Every policy is different, so your own policy and your agent have the final word. Most standard homeowners policies sold in Utah follow the same general pattern, though, and knowing it helps you ask the right questions.
Usually covered: sudden water from inside the house
Most policies cover water damage that is sudden and accidental and comes from inside the home. That includes:
- A pipe that bursts, including one that froze, as long as you kept the house heated.
- A water heater that ruptures.
- A washer hose, dishwasher line or fridge line that splits.
- An overflowing toilet or tub.
- Water that comes in through a roof or window damaged by wind or hail.
The policy usually pays to repair the damage the water caused, like flooring, drywall and cabinets, and for the cleanup and drying. It often does not pay to fix the thing that broke, such as the water heater or the pipe itself.
Often excluded: slow leaks and neglect
Damage from a leak that went on for weeks or months, like a drip under a sink that rotted the cabinet floor, is usually excluded as wear and tear or lack of maintenance. Freeze damage can also be excluded if the home was left without heat and the water was not shut off, which comes up with vacant homes, rentals between tenants and cabins.
Needs an add-on: sewer and drain backup
Water or sewage that comes up through a floor drain, toilet or sump pit is usually excluded unless you bought a water backup or sewer backup endorsement. Many Utah homeowners do not know whether they have one. It is usually inexpensive, and with a basement floor drain in nearly every house here, it is worth asking your agent about.
Needs a separate policy: flooding and runoff
Standard homeowners policies exclude flood, meaning surface water from outside, rising rivers and, in most policies, groundwater. Spring runoff that comes in through window wells or the foundation usually falls here. Flood coverage comes from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood insurer, and NFIP policies generally have a 30-day waiting period, so it has to be in place before runoff season.
Filing the claim
- Stop the water and take photos before cleanup starts.
- Call your insurer or agent to open a claim. Write down the claim number.
- Call a restoration company. Most document moisture readings, photos and everything they remove, and many can bill the insurer directly.
- Keep damaged items until the adjuster sees them, or photograph them well if they have to go.
- Save receipts for hotel stays, meals and supplies if you cannot stay in the house. Many policies cover additional living expenses.
- Read the adjuster's estimate line by line and ask questions about anything missing.
If you have a problem with how a claim is handled, the Utah Insurance Department takes consumer complaints and can answer questions about your rights.
Related services in Ogden
- Frozen and burst pipe damage: Cleanup after a pipe splits in the cold, from wet ceilings to soaked basement carpet.
- Sewer backup cleanup: Sewage removed, contaminated materials hauled out, surfaces cleaned and disinfected.
- Snowmelt and storm water damage: Water that came in from outside during runoff, heavy rain or a wind storm, cleaned up and dried.