Filing an Insurance Claim for Home Water Damage

12/5/2019 (Permalink)

Your agent can provide a complete list of covered items and help you file an insurance claim

Filing an Insurance Claim for Home Water Damage

If your washing machine leaked or a water pipe burst, your home could sustain significant damage. It can be a stressful time, as you are suddenly called on to organize the cleanup and restoration and research what type of claim to file.
The source of your water damage will determine the type of insurance coverage that applies to your situation. Your homeowner’s insurance will cover many types of home water damage, but it will generally exclude damage related to floodwaters. If severe weather caused floodwater to damage your property, you would file a different type of insurance claim. This discussion about insurance coverage for water damage may help you prepare for that aspect.

What Does Conventional Homeowner’s Insurance Cover?

Most common causes of home water damage will be covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy. If your damage was caused by any of the following, it would be appropriate to file a conventional claim:

• Leaking toilet or shower
  
• Leaking appliances, such as dishwashers or ice makers
  
• Broken water pipe
  
• Sewer backup
  
• Stormwater entering through a roof leak or other structural damage
  
  

Coverage limits and deductibles may vary between policies. Your agent can provide a complete list of covered items and help you file an insurance claim.

What Insurance Covers Damage from Floodwater?

Flood insurance is a product issued by the US government and can be purchased through your insurance agent. In order to file this type of claim, you would have had to purchase this policy prior to the incident. Floodwaters generally originate from a severe storm event or an engineering breach, such as a broken water main or blocked municipal culvert. Your insurance agent can assess whether your damage is eligible for coverage.

If water ended up where it doesn’t belong in your Avon, CO, home, you have many unexpected tasks to fit into your busy schedule. You will undoubtedly want some compensation for your damage, and knowing which type of insurance claim to file may help streamline the process of returning your home and your life to normal activity.