Water damage claims are the second most common type of insurance claim, after wind and hail damage, according to the Insurance Services Office (ISO).
One in fifty homeowners are affected by water damage claims each year, so it’s not surprising that there are a lot of questions about them. What, for instance, is covered by your homeowner’s insurance, and why is “gradual damage” not included?
When you take into account the exceptions, things get even more complicated. Here is a look at some claims for water damage to show you which kinds of water damage homeowners insurance will cover or not.
What Is Gradual Water Damage? Common Questions About Water Damage
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Illustration of various water damage types, including flood, pipe burst, sewer backup, and storm-related damage, to represent the title and text: What kind of water damage does homeowner’s insurance cover?
flooding, a sudden or unintentional discharge, backups and overflows in the sewer, and storm-related water damage One of the most common reasons homeowners file insurance claims is water damage. Water damage claims are the second most common type of insurance claim, after wind and hail damage, according to the Insurance Services Office (ISO).1 One in fifty homeowners are affected by water damage claims each year, so it’s not surprising that there are a lot of questions about them. What, for instance, is covered by your homeowner’s insurance, and why is “gradual damage” not included?
When you take into account the exceptions, things get even more complicated. Here is a look at some claims for water damage to show you which kinds of water damage homeowners insurance will cover or not.
Key Takeaways In general, homeowners insurance will cover water damage caused by sudden, unanticipated events like a bursting pipe or a faulty appliance.
Flood-related water damage is not covered by homeowners’ insurance. A separate flood insurance policy covers damage caused by the flood.
A homeowners insurance policy does not cover water damage that occurs “gradually,” such as from leaking, poorly maintained plumbing.
