Whether insurance covers water damage depends on the cause, the policy and what you did after the loss. This guide is general information and not advice about your policy. Your policy and your insurer have the final word.
The categories below describe what is often covered and what is often not. Use them to ask better questions, not to predict an outcome.
What is often covered
Sudden and accidental water damage is often covered by homeowner policies. A burst pipe, a failed water heater or a washing machine hose that splits are common examples. Many policies cover both the damage and the cost of drying the structure.
Policies differ in what they pay for, such as the repair of the pipe itself, the removal of wet materials or the cost of temporary housing. Read the sections on water damage and additional living expenses.
What is often not covered
| Cause | Often covered | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sudden pipe burst | Often | Sudden and accidental |
| Appliance supply line failure | Often | Sudden and accidental |
| Slow leak over weeks or months | Often not | Gradual damage is often excluded |
| Flood or surface water from storms | Usually not | Usually needs separate flood coverage |
| Sewer backup | Varies | Often requires an added endorsement |
| Damage from neglect | Often not | Maintenance duties are excluded |
Flood damage is usually excluded from standard homeowner policies and needs separate flood coverage. Ask your insurer whether sewer backup is covered by endorsement, because many policies require it to be added.
Protecting your claim from day one
- Report the loss to your insurer promptly.
- Take reasonable steps to protect the property, such as closing the valve and calling a crew.
- Photograph and video the damage before moving anything.
- Keep damaged items until the adjuster has seen them, when it is safe to do so.
- Keep copies of every letter and a record of every call.
- Keep receipts for emergency work.
The duty to protect the property
Most policies expect you to prevent further damage once a loss happens. Delay can reduce what a policy pays. Calling a restoration crew right away is a reasonable step that also supports your claim.
What the restoration crew provides
The crew records the affected areas, the moisture readings, the equipment placed and the photos in a scope of work. That documentation helps an adjuster see what was found and what was done. It does not decide coverage, and it does not promise payment.
Do not rely on a restoration company to tell you what your policy covers. Your insurer does that. See water mitigation for how moisture readings are logged.
Water loss in progress?
Call the 24/7 line. The crew records readings and photos as part of the job.
Sewer backup and flood: ask about endorsements
Two of the most common surprises are sewer backup and flood. Many standard policies exclude both unless you add coverage. A sewer backup endorsement is usually a separate line on the policy, and flood coverage is usually a separate policy altogether.
Ask your agent two plain questions: is sewer or drain backup covered, and what are the limits? Then ask whether a separate flood policy is available for your address. The answers are far easier to get before a loss than after one.
If water has already entered from outside or from a drain, see flood damage restoration for the handling steps while you sort out coverage. Safety comes first, and your insurer will want records of what you did.
Read the declarations page and the exclusions list once, slowly, before you ever need them. Mark the claim phone number in your phone, and keep a copy of the policy somewhere that does not depend on the house.
Santa Monica local note: what the state advises
The California Department of Insurance advises policyholders to report a loss to their insurance agent or representative after property damage. It also advises protecting property from further damage, such as with plastic sheeting or plywood.
The same guide warns that a policy may not cover ensuing damage if reasonable steps were not taken to secure the property. The department's residential claims guide is free to read.
This applies equally in Santa Monica, Venice and Pacific Palisades. Renters should also check what the landlord's policy covers and what a renter policy covers, because they are different.
Questions homeowners ask
Do both quickly. Stop the source and call the restoration line to prevent further damage, and report the loss to your insurer as soon as you can. Neither call replaces the other.
Documentation helps, but it does not decide coverage. Your insurer checks the cause, the policy terms and the records. No restoration company can promise approval.
A renter policy usually covers your belongings, not the building. The landlord's policy usually covers the structure. Check both and tell your landlord about the loss right away.
Standard policies usually exclude flood. Whether you need separate coverage depends on your risk and your lender. Check the FEMA flood map for your address and ask your insurer or agent.