Homes can require water damage restoration due to a variety of causes and many homeowners think that their insurance providers will cover the cost of water damage.  However, homeowner’s insurance may not cover the cost of water damage as the amount of coverage depends on the cause of the damage.  The following are the most common causes of water damage in homes and how a local insurance company may cover them.

Pipe Burst

If a pipe in your home bursts and causes a leak, most of the damage will typically be covered by the homeowner’s insurance.  The insurance will cover the water damage caused to the house frame, surrounding walls, and any personal property but basic homeowner’s insurance may not cover the damage to the pipes themselves.  If the insurance company decides that your pipes burst due to negligence, they could deny your claim.  It is important to control the temperature of your home during the winter or insulate your pipes so that the insurance company is more likely to accept your claim.

Pipe Burst is a major problem for homeowners. Discover the steps to take to fix your burst drain pipe or find out if it’s time to replace it with a new one.

Washing Machine Leak

Leaks from the washing machine are one of the most common sources for water damage and most washing machine leaks are caused by a leak in the main supply hose that connects the machine to the water supply.  In cases involving washing machine leaks, the insurance company will take the age and condition of the machine into consideration and if they determine the leak was the result of regular wear and tear, they may not cover the damages.  It is important to make sure your washing machine is repaired if you notice any problems so that you are eligible for coverage if it leaks.

Washing Machine Leak is usually caused by the washing machine hose at the base of your washing machine, or in other cases a leak might occur where the water supply line connects to your washer.

Roof Leaks

The exact terms of your insurance policy will determine whether or not water damage caused from a roof leak will be covered.  To receive coverage, your policy must cover the peril that caused the leak such as rain, wind, fire, or hail.  If your insurance policy does not cover the specific peril or the insurance agent determines that your roof is old and needs replacement, they will not cover the damage.

Roof leaks are one of the most common home issues that can damage your property, allowing in unwanted water, debris and insects, while also lowering the value of your home.

Storms or Hurricanes

Most typical homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover damage caused by floods regardless of whether the flood was caused by a storm or hurricane.  Coverage for flood damage has to be bought separately from the government or a private insurance provider.  Without separate flood insurance, you will have to pay for flood damages out of your own pocket but if your policy covers wind as a peril, the insurance company will pay for the damages caused by the wind.

If you are worried that your home may be susceptible to water damage from any of these causes, review your homeowner’s insurance policy to see what your insurance provider will cover.  If your insurance policy does not cover one of these causes, make sure to take the appropriate actions yourself to help prevent water damage.  It is recommended to hire a water damage restoration professional if your home has already suffered from significant water damage.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.