Typically, a basic homeowners insurance policy will cover plumbing if the damage is “sudden and accidental,” rather than gradual. For example, if a pipe suddenly bursts and drenches your floor, your insurance carrier will probably cover the cost of cleanup and repairs. The opposite would be a slow leak that you’re fully aware of but never fixed.
When does your home insurance cover plumbing?
It all depends on what caused the plumbing damage to begin with. Usually, the insurance carrier will cover the damage if you had no way of predicting it would happen—in other words, if it was “sudden and accidental.”
When does your home insurance not cover plumbing?
Homeowners insurance won’t cover plumbing damage that develops over time due to poor maintenance or neglect. The thinking is that you could have taken steps to prevent the problem from happening in the first place.
Let’s say you’ve had a leaky faucet for a year. Gradually, water from the leak drips down the wall until one day you notice mold and mildew behind the vanity. In this case, your homeowners insurance company could easily deny your claim, arguing that you neglected to fix the leak in a timely manner.
Here are some more examples to consider:
| Cause of Damage | Covered | Not Covered |
|---|---|---|
| The overhead water sprinkler in your home suddenly bursts | ||
| Your pipes freeze and burst because you failed to maintain heat in the home | ||
| The hose leading to your washer machine accidentally breaks | ||
| Your home’s foundation shifts, slowly pulling apart the pipes beneath your home | ||
| A water pipe bursts even though your home was heated | ||
| An offsite power outage cuts off power to your sump pump, flooding your basement |
Additional coverage options
Homeowners insurance policies only cover certain plumbing problems, as described above. The following optional coverages can help maximize your protection.
Recommended Add-On Coverages
- Flood insurance
- Water or sewer backup
- Sump pump backup
- Mold coverage
- Utility service line
Flood insurance
For the most part, standard homeowners insurance covers water damage that is caused by a broken pipe or water leaking through the ceiling. It doesn’t cover damage caused by water coming up from the ground—from a natural source, in other words. This is why you need a separate flood insurance policy.
Flood insurance protects your home and its contents from damage caused by rising water, such as an overflowing lake or river. Therefore, if you live near a large body of water that could potentially overflow, or if your area is prone to heavy rain, flood insurance may be for you.
Water or sewer backup
Homeowners insurance usually won’t cover damage to your home caused by sewer, septic tank or drain backups. That’s unfortunate, because these types of backups can cause thousands—even tens of thousands—of dollars of damage to your personal property.
These backups happen due to a variety of reasons, such as clogged drains, aging sewer systems and tree roots getting into underground pipes. You can protect yourself by adding water backup coverage—also known as sewer backup coverage—to your homeowners insurance policy.
Sump pumps
Many homes have sump pumps that drain standing water out of the basement. When these pumps fail—either from a power outage or a mechanical problem—it usually leads to flooding. Unfortunately, standard homeowners insurance policies won’t cover damage caused by sump pump failure.
To protect yourself, you may want to buy an optional sump pump coverage endorsement. For extra peace of mind, you can also buy a backup generator to keep the sump pump running during a power outage.
Mold coverage
Mold damage isn’t covered by homeowners insurance because mold grows over time. Usually, it’s the result of a long-term leak or flooding instead of a sudden or accidental event. The good news is that you can add an optional coverage to your policy that will pay to replace items damaged or destroyed by mold.
Utility service line
As a homeowner, you’re responsible for the exterior underground pipes and lines that bring critical services into your home from outside the structure. This includes drainage pipes and sewer lines. If these pipes and lines become damaged over time, you’ll be on the hook to replace them—unless you purchase utility service line coverage.
This optional coverage will provide payment if physical damage results in a leak, break, tear, rupture, collapse or arcing of a covered utility service line leading to your home.
How can I prevent plumbing damage?
Proactive maintenance is the best way to prevent costly plumbing damage, such as ruined sheetrock walls, warped floors and flooded basements. These tasks will help keep your home’s plumbing system in good shape:
Replace old plumbing
If you live in a very old home, your pipes could start to deteriorate from wear and tear. One way around that scenario is to replace the pipes before they start leaking. Of course, a complete replacement of your plumbing system can be very expensive, so speak with a home inspector first. They’ll give you a professional recommendation you can trust.
Remove intrusive trees
If there are any large trees near your home, you may want to hire a professional to cut them down or prune them. Over time, roots can penetrate your home’s pipework, resulting in costly repairs. The roots might crack the pipe as they grow or block the interior of the pipe, restricting the flow of water.
Insulate your pipes
In cold weather, water pipes can freeze and burst, causing serious damage. Follow these tips to prevent frozen pipes:
- Insulate plumbing in unheated areas like the attic, basement and crawl spaces
- Keep your home at a steady temperature during the day and night
- Let water trickle from your faucets to prevent ice from forming inside the pipe
- Open cabinet doors in the kitchen and bathroom so warm air can circulate
Check your appliances
It’s a good idea to check your appliances for leaks on a regular basis. This means your washing machine, dishwasher and refrigerator. Here are some tips:
- Confirm that all water connections are secure and dry
- Make sure all hoses and water supply lines are clear of debris
- If you find water on the floor near an appliance, there could be a leak; call a plumber right away