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Question From a Customer: Is Water Damage Covered Under My Homeowner's Insurance Policy?
9/30/2019 (Permalink)
Broken pipe? Water damage from this is usually covered under most homeowners insurance policies.
Water damage is the most common insurance claim in Connecticut households.
One of the most common questions we receive when we answer a call from a homeowner who has water damage is whether their insurance policy will cover it. Although coverage differs from policy to policy, most standard home owner's policies have similar coverage terms.
One rule of thumb is that if the water damage occurs suddenly and is accidental, it is typically covered. For example, if your hot water heater bursts and causes water damage or if your refrigerator line leaks, it will normally be covered. Other water damage scenarios that are usually covered are:
- Accidental overflows of the toilet, sink or bathtub
- Burst pipes
- Refrigerator, dishwasher or washing machine supply line leak
- Roof leaks
- Ice dams
- Water damage from extinguishing a fire
- Rain damage (the usual rule of thumb is if it doesn't hit the ground first- this would fall under the "flooding" category)
- Mold caused by water damage
A failure to properly maintain your plumbing and appliances may cause coverage to be denied. If you ignore that leaky sink to the point that it has rotted out your sub-floor, it may not be covered. So be careful to keep your home maintained.
In our experience, flooding from groundwater is typically NOT included under standard home insurance policies. Flooding is considered to be water that comes from a natural source- such as the rain, a river or a lake. Ground seepage is also not covered. So, if your basement floods after a heavy rainstorm, your insurance will not cover it. If you live near a river that tends to flood or on the Long Island Sound, you may want to consider purchasing flood insurance for your home. Flood insurance is offered through government programs, usually the National Flood Insurance Program.
Thankfully, most of the water damage cases that we see in the New Haven area are covered by insurance.
Kathy, our office manager, and Alexis and Theny, our admins, have years of experience assisting customers with their homeowner's insurance claims. When they take your call, they will help guide you every step of the way. Our staff works directly with your insurance company, submitting paperwork and photographs required. If the contents of your home are damaged, our crew will help you sort through the items, taking an inventory of belongings that can be restored, saved or discarded.