Getting a homeowner's insurance can help protect your home from many things. One area of protection is with issues related to water damage. Despite being pretty common, repairs to these damages are always costly.

Many people ask whether home insurance includes water damage. The simple answer is yes. Homeowners' insurance may cover water damage. However, like any insurance, it depends on the cause of the water damage. We dive deep into what is covered and what isn't covered.

What types of water damage are covered?

Home insurance covers sudden and accidental water damage. A good example is a sudden pipe burst in your house. It also depends on whether the damage was sudden or accidental. You must also prove that you took proper steps to prevent the burst.

The insurance will also cover damage when a washing machine supply hose suddenly breaks. Similarly, your homeowner's insurance may cover water damage caused by overflowing appliances or leaking pipes.

The best way to understand the type of water damage covered is to look at HO-3 policies. These policies include perils coverage for your house or garage and personal property coverage.

The insurance will pay for repairs after water damage. It works by covering the cost of replacing or repairing a damaged floor. For one, it can pay for damage to the structure of your home, such as fixing a damaged wall after a pipe burst. It can also pay for damage to your belongings, such as electronics, helping to repair or replace damaged items.

A point to note is that a deductible will apply before your coverage kicks in. Ensure you understand what your policy provides.

What types of water damage aren't covered?

Your homeowner's insurance will not cover all forms of water damage. Here are some common cases where your standard homeowner's insurance policy won't cover.

External flooding

The most critical area of concern is with external flooding. No damage from floods, no matter the water source, is covered. For instance, you won't get protection if water damage comes from hurricanes, storm surges, or heavy rain. Flood damage is almost always excluded under the insurance policy. So, besides your standard home policy, you will need separate flood insurance to cover such cases.

Lack of maintenance

If you fail to maintain your home through repairs, your standard home insurance won't protect you. You won't be protected if you leave a leaking appliance on, causing damage to your floor. Any slow leaks and seepage that cause gradual damage over time aren't covered. In other words, your insurance may or may not cover a major dishwasher leak, depending on the maintenance you performed up to that point.

Neglect

Like lack of maintenance, you won't be covered if the damage arises from neglect. It is not covered if the water damage is from a pipe that freezes and bursts because you didn't keep your home heated. Home insurance doesn't cover the source of water damage if you neglect to replace or repair it. For instance, don't expect your insurance to cover replacing a broken dishwasher. If you knew the dishwasher had issues and neglected it, the insurer may argue that you were negligent and the damage could have been prevented.

Take out a homeowners insurance policy

Homeowners insurance can help cover a wide range of misfortunes. I cover additional living expenses that can help offset extra costs. It will help cover water damage if the cause is sudden and accidental.

However, you must be aware of the incidents covered under your policy. Review your insurance policy details to understand how to prevent further damage. An insurance provider can help adjust your coverage to fit your needs. Work with a homeowners insurance provider to avoid incurring costly expenses from water damage.