There are several answers to this question, depending on the specific situation. While there are hundreds of scenarios that could lead to water leaks in a home, Anais goes over four of the main causes of water damage and whether or not a home insurance policy will cover for them. 

1. Will home insurance pay for water damage to my floors if my pipes freeze and burst? 

Maybe - if you kept your home heated and left water running, and your pipes still bust, your home insurance WILL cover for water damages.

2. Will I be covered if a hurricane or heavy rainstorm causes water to leak through the roof, damaging the roof, interior of the house, and furniture?
It depends - if the storm created an actual opening in the roof to allow water to seep into the home, your home insurance company will pay for repairs to the roof, dwelling, and furniture. However, certain insurance companies offer endorsements that you can add onto your policy that will cover for damages, whether or not an actual opening was made in the roof to allow water to seep in. This is known as “wind-driven rain coverage."

3. Will I be covered if a sewer backs up on my street and floods the house with water, damaging the floors and furniture? 
No - standard home insurance policies do not cover for backup of sewer systems into homes. However, most insurance companies do offer an endorsement for sewer backup coverage that can be added onto the policy at a nominal cost.

4. My dishwasher suddenly went nuts and flooded my entire kitchen floor. Am I covered?
It depends - if you failed to maintain your dishwasher, the insurance company will not pay for damages, as the loss was caused by lack of maintenance. 

These examples are not black and white answers, but are more of a guide on how home insurance works when it comes to water damage. Every home insurance claim is different, and whether you get paid or not depends on your specific situation and how your policy is structured.

Click here to learn more about homeowners insurance, complete a quote request form, or contact us today, and one of our staff would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have on homeowners insurance.