Berkshire Hathaway EWM Realty.
Adelaida “Ady” M. Artime, P.A., Berkshire Hathaway EWM Realty.Phone: (786) 512-2467
Email: [email protected]

Flash Floods & Other Water Damage Your Insurance Might Not Cover

by Adelaida “Ady” M. Artime, P.A. 02/09/2025

Homeowner's insurance can help you recover financially from many accidents and disasters at home. While traditional homeowner's policies include coverage for personal items and your property, they don't cover everything. Certain types of damage may be excluded from coverage and require an additional policy, including many types of water damage. Here are some of the types of water damage your homeowners insurance might not cover:

Unresolved Maintenance

A key detail of homeowners insurance is, while it covers home appliances and systems, it won't cover your costs if the damage is your fault. For example, your insurance will cover the cost of replacement floors if they are damaged by water from a sudden dishwasher failure. If there were preexisting maintenance issues causing the damage, like a continually leaky faucet or pipe, the insurance isn't likely to cover the bill.

Replacements & Repairs

Homeowners insurance doesn't usually cover the cost of replacing whatever caused the water damage. For instance, in the above scenario, they might not pay to replace or repair your broken dishwasher. While many home appliances are included in homeowner policies, it's important to be completely clear about what might not be covered so you don't have any unpleasant financial surprises.

Sewer & Drain Backups

Sometimes water damage can occur because of a backed-up sewer or drain outside the home. This can be messy for your yard and your home's interior if the water manages to seep into your basement or floors. Unfortunately, most traditional homeowners insurance policies won't cover this type of water damage. The good news is that you can usually purchase additional water and sewer backup coverage to help you handle the damage from this type of situation.

Floods

Flood damage can range from annoying to completely catastrophic. While the source of the water in a flood can vary from one situation to the next, homeowners insurance policies won't cover your costs for damage to your home. Flood insurance is a common addition to homeowners policies in flood-prone areas, but you can purchase it as supplemental coverage no matter where you live.

When purchasing homeowners insurance, it's crucial to go over every detail. The more familiar you are with your policy and what it includes, the better prepared you'll be to handle water damage at home.

About the Author
Author

Adelaida “Ady” M. Artime, P.A.

In her role as a real estate and relocation specialist in South Florida and Northern Virginia, Ady Artime prides herself on providing the highest level of service, confidentiality and professionalism to her clients. Based on her own experience as a government liaison, Ady is in familiar territory working with high powered individuals. She possesses a discreet and confidential work ethic, and her keen eye, attention to detail, and experience with multi-million dollar properties have earned her a high-profile, loyal clientele that expect the best from their realtor.

Known for her expertise and strong background in interior design, she stands out from other real estate agents. When a satisfied client says that Ady knows real estate "inside and out", the statement is to be taken literally. Over the course of her career, she has received recognition as an award-winning interior designer. She has designed and implemented interiors for countless luxury projects throughout the United States, and Europe. Her extensive knowledge of all facets of design, including working with architects and construction teams, led to a natural progression into the real estate arena and gives her a definite edge over the competition in serving her clients.

As and agent in South Florida and North Virginia, Ady lends her real estate expertise and design savvy to buyers and sellers. Ady's mission is to develop a faithful, repeat clientele by providing them with superior service and value. She is passionate about her work and takes the time to understand each client's needs and goals to accurately assess the options she provides. From overseeing the staging of a listed property in order to fetch the highest possible price to analyzing a potential purchase from a design and architectural perspective.