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Use private insurers to get coverage or use the National Flood Insurance Program . Luckily, your homeowners insurance covers damages caused by a broad range of calamities, and that may include water damage, at least in some cases. But while homeowners insurance will often cover certain types of water damage, it can be difficult to know what is and isn’t covered. If you’re wondering whether your homeowners insurance covers water damage, or how to prevent the issue from getting worse, here’s what you should know.

Generally, a homeowners insurance policy includes at least six different coverage parts. Standard homeowners insurance policies typically do not include coverage for valuable jewelry, artwork, other collectibles, identity theft protection, or damage caused by an earthquake or a flood. While homeowners insurance covers most other natural and man-made disasters, floods are an exception. That’s because of the predictable ways in which they happen and extreme damage they cause. Home insurance coverage protects your home from some types of flood or water damage, but there are specific causes and damages that are not covered. This can be confusing so knowing the specifics of your coverage is key.
Why Do Insurance Rates Increase Over Time?
Now, though, some insurers underwrite their own policies, which means you can shop around and compare rates. FEMA offers a flood map tool that allows you to search for your address and see what flood zone you are in. The offers that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within the listing categories. But this compensation does not influence the information we publish, or the reviews that you see on this site. We do not include the universe of companies or financial offers that may be available to you.
As mentioned before, the higher your deductible, the less you pay for your insurance coverage premiums. Deductibles can be stated as a dollar amount or as a percentage of the total amount of insurance you hold and apply every time you file a claim, except in the case of liability claims. It’s important to be transparent with your insurance agent about the value of the items in your home, so you can ensure your property is covered, says Olsen. Personal property protection pays for the value of the items lost from perils covered under homeowners insurance. Other structures protect buildings and additions not attached to your home from perils covered by standard homeowners insurance. Dwelling protection protects your home and attached structures in the event it is damaged by a covered peril.
What is flood insurance coverage?
Insurance companies consider a flood to be any natural gathering of water. Flooding can come from hurricanes, storms, snowmelt, rain, cresting rivers and even mudslides. In 2018, floods damaged more than $1.6 billion worth of property in the United States.
Flood insurance provides financial protection for your home’s structure and your personal property if they’re damaged by flood waters. Our agents can help you decide whether a flood insurance policy is right for you . Unlike captive agents who only work for one company, our agents can shop around to find you the right coverage at the right price. Even if you don’t live in a designated flood zone, flood insurance is almost always a smart buy. If you don’t have it, you’ll be on the hook for the full cost of rebuilding your home and replacing your belongings after a flood.
What Else Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
If you do get the coverage, you will need to get a sewer backup valve installed, otherwise, it would be seen as “poor maintenance”. You can purchase flood insurance for your property, but eligibility depends on the community where you live. Our advisors would be happy to help you learn more about your options. The adjuster will thoroughly inspect the damage to determine its cause and how much the insurance company will pay for your claim. But if leaking pipes cause damage due to improper maintenance, the insurer will deny the claim.

Generally, though, damage from rain is covered if a storm or tree damaged your home first. Rain damage is typically covered by homeowners insurance, but they have relatively narrow definitions as to what qualifies. It’s also crucial to understand that rain building up on the ground and causing damage is technically flood damage and not rain damage. In most cases, your dwelling and personal property coverages will pay for water damage resulting from extinguishing a fire. If a grease fire destroys your kitchen and water used by firefighters rushes into your living room, destroying flooring, furniture and sheetrock, your policy should cover the damages.
If a strong windstorm blows some shingles off your roof, causing a leak, the resulting water damage would likely be covered. Storms are sudden and accidental, and wind is a covered peril on most home insurance policies. The national flood insurance program has been a government-subsidized flood coverage since 1968 for those living in locations at a high-risk for flooding. Every year in the U.S., floods cause around $10 billion in damage and displace over 75,000 Americans from their homes. So knowing how your homeowners insurance policy relates to flooding is pretty important. More than 20% of flood claims come from properties outside high-risk federal flood zones, according to FEMA.

Medical payments coverage does not pay for the medical costs for yourself or other people in your household or any injuries related to a business run out of your home. Medical payments coverage does not replace the need for standard health insurance coverage. The insurance company may send a claims adjuster to your home to assess the water damage and determine if the loss is covered. The adjuster may offer an initial check to help you get started on repairs. Depending on the cause of the damage, homeowner’s insurance might help pay for repairs. Take a look at what to expect from your insurer for water damage and how to get the coverage you need.
Remove all wet and ruined items but do not throw them away, because you will need them when you file a claim as evidence of the damage. “Expert verified” means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced.

A home insurance policy typically covers sudden and accidental water damage from causes such as burst pipes or failing appliances. It usually won’t cover water damage from flooding or lack of maintenance. Because the risk of flooding is present across nearly the entire country, most homeowners should at least consider buying a flood insurance policy. If you have a mortgage and you live in a high-risk flood zone, you’ll likely be required to carry a policy.
For example, if your pipe freezes and bursts, it’s likely your pipe and the water damage are covered under insurance . Sewage overflow is not something you want to think of after a hurricane, but it could happen as a result of flooding. Water backup coverage helps protect your home and personal property from water damage if sewage water backs up into your home through your plumbing or sump pump. Most standard homeowners insurance policies offer a minimum coverage limit of $100,000 and a maximum coverage limit of up to $500,000, depending on the insurer. Flood insurance is a separate policy that offers coverage for water-related losses due to river overflows, storm surges, and other types of floods. Homeowners can buy it from private insurance companies or from the federally backed National Flood Insurance Program .
