Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?
Yes, standard homeowners insurance usually covers water damage that is sudden and accidental, such as a burst pipe, a failed water heater or an overflowing washing machine. It usually doesn't cover damage that developed slowly over time, damage from poor maintenance, or flooding from outside. Your exact policy wording decides your coverage, so read it or ask your agent.
What's usually covered
- A pipe that suddenly bursts or splits
- A water heater tank that fails
- An appliance hose that breaks
- An AC drain pan that overflows suddenly
- Rain that enters through storm damage, such as a roof torn by wind
- Water used to put out a fire
What's usually not covered
- Slow leaks that ran for weeks or months, such as a dripping supply line inside a wall
- Wear and tear, such as a corroded pipe or an old water heater itself
- Maintenance problems, such as a roof that leaked for several seasons
- Flood, meaning surface water rising from outside, which needs a separate flood policy
- Sewer and drain backup, unless you added a water backup endorsement
- Mold, beyond any limited amount your policy allows
Slab leaks and insurance
Slab leaks are among the hardest claims to predict. Many policies cover the water damage to floors and walls and the cost of breaking into the slab to reach the pipe, but not the pipe repair itself. Some exclude leaks that ran too long. Our guide to slab leak signs can help you catch one early.
Monsoon damage: storm vs flood
Rain that enters through an opening created by a storm is often covered. Water that flows in from outside across the ground is flood, which standard homeowners policies exclude. That difference decides many monsoon claims in Arizona.
How to document a water damage claim
- Stop the water and take reasonable steps to limit damage.
- Photograph and video the source, the water and every damaged item before cleanup.
- Report the claim to your insurer promptly and write down your claim number.
- Keep damaged materials or photos of them until your adjuster says otherwise.
- Keep receipts for emergency work, hotel stays and supplies.
- Get moisture documentation. Daily drying logs show the adjuster how far water spread and why equipment was needed.
Our guide on what to do after water damage covers the first 24 hours step by step.
Working with your adjuster
Your adjuster decides what the insurer will pay. A restoration company documents the damage and the work, which gives the adjuster the evidence to approve it. We share photos, moisture maps and daily drying records, and we explain our scope in terms adjusters use, based on the IICRC S500 standard.
When to call a professional
We photograph the damage, log moisture readings daily and share that record with your adjuster. Whether we bill your insurer directly depends on your policy and the job.