Homeowners Insurance: Does It Protect Against Water Damage?

Water damage is unavoidable despite where you reside or how old or new your home is. Water can cause destructive yet costly damage and repairs to your home and appliances, from leaky pipes to overflowing drains and faulty sprinkler systems. Fortunately, homeowners insurance covers water damage. Nevertheless, still, you cannot sit back and relax, as homeowners insurance covers only some types of water damage. So, knowing them is essential to file a claim. Let us discuss those.

When Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage?

Homeowners insurance covers those types of water damage that are sudden and accidental rather than resulting from the negligence of homeowners. For example, frozen or burst pipe damage is typically covered minus your deductible. However, if you are not at home for some days and turn off the heater during freezing temperatures, and this has caused your pipe to burst or freeze, your insurer could deny your claim. This is because you will be considered negligent in this scenario. If you are at home and your heater is kept on, you could have prevented your pipe from freezing and bursting. 

Types of Water Damage That Homeowners Insurance Covers

Generally, homeowners insurance covers the following water damage:

Rain

If a storm breaks your window, allowing rainwater inside, the resulting furniture damage will be covered. 

Leaky Pipes

Sudden and accidental pipe leaks will be covered. However, damage caused by slow-leaking pipes won’t be covered, as it will be considered negligence or improper maintenance.

Sewer Backup

A standard homeowners insurance policy provides sewer backup coverage as an optional endorsement that you can buy if you have a living area or basement below ground level or an old plumbing system.

Overflowing Appliances

If any cloth blocks your washing machine’s water outlet, flooding your laundry room, you will be covered for the loss and the items damaged by the overflow of water.

Turning Off a Fire

If your kitchen catches fire and you use the fire extinguisher to turn it off, but accidentally the water flows towards your living room, damaging your furniture and decor, you will be reimbursed for the loss.

How to File a Water Damage Claim?

• Document all damages to your belongings and home by taking photos or videos.
• Include the receipts of the expenses you made to control further damage. (If you buy a tarp to cover           a roof hole, you can include it).
• Contact your insurer to file a claim and submit the claim on time with all the required documents.
• Your insurer will send an adjuster to assess the damage and settle the claim.

How to Prevent Water Damage?

• Close all windows and doors to prevent water from entering your home.
• Prevent standing water by unclogging your gutters and making ways for water by angling the soil in           the backyard.
• Ensure your roof and pipes have no leaks.
• Check your washing machine and refrigerator outlet hoses for any clogs.
• Install an emergency pressure release valve to the plumbing system to prevent pipes from bursting.
• Shut off the water supply to refrigerators and washing machines before vacation.
• Closely watch your water bills; a sudden increase could signal a problem.

Protect Your Home Against Water Damage with C.V. Mason Insurance Agency

At C.V. Mason Insurance Agency, we offer comprehensive homeowners insurance and additional endorsements to cover several types of water damage. So you can live with peace of mind. Contact us today to have your home protected against water damage.