Does homeowner insurance cover water damage from toilets?

Answer 1

Generally, yes, BUT it depends on several things which you need to check out with your insurance agent and possibly an attorney: * Whether or not it is covered or excluded in your policy. * The insurance laws of your state. * The circumstances of the water from the toilet causing damage. Again, you need to discuss this with your insurance agent, and depending on his/her answers you may need to follow through with the other sources.

Answer 2

Almost always, yes. You need to look in your policy under Perils Insured Against, and then the Exceptions. Your insurance company will not always offer to tell you all of the coverage you have.

Answer 3

Only if it was an accident and you were not aware of any issues with the water heater prior to it causing the water damage. It's your responsibility as a homeowner to be aware of your appliances condition. So, if you have rust visible on your water heater, and water stains on the floor, chances are the agent will claim that you were negligent. Of course, not everyone knows what rust looks like or that a water heater isn't supposed to leak. Good luck! ;-)

Home Insurance and Water HeatersCoverage really depends on your policy type and the cause of the water heater leak. Bear in mind that your Home Insurance Policy does not cover a homeowners normal and expected Home maintenance costs and does not provide Warranty coverage for Home Appliances. The Leaky Water HeaterIf your Water Heater is leaking due to damage resulting from a sudden loss from a covered peril (Fire, Wind, Hail, Lightning, etc.) under your insurance policy, then your insurance company would cover repair costs and resulting damage subject to your policy deductible.

If your Water Heater is just old and in need of replacement (generally every 12 to 15 years) then that is considered a normal and expected home maintenance issue and would not be considered a covered loss.

Resulting water damageIf your policy has coverage for accidental water discharge, then resulting damage, even if from a defective appliance would be covered after the Water Heater has been repaired or replaced subject to any deductible but the actual Water Heater itself may not be covered depending on the cause of the leak as described above.

Answer 4

If you have "accidental water discharge" coverage on your policy then it will cover damage that results from a water overflow or a leak. If you do not have the coverage then it will not be covered.

Your policy however, will not cover the cost of the plumber to fix the toilet as this is a normal maintenance issue.

You will need to call a plumber first and get the toilet fixed before the company will pay for any resulting other damages. Keep the receipt from your plumber as the company will need proof that you have met your maintenance obligations. There would be no point in the company paying to fix the damage that will certainly happen again if the homeowner is not interested in fixing the toilet problem (normal maintenance) that caused the damage.

Answer 5

I think you should certainly turn in your claim, (if you have one), it depends on the policy, perils and exclusions.