Flash Floods & Other Water Damage Your Insurance Might Not Cover

by Cheryl Pendenza - Realtor®/Broker Associate 12/30/2021

Homeowner's insurance can help you recover financially from many accidents and disasters at home. While traditional homeowner's policies include coverage for personal items and your property, they don't cover everything. Certain types of damage may be excluded from coverage and require an additional policy, including many types of water damage. Here are some of the types of water damage your homeowners insurance might not cover:

Unresolved Maintenance

A key detail of homeowners insurance is, while it covers home appliances and systems, it won't cover your costs if the damage is your fault. For example, your insurance will cover the cost of replacement floors if they are damaged by water from a sudden dishwasher failure. If there were preexisting maintenance issues causing the damage, like a continually leaky faucet or pipe, the insurance isn't likely to cover the bill.

Replacements & Repairs

Homeowners insurance doesn't usually cover the cost of replacing whatever caused the water damage. For instance, in the above scenario, they might not pay to replace or repair your broken dishwasher. While many home appliances are included in homeowner policies, it's important to be completely clear about what might not be covered so you don't have any unpleasant financial surprises.

Sewer & Drain Backups

Sometimes water damage can occur because of a backed-up sewer or drain outside the home. This can be messy for your yard and your home's interior if the water manages to seep into your basement or floors. Unfortunately, most traditional homeowners insurance policies won't cover this type of water damage. The good news is that you can usually purchase additional water and sewer backup coverage to help you handle the damage from this type of situation.

Floods

Flood damage can range from annoying to completely catastrophic. While the source of the water in a flood can vary from one situation to the next, homeowners insurance policies won't cover your costs for damage to your home. Flood insurance is a common addition to homeowners policies in flood-prone areas, but you can purchase it as supplemental coverage no matter where you live.

When purchasing homeowners insurance, it's crucial to go over every detail. The more familiar you are with your policy and what it includes, the better prepared you'll be to handle water damage at home.

About the Author
Author

Cheryl Pendenza - Realtor®/Broker Associate

Bringing more than 30 years of experience to the table, Cheryl has a paralegal degree, banking background, and is a member of many professional, civic, and community organizations.

Qualified • Experienced • Skilled

"As a full-time REALTOR®, I am dedicated to providing my clients with a high level of service by building relationships, marketing, and negotiating on their behalf. As a homeowner, I realize how important homeownership is.

Cheryl brings warmth and compassion to her client relationships and referrals have become the backbone of her business. "I’m grateful for every referral and welcome the opportunity to help clients achieve their real estate goals.”

Cheryl Pendenza, Broker Associate affiliated with RE/MAX Andrew Realty Services since 1999 is a local businesswoman and formidable negotiator who can help you achieve your real estate goals. Supporting family, community and local business is important to Cheryl and she can often be found at one of the local restaurants, shops, or galleries.