Water Coverages Explained

As we approach the anniversary of Snowmageddon 2021 it makes me think about what and how much water damage there was during that time and how can we avoid that. I’m not sure if I have all the answers for how to avoid pipes bursting when there’s no electricity or heat but I do know that there are several types of water claims that we can talk about that may be covered some that are some that aren’t. it’s really important that everybody knows which ones are covered by your homeowners insurance which ones are covered by a flood insurance policy and which ones are just aren’t covered at all so let’s talk about that.

 

  • The first and most common water claim is going to be considered sudden and accidental. This is the type of water leak where clean water comes out of a pipe or a plumbing system at a really quick rate. On the HO3 homeowners policy, which is most common in Texas, any sudden and accidental leaks would be covered up to the policy limits. I call this flooding from the inside of the house and it’s going to only be a few inches of water.
  • Another type of water damage would be slow water leakage this is commonly called seepage and leakage This is a type of water leak where the water tends to come out at a really slow rate maybe a couple tablespoons a day
    • It’s not very noticeable but over time – months weeks or years it reveals itself to become a big issue. This would be most commonly seen in a water leak under a bath tub or under a kitchen sink where it’s not very visible.
  • Water backup is another type of water damage that is different from the two above. This is going to be associated with dirty water that was supposed to go down the drain out to the city drain pipes, but has come back up the wrong way. I’ve seen this with clients where it will fill up a bathtub with dark nasty water and almost overflowed but didn’t.  Sometimes it does overflow and cause damage to the floors and walls – what a mess!  You want this coverage on the policy.
  • Flooding from the outside of the house is a different issue. This type of water damage is only covered by a separate FLOOD policy and is not covered by a homeowners policy.  What is a flood you ask?

 

FEMA defines a flood as:

  • A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of 2 or more acres of normally dry land area or of 2 or more properties (at least 1 of which is the policyholder’s property) from:
    • Overflow of inland or tidal waters;
    • Unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source; or
    • Mudflow; or
  • Collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or similar body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels that result in a flood as defined above.

 

What is NOT covered under any policy?

Another water issue that is tricky to deal with is improper drainage.  This is mostly likely an issue where someone’s backyard slopes TOWARD the back door of the house and it allows regular rainwater to come in.

  • This is going to be excluded from Flood insurance coverage because it’s not completely inundating 2 or more properties or 2 or more acres.
  • It’s also going to be excluded from a homeowners policy because the water didn’t originate from inside the home and is considered rising water.

Your Solution to this issue:

  1. Don’t buy a house with a yard that has bad elevation and sloping which would direct water towards your house.
  2. Install a French drain to divert the water away from your home.
  3. Install a sump pump where the issue is and pump it away from your home. This one is relying on electricity so it’s my least favorite solution.

 

 

Dealing with water damage is one of the most common insurance claims.  Make sure you’re covered correctly and call us at Ryan Everet Insurance in Denton, Texas for help with understanding your coverages.