Water damage and home insurance don't always play nice together. It's perhaps one of the most complicated perils to understand coverage for, yet 14,000 people in the US experience a water damage emergency each day. For this reason, understanding your coverage can save you time, money, and frustration if an emergency occurs.

With how complicated water damage coverage can be, working with a South Carolina independent insurance agent can make the process easier. They can break down specifically when you would and wouldn't be covered and assist if you ever need to file a claim.

Who’s Responsible for Long-Term Water Damage to Your Home?

Responsibility for water damage depends on the type of water damage and the event that caused it. Some events are covered by home insurance, but not many. Here are a few different scenarios and who would be responsible for the damage.

• Scenario 1: Your pipes accidentally burst and cause flooding throughout your home, ruining your furniture and some of your floors. In this scenario, your homeowners insurance would be likely to cover the damage to your personal belongings and the structure of your home. It would not pay to repair the pipes.
• Scenario 2:  You move into a new home and discover that the builders improperly installed the toilet upstairs. A leak occurs and causes damage to the house. In this scenario, you may be able to get reimbursement for the damage from the builders, but you'd have to prove that the water damage resulted from negligence. 
• Scenario 3: A storm blows through your town, and your home experiences flooding from natural flood waters. In this scenario, your home insurance would not cover any of the damage, and you would need a flood insurance policy to receive coverage. 

Whatever the scenario, if you believe you have coverage, it will all start with filing a claim with your home insurance or flood insurance. If you think you deserve compensation from someone else, you'll need to pursue the legal process. 

Instances Where Home Insurance Typically Covers Water Damage

There are a few instances where home insurance will cover water damage on some level. This is good information to have if you experience any of the following:

• Burst pipes: Homeowners insurance will generally cover damage from a burst pipe if the cause was sudden and accidental. It would not cover a loss resulting from a lack of maintenance, for example, if you left the heat off for several days and a pipe froze and burst. The damage from a sudden and accidental cause would be covered. However, repairs to the system itself would not. 
• Broken appliances: Homeowners insurance will cover the loss if the cause was sudden and accidental, for example, if a washing machine hose broke. However, if the damage were from an ongoing leak, the damage would not be covered. 
• Localized overflow: Homeowners insurance will likely cover if a structure overflows in the basement of your home, such as a sink or tub, and if it is sudden and accidental. If the damage were ongoing or a result of poor maintenance, it would not be covered. 

Since every policy is different, an agent can walk you through the coverages outlined in your policy so you're not surprised by any exclusions.

Instances Where Home Insurance Typically DOESN’T Cover Water Damage

If water damage is caused by anything other than what's mentioned above, it's likely to be excluded from homeowners insurance. Here is some further information on what types of water damage are typically not covered.

• Flooding from a storm: Storm flooding is considered a flood from natural waters and requires a flood insurance policy to receive coverage. 
• Sump pump backups: Insurance will never pay for damage from a backed-up sump pump. You can add an endorsement to your insurance policy if you have a sump pump and want protection.
• Sewer backups: Sewer backups can happen in numerous ways, but an external sewer backup is not covered under homeowners insurance. 
• Maintenance issues: Water damage coverage is always excluded if it can be proven that the damage resulted from poor homeowner maintenance. 

How Does Home Insurance Cover Your Home against Floods?

If you experience a flood incident that is covered by insurance, you'll receive coverage through your dwelling and personal property coverage in your standard homeowners insurance policy.

• Dwelling coverage: Pays for damage to the structure of your home, including walls, ceilings, floors, built-in appliances, and the like. 
• Personal property coverage:  Pays for damage to your personal belongings such as furniture, brought-in appliances, technology, and other valuables. 

You'll only receive this coverage if the flooding was from a covered event. You'd receive coverage up to your policy limits, and your insurance may outline specific exclusions or limits on specific items. 

Additional Coverages to Consider to Help Protect Against Water Damage or Flooding

Flood insurance is the best coverage to add to your insurance package for flooding. It is a separate policy that your agent can help you purchase. In most cases, flood insurance is purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), but can also be purchased from a private insurer. 

Flood insurance purchased through the NFIP provides the following coverage:

• Building coverage: Covers damage to/loss of your home, including the structure's foundation, electrical systems, indoor plumbing, built-in appliances, and other flooring installed - such as carpeting. Through the NFIP, you can insure your home for up to $250,000. 
• Contents coverage: Covers damage to/loss of your stuff, including furniture (built-in and free-standing), smaller/not built-in appliances, some food, valuables, and clothing. Through the NFIP, you can insure your property for up to $100,000.

In addition to flood insurance, you can purchase a water backup endorsement. This optional coverage can be added to your primary homeowners policy. It is designed to cover you for water damage caused by a drain or sump pump backup.

7 Steps to Minimize Long-Term Effects of Water Damage

Some water damage is not preventable, but there are steps you can take to minimize your chances of surprise water damage from broken appliances or burst pipes. 

1. Call your insurance company: If you believe you should get some homeowners insurance coverage for the damage, immediately calling the insurance company is a good first step. They'll send a representative to assess the damage and can tell you for sure if you have any protection.
2. Protect yourself, appliances, and valuables: Safety is always the first priority after any significant event, including flooding. Always double-check the safety of yourself, your family, and your pets if your home goes through a catastrophic flood event.
3. Start repairs on the water damage immediately:  After you've documented all the water damage to your home, you can begin repairs. You may need to call in a professional, which you can start doing within 24-48 hours of being allowed back into your home. Keep an eye on your flooring, drywall, and insulation, as this is where mold can grow after a flood. 
4. Dry out water damage and remove humidity: You may decide to clear out the water yourself. To start, you always want to wear protective gear. The easiest way to get rid of standing water is with buckets or plastic tubs. You can use mops and even rent a dry vacuum once most of the water is gone. A dehumidifier can also help dry your home more quickly. For the best results and the least chance for long-term damage, it's recommended that you begin drying out your house within 24 hours of the flood and remove all water within 3-4 days to avoid mold and mildew. 
5. How to identify mold: Mold can begin to develop as quickly as 24 hours after a flood event. The easiest way to prevent mold is to have a professional help with the drying out process. If you do find mold, it's important not to spread the pores throughout the house in the cleaning process. If the mold gets bad, you can have someone come out and assess it and discuss the best way to remove it.
6. Know when to move back home: The best indicator of when you can move back into your home is when your insurance company or the professional building company repairing your home tells you that it's safe to do so. If your home experiences flooding, then you can use the temporary living expenses coverage in your homeowners insurance policy to pay for temporary housing, meals, gas mileage, and other expenses while your home is being repaired. 
7. Make any changes to prepare for next time based on what you learned here: Major events are unfortunate but typically leave us with some lessons learned. Take note of the process, what went well, what could have gone better, and what you wish you had had in place to make everything easier. You can adjust your home and insurance to be better prepared for next time.

How Can an Independent Insurance Agent Help?

As you can see, water damage is not black and white when it comes to insurance coverage. A South Carolina independent insurance agent makes understanding your options and your coverages easier than trying to navigate the process on your own. Agents can review your policy with you, answer your questions, and make sure you're set up with the coverage that will protect you in as many water damage scenarios as possible. Work with a local agent today.