Your home insurance usually covers burst pipes when the damage is caused by perils already included in your policy. That’s lucky considering frozen or burst pipes can cause devastating damage to a home.
Once a pipe bursts, an avalanche of creeping damage can affect almost any area of your home with wet, moldy, and frozen walls, floors, and belongings. Even more unsettling is that water damage and freezing claims are among the most common losses homeowners see.
When does home insurance cover burst pipes?
Homeowners insurance typically covers water damage if it is caused by:
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Rain or snow, except for flooding.
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Water damage from extinguishing a fire.
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A leaky roof, if caused by a covered peril.
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Accidental overflow of an appliance or fixture (e.g., toilet, sink, washing machine).
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Mold that results from covered water damage.
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Vandalism.
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Plumbing (e.g., frozen plumbing, faulty plumbing, accidental overflow).
Plumbing makes the list, but only in cases where the damage is sudden and accidental. Otherwise, insurers consider plumbing problems to be a home maintenance issue. If your insurance company determines that you were at fault or failed to take precautions to protect your pipes, your claim could be denied.
But in general, homeowners insurance covers burst pipes much like roof leaks: You'll likely have coverage if the damage is sudden and unforeseen. If water damage occurs gradually due to a leaky or rusty pipe that you should have been aware of and taken steps to fix, you may find yourself without coverage.
Remember that your coverage is for the water damage, not your plumbing system. If a burst pipe causes water damage to your flooring, cabinetry, and other personal possessions, then your claim is probably covered. Moreover, you'd likely have coverage for the destruction necessary to get to the plumbing system (e.g., digging a ditch in your garage or tearing through a wall) but not for replacing pipes or plumbing equipment.
You should also know that burst pipes can trigger different coverage parts. We’ve listed them below.
Dwelling coverage
Dwelling coverage helps pay for repairs to the home's physical structure. In the case of burst pipes damaging floors, walls, or other structural parts of your home, your dwelling coverage typically helps pay to repair the damage up to your policy limits and minus your deductible.
Property coverage
Personal property coverage helps pay for repairing or replacing your belongings, such as furniture, clothing, and electronics if they’re damaged or destroyed by a covered event – in this case, a burst pipe.
Loss of use coverage
Loss of use coverage covers additional living expenses if you're temporarily unable to stay in your home after a covered event. This may include hotels, meals, and other essential living costs that go beyond your normal expenses.
If you’re a landlord, your loss of use coverage usually includes fair rental value insurance. It helps with lost income if your tenants also have to temporarily relocate.
When doesn’t home insurance cover burst pipes?
Your home insurance policy doesn't cover damage from a pipe burst if it’s caused by neglect or improper maintenance. Moreover, normal wear and tear isn’t covered by your homeowners insurance.
Let’s say you failed to notice a pipe leak for several months, causing damage to worsen. In that case, your insurance company probably won't cover the damage that could have been prevented had you been appropriately taking care of your home and noticed the leak earlier. Likewise, damage from older pipes that need to be replaced may not be covered. Your insurer may classify that as normal wear and tear.
Another situation that may not be covered? A frozen pipe bursting if you left your home with the heat off when it’s cold outside.
Essentially, if your pipes burst after you've failed to take care of minor issues like leaks, fractures, or other regular maintenance, don't expect your home insurance policy to cover the damage.
How to prevent burst pipes
The best way to avoid the mess of burst pipes, water damage, and the ensuing insurance claims is to make every attempt to prevent burst pipes in the first place.
Simple, regular maintenance goes a long way toward preventing burst pipes. For instance, you may want to:
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Regularly check the home's hoses, faucets, or water lines for general wear and tear. Immediately fix or replace these components if you find signs of rust or other problems like cracks or leaks.
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Turn off your supply when you go on vacation, and try not to leave your home while the washing machine or dishwasher is running.
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Look closely for active leaking. In addition to visible leakage, you may see signs of leakage, like calcification on the outside of pipes and moisture or darkening of the surrounding wood.
You also want to take precautions to avoid frozen pipes before you leave your home for any significant amount of time in the winter. And even if you're home all winter, keep your home and pipes properly heated and remain diligent during periods of extreme cold.
How to file a claim for water damage from burst pipes
The most important step when you first notice a burst pipe is to do whatever you can do safely to stop further damage from happening.
Other than that, you'll likely begin the claims process by contacting your insurance company by phone, email, or online. This is called a first notice of loss, and it starts your insurer working to resolve the claim. You’ll find it helpful to have your policy number ready and photos or a video recording of the damage if these are available to you.
Your insurance company will then assign a claims specialist to inspect your damage and explain the available coverage.
Remember, having coverage for water damage from a burst pipe doesn't mean that you don't have to pay anything out of pocket. Most policies include a deductible that represents the amount you’re responsible for covering.
Your policy's applicable coverage limits also apply. This means that your policy only pays for repairs up to the limit outlined in the policy for a particular type of loss. Any repair or replacement costs exceeding these limits must be paid out of your pocket.
What to do if your claim is denied
If you suffer damage as a result of burst pipes and your claim is denied, you’ll likely be responsible for the cost of repairing any damage or replacing destroyed property, as well as actually fixing the pipes themselves. Your adjuster may be able to provide some suggestions for professionals in your area who perform this kind of work, or you can contact a local disaster repair company for more information.
