What Kind of Water Damages Do Home Insurance Policies Cover?

Imagine entering your home after a long day, only to find that approximately an inch of your floor is entirely water. You rush around looking for the source to find that a pipe has burst while you were away. Now, you will feel dismayed and even lost trying to figure out what plan of action to take to fix the issue. Apart from immediately contacting your plumber, you may have another concern that may be rampaging through your mind: are all of this damage covered by my home insurance policy?

Maybe. Home insurance policies cover water damage, but it might not be the water damage you have in mind. This is what we'll address in this article to help you know exactly what kind of water damage home insurance covers:

1. Weather-Related Damage

The first type of water damage that home insurance covers is weather-related water damage. It can be any damage caused by rain, snow, or ice and covers the different parts of your home like the roof, floor, and the like. For example, if excessive rain or snow has caused your roof to collapse, a home insurance policy may cover the cost of the damage and repairs.

However, there's a catch. The weather event must be the main cause of damage. If it was found that the damage was a result of something you could have prevented, like an unmaintained roof, your coverage might be denied. This is because you could have prevented the damage from happening by fixing the roof, but you did not.

2. Plumbing-Related Damage

The second type of water damage that home insurance covers is water damage caused by plumbing issues. Things like a burst pipe are covered, and the pipes of your air condition, water heaters, and any other active piping are generally covered under the insurance. Note that replacement parts may not generally be covered by insurance, meaning that you may have to pay for replacements such as pipe replacements.

However, keep in mind that such damage needs to be the result of a sudden or accidental discharge. If the damage is caused by a slow or gradual leak, the home insurance policy will not cover it.

3. Damage Caused by Malicious Activity

If someone were to break into your house and leave all the faucets on for any reason, your home insurance policy would cover it. This type of activity is considered vandalism, and this also includes someone coming in and intentionally damaging your plumbing system.

Remind yourself that the policy will not cover the damage if you are the one that intentionally damages the pipe works. It is only if someone else did it with malicious intent.

Conclusion

If any of the factors above caused the water damage to your home, you can rest easy knowing that your home insurance policy covers the damage. That said, there are a few things we need to mention that aren't covered by a typical home insurance policy. This includes gradual damage caused by lack of maintenance, flood damages, and sewer backups. If you are worried that the next water damage accident will be caused by those, then you will need to work closely with an insurance provider to get the extra coverage you need to live a worry-free life!

Sanford Insurance Center is an insurance company in Sanford, Florida, offering various insurance policies, including mobile home insurance, RV insurance, and more, to help clients live a peaceful and comfortable life. If you are looking for the best home insurance, reach out to us today!