5 Common Types of Water Damage…And If Your Insurance Covers Them

Water damage is one of the most common types of damage you’ll experience in your home. But water damage can be complicated, especially when it comes to home insurance.

In this article, we’re going to talk about five common types of water damage that can occur in your home. Are they covered by your standard home insurance policy? Read on to find out!

Floods – Not covered by home insurance

Floods are never covered by your standard home insurance policy. However, flood insurance can be purchased as a separate policy. In fact, your mortgage company may require that you purchase a flood insurance policy if you live in a FEMA flood zone.

What’s a FEMA flood zone? And what different flood insurance policies may be available to you? Check out our latest article about flood insurance to learn more.

Groundwater – Not covered by home insurance

If water comes into your home at or below ground level, the damage will never be covered. Homeowners policies simply do not cover groundwater.

Grounds are wet! You know this and your insurance company does too! Because of this, your insurance company assumes that you will take proper action to prevent water from getting in your basement. If you have cracks in your basement or around your foundation, it’s up to you to fix them. So, it’s worth checking your foundation frequently and sealing any cracks as soon as possible.

Sump pump failure – Covered by home insurance endorsement

Let’s say you do get water in your basement. Some people invest in sump pumps, which pump out groundwater. But if the sub-pump fails, are you covered for that?

Yes, it is covered…but only if you get a specific insurance rider. Water back-up coverage is an optional insurance endorsement, which will cover you for sump pump failure among other things.

Which leads us to…

Sewer Backup – Covered by home insurance endorsement

Sewer backup, or septic backup, is a common claim filed by many homeowners. It’s not usually covered by a standard policy. But it is covered if you opt for optional water back-up coverage.

Water backup coverage is one of the most important endorsements to add to a standard home insurance policy. It’s relatively cheap, but it protects you from what can be expensive damage. Check out this article if you want to learn more about water back-up coverage.

Broken Pipes – Most often covered by home insurance

Water damage caused by a broken or bursting pipe is almost always covered. However, if your insurance company determines that the damage resulted from a failure to maintain your home, they may not cover the damage. As well, while most policies will cover water damage from broken pipes, they may not cover the cost to repair or replace the pipe. You’ll want to speak to your insurance agent to determine your specific coverage.

These are just 5 common scenarios for water damage in your home. But there are a ton of other examples out there. There are no simple answers when it comes to water damage. That’s why it’s important to speak with your agent to determine whether you are covered by a specific loss.

Gearing up for winter? Check out our tips to protect your home from winter water damage. 

We hope we’ve helped you prepare your home from common types of water damage. And now we’d like to turn it over to you. Did you learn something new from this article? Or do have a question about your homeowners policy? Leave a comment below or contact us at info@lapointeins.com.