Water damage can be a tricky when it comes to a homeowner’s insurance policy, mainly because the answer to claims is usually, “it depends”. It will all depend on where the water initially came from. Water damage in a home is very common and can be caused my many different things. An overflowing sink, tub, or toilet can all do damage, but the claim will depend on the insurance company and the coverage of your policy.

These are a few claims from water damage that are usually covered by homeowners insurance:

• Tub and sink overflows
• Burst pipes
• Overflows from washing machine and other appliances
• Water damage caused by a leaking roof

An insurance policy may also cover accidental overflow. Accidental damage is basically the same for all home insurance policies; it is damage that occurs as a result of something unexpected. You may have a child that leaves water running and it leaks downstairs. A toilet may overflow, or a water heater pipe may burst. Most homeowner’s policies cover damage from water as a result of burst fixtures, pipes or appliances and accidental overflow. It is important to check with your insurance agent because there are some limited policies that do not include this type of coverage. Sometimes extending accidental coverage will protect a lot of other incidents in the home. For example, you may be able to claim a juice spill on the carpet, or a marker drawing on the couch.

If damage to a home was caused by an appliance such as a dishwasher or water heater, the homeowner’s policy may not cover the actual appliance cost. However it will most likely pay for any damage to the home or possessions in the home that were ruined as a result of a faulty appliance. If the appliance will not be replaced by your homeowners insurance, then it could leave you with nothing but a possible warranty on the appliance.

A homeowners policy does not coverage damage by a flood, but it does for types of water damage to the home itself. Water damage to a home is considered to happen when water damages the home, before water reaches the ground. Examples include: a hailstorm that breaks windows or heavy rain that causes water damage in the attic.