Water Damage and Insurance Claims

Water damage is the most frequent and common reason for people to lodge a claim under their homeowner's insurance policy. The reasons for water damage vary, ranging from a leaky pipe to a flooded basement . Most incidents are covered in the terms of a homeowner's policy, but not all.

Pool

A water leak from your pool that causes damage to your lawn, proceeds into the house, and damages household contents will be covered partially. The contents of the house will be covered, but the damage to the lawn will not-- due to the fact that coverage for lawns is provided on a “named peril” basis. This means that only specific events named on the policy will be covered, and swimming pool leaks are not among them.

Pipes

A burst pipe under your floors due to a drop in temperature could cause water to cover your floors. Technically, this is a covered loss; however, if in the course of the investigation it is discovered that the damage occurred because you left your house unoccupied and failed to keep the heat on, your claim will be declined by the insurer on the basis that your actions caused the damage and it was in your control to prevent the incident.

Examples

These are just a couple of examples, so it is a good idea to read your policy thoroughly and discuss it with your agent. Your knowledge of what is covered and what is not could save you heartache and money in the long run.

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