Nerdy takeaways
- Homeowners insurance generally covers sudden and accidental water damage.
- It won’t cover some other causes of water damage, including flooding and lack of maintenance.
- If you need to file a claim, contact your insurer as soon as possible and take steps to prevent further damage.
A leaky dishwasher. A burst pipe. A heavy rainstorm. Any one of these could cause water damage in your home. In fact, the Insurance Information Institute estimates that about 1 in 67 insured homes has a claim for water or freezing damage each year.
But homeowners insurance won’t cover every type of water damage. Here’s a guide to what’s covered, what isn’t and how to file a water damage claim.
Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?
A home insurance policy typically covers sudden and accidental water damage that starts inside your home. Some causes of water damage that might be covered include burst pipes or failing appliances. Your policy usually won’t cover water damage from flooding or lack of maintenance.
Depending on what’s affected, you could have coverage from two parts of your policy:
- Dwelling coverage pays for damage to the structure of your home, including the roof, walls and floor.
- Personal property coverage pays to repair or replace your belongings.
You’ll have coverage up to the limits listed on the declarations page of your policy minus your deductible (the amount of a claim you’re responsible for).
When does homeowners insurance cover water damage?
Below are some typical causes of sudden water damage and how your homeowners policy might be able to help.
🔌 Appliance failure
Homeowners insurance generally covers water damage from an appliance that suddenly fails. However, it won't pay to replace the appliance itself. And you typically won’t have coverage if the failure is due to normal wear and tear or a lack of maintenance on your part.
Say your water heater springs a leak, sending water gushing across your basement floor. As long as you’ve properly maintained the water heater, your homeowners policy would likely cover the water damage. For example, it could pay to replace ruined flooring and furniture.
However, it wouldn’t pay to fix or replace the water heater unless you’ve added equipment breakdown coverage to your policy. This add-on covers HVAC systems and other major appliances. It'll pay to fix or replace them if they have an electrical or mechanical failure.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
If your sump pump breaks down or overflows, your homeowners policy generally won’t cover the water damage unless you’ve added coverage for water backup and sump pump failure to your policy. 💧 Leaks
A homeowners policy may cover water damage from sudden, accidental leaks. However, it won’t cover damage that develops over time or could have been prevented through maintenance.
So if a strong windstorm blows some shingles off your roof and causes a leak, replacement shingles and any water damage would likely be covered. Storms are sudden and accidental, and wind is a covered event on most home insurance policies unless you live in a high-risk coastal area.
🔥 Putting out a fire
Say your kitchen catches fire. The firefighters respond quickly and keep the blaze from spreading to the rest of your house. However, the water from their hoses damages your floor and cabinets.
Your homeowners policy will likely cover the water damage from putting out the fire (as well as anything ruined by fire and smoke).
What kind of water damage isn’t covered by homeowners insurance?
🛠️ Negligence or normal wear and tear
Water damage that happens because you didn’t perform maintenance or as a result of normal wear and tear is unlikely to be covered by your home insurer.
For instance, if your 18-year-old roof starts leaking due to wear and tear over the years, your homeowners policy is unlikely to help.
🪣 Seepage
Seepage sounds like a technical term, but it refers to leaks that may go unnoticed for a while. Because it didn’t happen suddenly, that slow drip under the sink usually isn’t covered, but damage from a pipe that freezes and bursts probably is. (Your policy generally won’t pay to fix the pipe itself, just the resulting damage.)
🚽 Backed-up drains and sewer lines
A sewer line backs up, causing a smelly mess in your bathroom. Are you covered? Probably not, unless you’ve added water backup coverage to your homeowners policy. This is typically the same endorsement that pays for damage from a failing sump pump or backed-up septic tank.
🌊 Flooding
A standard homeowners policy won’t cover flood damage — you’ll need separate flood insurance for that. Flooding could include a river that overflows, a downpour so heavy the ground can’t absorb it or a storm surge from a hurricane. (Here’s how to figure out whether you need flood insurance.)
Does homeowners insurance cover water damage from rain?
