SEVEN WATER DAMAGE SCENARIOS - THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Scenario No. 1: The temperature drops to 10 below zero, causing
your water pipes to freeze and burst. Your floor is now covered in 6
inches of water.
Are you covered? Yes, you're covered for water damage from
burst pipes, but most policies won't cover you if you've left the
house unoccupied and without heat. If that's the case, your claim
could be denied because you've failed to perform the necessary
upkeep that would prevent the accident.
Scenario No. 2: Water leaks from your backyard pool, ruining your
manicured lawn and flooding your basement.
Are you covered? The damage to your basement and your personal
property are covered, but not the damage to your lawn. According to
a sample policy, "We do not cover land, including land on which the
dwelling is located." However, your lawn is covered if it's damaged
by certain "named perils." These include fire, explosion, riot,
aircraft, vehicles not owned by you and vandalism. The amount of
coverage for lawns and plants is small — usually only up to $500.
Swimming-pool leaks are not a named peril. But if your leak was
caused by a tree falling on the pool, it would be covered.
Scenario No. 3: Your washing machine
overflows, flooding the basement.
Are you covered? Yes. But it depends on
your home insurer's view of the problem: Did you fail to maintain
the washer properly or did sudden, accidental damage cause the
flood? Most of the time, if an appliance breaks and water goes all
over, insurance covers it. In the case of a washing machine, you
might need to purchase replacement parts out of your own pocket
because they were not maintained correctly, but the damage to your
basement is covered.
Scenario No. 4: A sewer backs up, flooding your
basement.
Are you covered? No. Standard home insurance
policies don't cover sewer backups, and many specifically exclude damage
from sewer back-ups. Special endorsements are available, at added cost, for
sewers and drains.
Scenario No. 5: Water seeps from the ground into
your basement, damaging your foundation and interior.
Are you covered? No. Seepage is
considered a maintenance problem, not "sudden and accidental"
damage, and is excluded from home insurance coverage.
Scenario No. 6: During a heavy rainstorm, water
leaks through your roof. The roof is damaged, as is furniture.
Are you covered? Somewhat. You're
unlikely to be reimbursed for roof repairs because that's a
house-maintenance issue. But the water damage to your home is
covered. Damage to your furniture is also likely covered if you have
a standard H0-3 homeowners policy, but not if you have a generic
HO-1 policy (which many insurers don't even sell anymore). If your
neighbor's tree falls on your roof, the damage to your roof, home
and belongings is covered. Your policy also reimburses you up to a
certain amount, usually around $500, for the cost of removing the
tree.
Scenario No. 7: A nearby lake or river overflows
its banks, causing a flash flood in your living room.
Are you covered? No. Flood damage is not covered by home insurance. You must
purchase flood insurance for that. You can purchase flood insurance as long
as your community participates in the
National Flood Insurance
Program.