Is a Basement Flood Covered by Insurance

7/11/2022 (Permalink)

Flooded basement in College Station, TX

When Insurance Will Or Won't Cover Your Water Damage Expenses

Experiencing a basement flood in your College Station, TX, home can be devastating. Even if your basement isn’t finished, you may store belongings that can be damaged quickly by water. Fortunately, there are water restoration companies that can help individuals cleanup and restore their homes before additional damage, such as mold, occurs. Additionally, insurance companies may cover some of the repair costs. Here are some examples of when insurance will or won’t cover your water damage expenses.

Covered Water Damage
Most homeowners insurance policies cover water damage in the following situations:

• Broken water heater
• Pipe burst
• Washing machine hose break
• Plumbing malfunction

All of these situations have two variables in common: sudden and accidental. If you’re wondering if your basement flood will be covered by your insurance, consider what caused the damage. Most insurance policies cover sudden and accidental water damage under dwelling coverage or personal property coverage.

Uncovered Water Damage
Having defined what perils are covered under a homeowner’s insurance policy, there are many instances where insurance coverage won’t pay for repairs:

• Lack of maintenance on an appliance
• The cost to replace the source of the problem
• Outside sewer or drain issues
• Flooding from any source

First, homeowners must take responsibility for properly caring for their home. If there is a continuous leak from a faucet and it causes water damage, it’s not a covered peril. Second, insurance may cover the cost to tear out and replace your damaged floor, but it won’t cover the cost to replace your water heater that caused the basement flood.

Third, outside water lines are not covered under a traditional homeowner's insurance policy; however, you may be able to purchase additional coverage. Finally, any type of flooding is not covered under a regular homeowner's policy. You may be able to purchase separate flood insurance if necessary.

If you find your basement is suddenly flooded with water, find the source of the problem. Identifying what caused the water damage will determine if insurance will cover the cost of the repairs.