A home warranty covers repairs for the item causing the leak—such as a broken washing machine or a failed pipe—but doesn't typically pay for water damage to floors, walls, or personal property. For that, you would turn to homeowners insurance if the damage is due to a covered event.
Source of damage
If the source of the damage comes from inside your home, such as a water leak from plumbing , a broken pipe or overflowing appliance, you'll likely be covered by your homeowners insurance.
Common Items Not Covered by Home Warranties
Windows and doors: As part of the structural elements of your home, they fall outside the coverage. Bathtubs and Showers: While associated with your plumbing system, they typically aren't covered due to their structural nature.
Sadly, most smartphone brands do not cover water damage even if the smartphone is under warranty. But some brands, such as Apple, offer a visible Liquid Contact Indicator (LCI) to show whether the smartphone has been in contact with water or a liquid containing water.
A home warranty is a service contract that pays the cost of repair or replacement of covered items, such as major kitchen appliances, as well as electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning systems. A warranty doesn't cover windows, doors, floors or other structural features.
In many cases, a home warranty covers leaking or burst pipes. Worn or faulty appliances: Your hot water tank, washing machine, refrigerator, and dishwasher are common household appliances that can cause water damage. This usually happens because the hoses and pipes attached to the appliances weaken and crack.
A home warranty covers plumbing inside the home, so plumbing that is outside the home or under your slab is not covered. Depending on your homeowner's insurance, slab leaks may be covered by your insurance policy. AFC does not cover improperly installed or repaired plumbing.
A home warranty covers repairs for the item causing the leak—such as a broken washing machine or a failed pipe—but doesn't typically pay for water damage to floors, walls, or personal property. For that, you would turn to homeowners insurance if the damage is due to a covered event.
Under most standard home insurance policies, if water damage occurs suddenly or accidentally from a source inside your home, such as a busted pipe, it will likely be covered by your homeowners insurance. If the water comes from outside your home, it will not be covered by your standard policy.
Home warranties often cover standard tank water heaters within their basic coverage plans. Key components like heaters' gas control valves, thermostats, and heating elements are typically included under warranty coverage. However, capacity and age may influence the coverage.
Home warranties can cover repairs for common toilet problems like leaks, clogs, and running water, but it's crucial to read the plan details to understand the extent of the coverage.
A home warranty plan protects the appliances and systems in your home: major home appliances, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems. Unlike your homeowners insurance policy, which protects your home from covered perils, a home warranty is a service contract that covers general wear and tear.
In general, a home warranty covers your home's major systems and appliances when they break down from normal wear and tear. An example of a major system would be your HVAC system. An example of a major appliance would be your refrigerator.
As a general rule, water damage is covered by home insurance if it is sudden or accidental.
Reasons for denial can range from the nature of the damage itself—such as gradual damage that occurred over time—to issues with how the claim was filed, including missed deadlines or insufficient documentation. Furthermore, unreported property modifications can also lead to complications during the claims process.
Homeowners insurance may help cover damage caused by leaking plumbing if the leak is sudden and accidental, such as if a washing machine supply hose suddenly breaks or a pipe burst. However, homeowners insurance does not cover damage resulting from poor maintenance.
Homeowners insurance doesn't usually cover mold damage or removal unless it's the result of a covered peril. If the mold in your residence was caused by something sudden or accidental, such as a bursting pipe or some other covered incident on your policy, you may be protected.
If the leak was caused by your neighbour being careless, for example, they left the bath to overflow, it's their responsibility to pay for the damaged belongings. If you have household contents insurance, you might be able to make a claim for your damaged belongings.
Manufacturer's warranties
They generally do not cover the cost of routine maintenance or parts that wear due to normal wear and tear, or abuse.
Home warranty plumbing coverage for major related issues
But you may not be aware that a home warranty covers plumbing systems too. Warranty coverage for plumbing can include the following: Leaks and breaks of water, drain, gas, waste or vent lines. Pipe repair or replacement.
However, a homeowners policy won't cover slow, constant leaks or other plumbing problems resulting from neglect or improper maintenance. This also applies to backed-up sump pumps or sewage systems that have not been routinely inspected and maintained.
Yes, leaks due to normal wear and tear are typically covered. Issues from improper installation or neglect are not. Refer to your plan agreement for details.
Some examples of items not covered include: Acts of nature: Home warranties typically don't cover damage caused by natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, or other acts of nature. Pest damage: Damage from termites, rodents, or other pests is usually not covered by home warranty plans.