Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?
Short answer. Homeowners insurance covers water damage that is sudden and accidental, such as a burst pipe, an appliance line that suddenly fails, or rain entering through storm damage to the roof. It generally excludes flooding, sewer or drain backups unless you add coverage, groundwater, and damage from leaks that went on for weeks or months.
Usually covered
- A supply line or pipe that bursts suddenly.
- A water heater or washing machine hose that fails without warning.
- Rain entering through an opening that wind, hail or a falling tree created.
- Water used to put out a fire.
- Damage from the weight of ice or an ice dam, depending on your policy.
Usually excluded
- Flood: rising water from outside, including heavy rain runoff, requires a separate flood policy.
- Sewer or drain backup: covered only with a water backup endorsement.
- Groundwater and seepage through foundations.
- Repeated leakage over weeks, months or years.
- Wear and maintenance: worn roofs, failed caulk, clogged gutters.
- Mold beyond a sublimit, or entirely if it did not result from a covered water loss.
Covered water loss, uncovered part
Even on a covered claim, the part that failed may not be paid. A burst pipe's water damage is typically covered while the pipe repair itself may not be. For roof leaks, the same logic applies to worn components.
Protect your claim
- Stop the water: shut the main valve or tarp the roof. See your duty to mitigate.
- Photograph everything before moving it.
- Start drying within a day.
- Report promptly with the date and cause.
For roof related water damage specifically, read interior water damage from roof leaks.