Termites. Mold. Flooding.
These words send shudders down the spines of homeowners everywhere. They can mean both major repairs and serious expenses, and most standard home insurance policies won’t cover the damage.
The specifics of what is and isn’t covered depend on the details of your policy, but even the best coverage won’t compensate you for everything. Here are 10 common home insurance exclusions, plus ways to fill in some of the gaps.
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Earthquakes, landslides and sinkholes generally aren’t covered under home insurance. Exceptions include Florida and Tennessee, where insurers must offer optional sinkhole protection, but that doesn’t mean all policies automatically include it.
How to close the gap: If you live in an area prone to earthquakes, consider buying earthquake insurance. Your insurer may offer it as an add-on to your home insurance, or you might have to purchase a separate earthquake policy. To get coverage for other types of ground movement, such as landslides and mudflows, ask your agent about a “difference in conditions” policy.
2. Floods
Floods — like those from overflowing rivers or torrential rain — are not covered by most home insurance. And as we’ve seen in recent years with natural disasters like Hurricane Helene creeping inland, flash floods aren’t just a coastal problem.
Beyond floods, your home insurance policy likely excludes other types of water damage as well, such as backed-up sewer lines or overflowing sump pumps. However, a standard policy will generally cover damage caused by burst pipes — for example, if the water pipe behind your washing machine bursts and spews water.
How to close the gap: Flood insurance is widely available through the National Flood Insurance Program in partnership with more than 40 different insurers. It can cover both the physical structure of your home and your possessions.
You can also get a water backup endorsement to help pay for damage from sewer backups and sump pump failure.
3. Mold
Coverage for mold is complicated because it’s often hard to identify the root cause of a mold problem. For damage to be covered, your insurer must deem the cause of the mold to be sudden, accidental and a problem covered by your policy.
This means that, for example, home insurers generally won’t pay to fix mold damage if it’s caused by water associated with a long-term leak or poor home maintenance. However, your policy may cover repairs if the mold stems from a sudden plumbing leak, as long as you take action to fix the problem right away.
How to close the gap: Some insurers sell hidden water damage coverage as an add-on, which can help pay for water damage and mold removal caused by a hidden leak. It doesn’t cover sewer backup or sump pump failure damage though — for that, you need a water backup endorsement.
4. Wear and tear
Home insurance is meant for sudden or accidental problems, such as storms, burglaries and fires. It’s not a cure-all for general wear and tear. You’re expected to perform basic maintenance to keep your home from slipping into disrepair.
Maintaining your home’s roof, replacing worn-out flooring and tending to slow-leaking pipes are a few ways you can avoid large expenses that your insurance won’t cover.
How to close the gap: You can’t buy insurance to cover general wear and tear, but you can be proactive about maintaining your house. You could also consider buying a home warranty to cover some of your home’s major systems and appliances.
5. Infestations
Bedbugs, termites, mice and other vermin are typically excluded from home insurance for the same reason wear and tear isn’t covered. From an insurer’s perspective, getting rid of infestations and fixing the damage left behind are simply part of maintaining your home.
There may be occasional exceptions. For example:
- If the infestation causes a covered problem such as a fire or structural collapse, you may be covered. Example: A mouse chews through a wire that starts an electrical fire.
- If hidden termite damage causes part of your home to collapse, your insurer may pay for some repairs. However, if any of the termite damage was visible prior to the collapse, you likely wouldn’t have coverage. Read more about home insurance and termites.
How to close the gap: While you can’t buy a home insurance add-on to cover infestations, you can prevent pests from entering in the first place by controlling moisture, eliminating food sources and properly sealing any entry points to your home. If you suspect an infestation, call a qualified pest control company in your area.
6. Nuclear hazards
Home insurance doesn’t provide coverage for nuclear accidents. Thankfully, you're already protected by federal law, so you’re unlikely to need it. Nuclear power companies are required by the Price-Anderson Act to have liability insurance to cover damages and evacuation costs if you live within the affected area of a hazard.
7. Government action
Acts of public authorities are not your insurer’s problem. If the government confiscates your belongings, for instance, or condemns your home and takes over the land, your policy won’t cover the cost to replace your property.
The only exception might be if the governmental action were taken to prevent the spread of a fire that might otherwise affect your home.
8. Dangerous or aggressive dogs
Insurance companies spent more than $1.8 billion paying claims for dog bites and other dog-related injuries in 2025, with an average claim amount of about $65,000. Because of these high costs, insurers may not cover certain aggressive or dangerous dogs. Having one could even prevent you from getting approved for a policy.
Some companies refuse to cover breeds known for inflicting severe injuries, such as pit bulls and Rottweilers.
How to close the gap: If your dog is part of a restricted breed, look for a breed-neutral home insurance company. Some insurers, such as State Farm, won’t deny coverage based on breed alone but instead will look at an individual dog’s history of aggression. You can also buy a separate pet liability insurance policy if your homeowners insurance doesn’t offer sufficient coverage.
9. Wind damage in hurricane-prone states
In most parts of the U.S., a standard homeowners insurance policy covers wind damage. But if you live along the Atlantic or Gulf coasts, where hurricane risk is highest, you may need to buy separate wind insurance.
Even if this coverage is included in your home insurance policy, wind damage can cost you. In 19 states and Washington, D.C., insurers may charge a special wind, named storm or hurricane deductible. Instead of a dollar amount, these deductibles are calculated as a percentage of your home’s insured value, usually between 1% and 10%.
This can really add up. For example, if your home is insured for $500,000 and you have a 5% wind deductible, you’re responsible for the first $25,000 of repairs. Not all companies allow you to select your deductible percentage, but if yours does, going low at 1% or 2% can make a big difference if you ever have a claim.
How to close the gap: You can buy windstorm insurance as an add-on to your current policy if your insurer offers it. If you live in a high-risk coastal area, you may also be able to get wind coverage from a state-run insurance pool.
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Answer a few questions to see custom quotes and find the right policy for you.10. Intentional loss or neglect
If your insurer determines that damage to your home could have been prevented or was intentional, it won't be covered. What’s more, you could be charged with insurance fraud if you file a claim for damage you caused on purpose.
A note about bringing your home up to code
Even when an event is covered, your policy is designed to repair or rebuild your home to its original condition before the damage. It may not pay enough to bring outdated features up to the latest building codes. For that, you need ordinance or law coverage.
Many homeowners policies include a little ordinance and law coverage — around 10% of the dwelling coverage limit — but you may want more. Extra coverage can be especially helpful if you live in an older home that hasn’t been updated in a while.
Next steps
Read your home insurance policy thoroughly. You don’t want to find out too late that a problem isn’t covered.
If you see any coverage gaps, talk to your insurer. You may be able to add endorsements — add-ons that will cost extra — to get more coverage. Your agent may also recommend other ways to avoid potentially large out-of-pocket expenses.
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- 1.Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Backgrounder on Nuclear Insurance and Disaster Relief. Accessed Jul 7, 2026.
- 2.Insurance Information Institute. Spotlight on: Dog Bite Liability. Accessed Jul 7, 2026.