Whether home insurance covers water damage caused by rain depends on how the rain gets into your house. Most scenarios in which rain causes flooding damage, such as flash floods, would not be covered by homeowners insurance. However, there are some circumstances in which a standard homeowners policy might cover water damage from rain. For example:
- Heavy wind blows a tree onto your roof, destroying some shingles and allowing rain into your top floor.
- A large piece of hail breaks your window, and rain gets in through the shattered glass.
Get home insurance quotes in minutes
Answer a few questions to see custom quotes and find the right policy for you. What about mold from water damage?
It may take only a day or two for mold to form after water damage, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
If your homeowners policy pays for the water damage that caused the mold, it may also pay to remove it. So if mold started growing after a pipe burst, you might have coverage. If the mold was a result of a flood, you probably wouldn’t.
To learn more, see our guide to homeowners insurance and mold.
Nerdy Perspective
A few years ago, a pipe in our wall burst suddenly and flooded my home office. As a result, mold grew quickly in the walls and spread along the baseboards to a nearby closet and bathroom. We had to document it carefully, but my homeowners insurance covered everything from mold remediation to replacing the carpet and repainting the walls.
Should you file a water damage claim?
Even if you think your water damage will be covered, filing a claim isn’t always a slam dunk. If the damage is relatively minor, you might not get much of a payout after the insurance company subtracts your deductible. And you could end up essentially paying that amount back if your insurer raises your premium because you filed a claim.
Some insurance companies may refuse to renew your policy if you file more than one claim in a short period of time. So for minor water damage, you may be better off paying for repairs yourself — especially if you’ve filed other claims within the past five to seven years.
How to file a water damage claim
If you decide to submit a claim, there are a few key steps to take.
Step 1: Prevent further damage. As soon as you discover the problem, act quickly to keep it from getting worse. This could include shutting off the water to that part of the house or dehumidifying the room to prevent mold.
Step 2: Document the damage. Before you do any cleanup or repairs, take photos and/or video of the damage. Your insurer will likely request an inventory of ruined personal belongings to reimburse you for them. (Home inventory apps can make the process of creating one easier).
Step 3: File your claim promptly. The sooner you reach out to your insurance company, the sooner it can reimburse you. Depending on your insurer, you may be able to submit a claim online, by phone or on the company’s mobile app.
Step 4: Make temporary fixes. While you shouldn’t schedule major work until your insurer has reviewed the damage, you can take smaller steps to protect your home. For example, putting a tarp over a leaky roof can prevent more water from getting in, and throwing out a damp carpet can keep mold from growing. Keep receipts for any purchases because your insurer may reimburse you for them.
How to prevent water damage in your home
To avoid water damage claims altogether, follow these tips:
Clean your gutters and downspouts regularly.
You may also want to consider installing gutter guards to keep leaves and other debris out.
Keep your home above 55 degrees.
In the winter, keep your thermostat set to at least 55 degrees to prevent burst pipes. If you have a crawl space, close its vents and insulate any pipes that run through it.
Winterize your outdoor water faucets.
Shut off the water supply to outdoor faucets, drain the lines and cover the faucets during the winter months to prevent burst pipes.
Perform regular maintenance.
Regularly check major appliances — including hoses and pipes — for leaks and other damage, and make repairs promptly. You should also inspect your roof for damaged shingles.
Know how to shut off your water main.
Know where your home’s main water shutoff valve is and how to use it in case of emergency. (A plumber can help if you’re unsure.)
Install water sensors.
Consider using smart-home technology to alert you if there’s a hidden water leak. Some insurers offer incentives for buying and using water detectors or automatic shut-off devices.
Explore more on
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary,
trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed
studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with
industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness
and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high
standards for journalism by reading our
editorial guidelines.
- 1. Insurance Information Institute. Facts + Statistics: Homeowners and Renters Insurance. Accessed Jun 5, 2026.
- 2. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). Dealing with Mold and Mildew in Your Flood Damaged Home. Accessed Jun 5, 2026.
