conducting repairs to determine what is covered. QuickTake Home insurance claims: How to file and what you should know Is carpenter ant damage covered by homeowners insurance? Guide to the insurance claims history report (CLUE) Does homeowners insurance cover rotting wood? How to file a successful mold claim Does homeowners insurance cover a leaking washing machine? 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? How do I find the homeowners insurance policy after a parent passes away? Can my homeowners insurance get canceled because my house is empty? Does home insurance cover accidental kitchen fires? Are pools and hot tubs covered by homeowners insurance? Can insurance companies enter your house or examine your car? Does homeowners insurance cover power surges and outages? How much do claims increase home insurance rates? Mistakes to avoid when filing a car insurance claim Don't get snookered by fake roof damage scams 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? 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 We left a faucet turned on in my home and it caused water damage Homeowners premiums fluctuate with community's fire-fighting ability The trouble with drunk friends See more > How to prevent water damage Will Southcombe, director of standards and performance at PuroClean, a property damage restoration service, suggests ensuring all holes are properly caulked and sealed and keeping eaves and downspouts clean. He recommends periodically checking behind appliances and under sinks to make sure everything is dry. That means moving out the stuff under the kitchen sink for several years. Note: Be careful when pulling out the refrigerator to check for a leak in the icemaker water line and avoid running over the water line or crimping a copper line. Southcombe also suggests replacing rubber supply hoses to appliances with braided hoses, which are made of rubber surrounded by wire mesh. Braided hoses can still spring a leak, but they won’t burst. “So you have a nuisance on your hands instead of a catastrophe,” he says. Generally, you should replace water supply hoses on appliances every five to seven years. Understanding your homeowners insurance policy’s coverage for water damage can save you from unexpected costs and stress. Always review your policy and consider additional coverage if needed, to ensure you and your home are fully protected against water damage. Frequently asked questions Does home insurance cover ceiling damage due to leaks? Sometimes. Whether or not homeowners insurance covers ceiling damage from leaks depends on what caused the damage in the first place. The ceiling damage will only be covered if the cause is included in your homeowners insurance policy. Does home insurance cover plumbing leaks? Homeowners insurance only covers plumbing leaks if the leak happened suddenly or was an accident. Any plumbing leaks caused due to neglect will not be covered by homeowners insurance. Does homeowners insurance cover window leaks? Most homeowners insurance will pay for the damage caused by the window leaks, but will not pay to replace the windows themselves. A leaking window is not covered because homeowners insurance companies view it as a defect that happened gradually and should have been maintained or repaired. Does homeowners insurance cover hidden water damage? In some cases, if you can prove the hidden damage was not due to neglect, your homeowners insurance policy may cover it. Nupur GambhirManaging Editor | . .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. In case you missed it What is HO-6 condo insurance and how much does it cost? 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 How replacement cost coverage works when you file a claim How much do claims increase home insurance rates? Mobile home insurance cost and coverage in 2024 Homeowners insurance basics Home Insurance Advisor Cheapest homeowners insurance in 2024 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 How much does dog liability insurance cost and do you need it? Do you have an emergency go-bag? Most Americans don’t 1/1 Related Articles Does homeowners insurance cover theft? By Nupur Gambhir Does home insurance cover fires from alternative heating sources? By Ashlee Tilford Guide to additional living expenses coverage By Lena Borrelli Homeowners insurance for seniors: A comprehensive guide By Chris Kissell Home insurance claims: How to file and what you should know By Chris Kissell Is carpenter ant damage covered by homeowners insurance? By Ashlee Tilford On this page When does homeowners insurance cover water damage?What types of water damage aren't covered by homeowners insurance?What to do if you experience water damageHow to prevent water damageFrequently asked questions ZIP Code Please enter valid ZIP See rates