Does a home warranty cover water damage?
Check water damage coverage to avoid costly surprises later
A leaking pipe or an overflowing toilet can cause more than just an extensive cleanup. They can also damage your home’s subfloor, carpeting, linoleum, drywall and more. Getting coverage is a smart move, but do home warranties cover water damage? It depends.
Key insights
- A home warranty doesn’t usually cover water damage.
- You can get home warranty coverage for systems and appliances that may leak.
- Your home insurance policy may cover water damage.
What water damage services does a home warranty cover?
When you sign up for a home warranty, you likely won’t see water damage as a plan feature. What you will see are plans that cover water-related systems and appliances like:
- Pipes
- Water heaters
- Well pumps
- Sup pumps
- Roofs
- Septic systems
Getting a policy that includes coverage of these systems (if you have them) may add some water damage coverage to your plan. If one of these systems breaks down, there’s a chance your policy could cover some water damage from the malfunction.
This isn’t common, though. Be sure to ask your home warranty company for more information about your coverage.
Potential exclusions to home warranty coverage for water damage
If you’re lucky enough to find a company that offers water damage coverage, there are still a few things that may result in a denied claim. These include the following:
- Preexisting problems with the systems or appliances
- Preexisting water damage
- Failure to properly maintain the systems or appliances
What to do if your home warranty doesn’t cover water damage
Even if your home warranty doesn’t cover water damage, getting coverage for water-related systems and appliances is a good idea. As soon as something goes wrong, you can get the item fixed before it leaks enough to damage your floors or walls. Also, it’s a smart move to put a water leak detector around these appliances to catch problems early.
If you’re not already covered by your home insurance, you can often add water damage coverage. Just remember that the insurance company won’t cover the repair or replacement of whatever caused the water damage. That’s what home warranties are for.
FAQ
What does a home warranty typically cover?
Home warranties usually cover large appliances, built-in microwaves, water heaters and systems like HVACs, plumbing, ductwork, pool heaters and well pumps. Some plans also cover additional items like pest control, septic systems, central vacuums, sump pumps and more.
Do home warranty policies cover leaks?
Typically, no. They do cover the repairs or replacement of systems and appliances in the home that can cause leaks.
Does a home warranty cover a leaking window?
Most home warranties don’t cover windows, even if they’re leaky.
Bottom line
You’re not likely to get water damage coverage through a home warranty. The good news is that your home insurance should cover water damage, and your home warranty may cover the repair or replacement of whatever caused the leak.
Article sources
- Landmark Home Warranty, “Five of the Scariest Things Covered by a Home Warranty.” Accessed Feb. 10, 2024.
- Home Warranty One, “Things You Didn’t Know A Home Warranty Covered.” Accessed Feb. 10, 2024.
- First American Home Warranty, “What's Not Covered By a Home Warranty.” Accessed Feb. 10, 2024.
