what is water damage insurance 
water damage insurance is a type of protection provided in most homeowners insurance policies against sudden and accidental water damage water damage insurance does not cover damage resulting from the homeowners negligence or failure to maintain the home in good repair moreover flooding usually requires a separate policy if available understanding water damage insurancemost home insurance policies cover accidental and sudden damage caused by water for example a burst pipe that caused damage to a wall or floor would be covered however a gradual leak or seepage due to poor maintenance wouldn t be covered also water damage insurance does not cover negligence if you have an outstanding mortgage loan your mortgage lender will not likely require water damage insurance but will require you to purchase homeowners insurance proper maintenance can help homeowners avoid many types of water damage to their property maintenance can include monitoring drippage from the ceiling during a rainstorm or fixing a leaky pipe under the kitchen sink before mold becomes a problem 1water damage claims and costswater damage is a major factor in homeowners insurance claims according to the insurance information institute water was the third leading cause of claims from 2017 to 2021 with an average of 12 514 per claim water damage and freezing were the second most frequent claims after wind and hail damage about one in 60 insured homes has a property damage claim caused by water damage or freezing each year water damage represented more than 23 of homeowner insurance claims in 2021 behind wind and hail which were 39 and fire and lightning 25 of claims 2carefully review your policy details for sublimits that reduce your water damage coverage for example your homeowners insurance might have 300 000 in property damage coverage with water damage capped at 8 000 policies with sublimits can decrease your monthly premiums but increase your out of pocket costs when filing a claim 3types of water damage claimsone of the most common water damage claims is due to plumbing system failures frozen pipes can cause plumbing failures when a pipe bursts due to a buildup in water pressure caused by freezing water in an adjacent section of the pipe broken valves and weakened joints can also cause plumbing supply system failures drain system failures are another top source of claims including sewer backups toilet failures either from the water supply line or from the toilet backing up into the house can cause significant damage however a standard homeowners insurance policy may not cover a sewer backup as a result an additional policy rider for sewer backup coverage might be needed other water damage claims result from water heaters or washing machine hoses failing 4special considerationsto mitigate water damage have older homes inspected by a licensed plumber every five years replace older water heaters use steel braided supply lines on washing machines and turn off the supply lines when the machine is not in use don t run the dishwasher or washing machine when someone s not at home frequently asked questions faqs 