How to Get Insurance to Pay for Water Damage

If you came home from work only to find that your home or basement had flooded while you were away, one the first questions that you probably had was how to get insurance to pay for the water damage. Whether or not you can file an insurance claim that will cover the cost of the damage will depend on several factors described below.

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​​Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage?

Your insurance covers damage to your home and personal property that is "sudden and accidental." This means that damage due to normal wear and tear, long-term neglect, poor maintenance, or other forms of negligence are not covered. It also typically cover damage from wind, rain, hail, snow, or ice storms, but it does not cover damage from regional flooding. In general, if the water has hit the ground and then comes into your home, it is not covered.

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​Examples of the Types of Water Damage Covered by Insurance

• Frozen Pipes or Burst Pipes. A water pipe in your home suddenly bursts due to freezing, a pressure surge, faulty plumbing, or accidental damage.
• Overflowing Bathtub, Sink or Toilet. Damage caused from an overflowing toilet, sink, or bathtub.
• Faulty Appliances. Your washing machine, dishwasher, refrigerator, and water heater all have water connections and are subject to malfunction or failure. If there is no sign of neglect and one of these connections failed, you should be covered. Note: Your insurance only covers the damage caused by the appliance failure. The cost of repairing or replacing the appliance is covered by the homeowner.
• Water Damage from Fire Fighting. If you experienced a fire in your home that resulted in water damage from the fire fighting efforts, you will be covered for both the fire damage restoration as well as the water damage repair.​
• ​Rain, Hail, Snow, or Ice Storms. A big Denver big hail storm damaged your roof or siding and water entered your home as a result. Repairing the roof, siding, and any water damage caused should all be covered. In general, any wind-driven rain, snow, hail, or ice is covered.

​​Examples of the Types of Water Damage Not Covered by Insurance

• Poorly Maintained Appliances. If your water heater is covered in rust and one day bursts any damage it causes is not going to be covered.
• ​​Long-term Water Leaks. Your kitchen sink has been leaking for several weeks or months and gradually your cabinets or drywall begin to show signs of damage and you finally decide to call for help. Unfortunately, due to your failure to take reasonable action to prevent further damage, you will not be covered.
• Signs of Neglect. A water pipe broke in your home but there were clearly visible signs of rust or corrosion. These visible signs of deterioration should have indicated to you that maintenance was needed to prevent a future problem.
• Sewer Backup. Sewage backups occur gradually over time and are not sudden and accidental, which means they are not covered. Sewage floods can be very expensive and many people are surprised to find out that they are not covered in the event of a backup. However, you can usually add a sewage backup endorsement to your homeowners insurance policy for less than $200 per year.
• Regional Flooding or Storm Surge. Regional flooding is not covered under your homeowners insurance policy. You must purchase flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program to cover flooding from rising rivers, lakes, or oceans.
• ​​Ground Water. If your basement flood is the result of a broken sump pump or poor drainage around your foundation that causes groundwater to seep in, it will not be covered by insurance. It is possible to add a separate endorsement to your policy for a broken sump pump, but this is not covered by the standard homeowners insurance policy.

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​Fully Document Your Damage

​Be sure to take dozens or even hundreds of photos of the damage. Your photos should be extremely thorough and should include multiple photos of all damaged items and any wet drywall, saturated flooring, or wet carpet. These photos are necessary to support your insurance claim. A professional water restoration company will repeat this step when they arrive but it never hurts to have a second set of photos. Your water restoration company will also take moisture readings using high-tech moisture sensors and infrared cameras.

​Call a Water Damage Restoration and Repair Professional

​If you think your loss should be covered and the insurance company doesn't want to pay, be sure to call professional restoration company for a second opinion. Restoration companies have experience advocating for consumers when an insurance company or adjuster doesn't want to cover the cost of an insurance claim.
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Never let your insurance company tell you which contractor you have to use. You have the right to choose your own restoration company. The contractor that your insurance company refers you to may have agreed to discounted rates in exchange for a high volume of job referrals. Which company would you trust to advocate for you and do a better job restoring your home? The company who is getting paid normal industry rates as determined by Xactimate, or the one working for substantially reduced rates so your insurance company can reduce its claim costs?