A water damage insurance claim in Texas usually turns on whether the water was sudden or gradual, what caused it, and what the policy's endorsements add. A standard homeowners policy generally responds to sudden and accidental water losses and generally excludes gradual leakage and flooding. The policy and the insurer decide any claim, and this page describes only the general pattern.
Key takeaways
- A standard homeowners policy generally responds to sudden and accidental water losses, and generally does not respond to slow, long-running leakage.
- Flood damage is generally excluded from a standard homeowners policy and is often covered only by a separate policy or an endorsement.
- Water that backs up through a drain or sewer is generally handled by a specific endorsement rather than the base policy.
- What you photograph, keep and record before cleaning is among the most useful things you can do for a claim.
- Mitigation, meaning the steps taken to stop further damage, is something insurers generally expect a policyholder to take promptly.
- If a claim is denied or reduced, ask the insurer in writing for the policy language it relied on, and keep that letter.
What does a standard policy generally cover for water?
A standard homeowners policy generally responds to sudden and accidental water damage, such as a supply line that bursts or an appliance hose that splits. Whether a particular loss is covered depends on the policy wording and the facts of the loss.
The sudden and accidental pattern is the one most often covered, because it describes a loss that happened in a short period and was not expected. A burst pipe or a failed hose is the typical example. The policy then pays for the damage it describes, subject to its own terms.
The policy and its declarations page decide what applies to your home. This page does not set out what any particular policy covers, and you should read your own policy or ask your insurer to explain its wording.
What does a standard policy generally exclude?
A standard policy generally excludes slow, repeated or long-running leakage, flood, wear and maintenance problems, and some kinds of mold. The exclusions are the places where the claim is most often disputed, so read them with care.
Leakage that goes on for weeks, that is hidden behind a wall, or that results from a fault left unrepaired is often treated differently from a sudden burst. Insurers commonly look at how long the water was present and whether the owner knew about it.
Flood is a separate category. Surface water and rising water from outside the house are generally not covered by a standard homeowners policy, and where flood protection is available it is often bought as a separate policy.
Which endorsements sit outside the base policy?
Some water risks are generally handled by endorsements or separate policies rather than the base homeowners policy. Water that backs up from a sewer or drain is a common example, and it is generally not covered without a specific endorsement.
An endorsement is an addition to the base policy that changes what it covers. Whether one is in place for your home is a question for your own policy, and it is worth checking before a loss rather than after it.
A table below sets out common water risks and how they are generally treated. The treatment depends on your policy, so use the table to know what to ask, not as a statement of what you will be paid.
| Type of water | How it is generally treated | What to check in your policy |
|---|---|---|
| Sudden supply line or appliance hose failure | Generally responded to under the base policy | Your standard coverage wording and any exclusions |
| Slow leak over a long period | Generally not responded to in full | How the policy treats gradual damage and repair of the source |
| Water backing up through a drain or sewer | Generally needs a specific endorsement | Whether a water backup endorsement is part of your policy |
| Flood from outside the house | Generally excluded from a standard policy | Whether a separate flood policy exists |
| Roof leak | Depends on the cause and the condition of the roof | How the policy treats wear, deterioration and sudden damage |
What should I photograph and keep?
Photograph the damage, the source and the affected items before anything is moved or cleaned. Keep the photographs, the receipts for repairs, the crew's written notes and readings, and any written estimate or invoice.
Wide photographs of each room, close photographs of each stain and source, and photographs of damaged items with their positions are the most useful record. Keep the original files with their dates, not only copies.
The crew's readings, plan and notes help show how the damage developed and how it was dealt with. Keep them with your claim papers, and ask the crew for a copy at the end of the job.
What does mitigation mean and why does the insurer care?
Mitigation means the steps taken to stop further damage, such as shutting off the water, removing it and drying the structure. Insurers generally expect a policyholder to take reasonable and prompt steps to protect the property once a loss occurs.
The reason is practical. Damage that spreads because nobody acted is generally not something a policy is meant to pay for in full. Stopping the source, removing the water and starting the drying promptly are the steps a reasonable owner would take, and they are the steps an insurer will look for.
Keep a record of the mitigation steps, with the times and the people involved. The record shows what was done to limit the loss, and it is the strongest answer to a question about delay.
What does the adjuster usually ask?
An adjuster usually asks how the water started, when it was first noticed, what was done about it, what was damaged, and what the repair will cost. It may ask to see photographs, the crew's notes and any prior repairs or claims.
Answer the questions clearly and truthfully, and say when you do not know something. A guess presented as fact can cause problems later. Ask the adjuster what it needs, and keep a record of each request and each reply.
The adjuster's findings and any estimate are the insurer's. You can ask for the reasons for any decision and for copies of the documents it relies on, and you can take your time to review them.
What if the claim is denied or reduced?
Ask the insurer in writing for the reason, and for the specific policy language it relied on. Keep that letter with the claim papers, and compare it with your own copy of the policy before you respond.
A written reason is the starting point for any further steps you decide to take. Do not sign a release or accept a settlement without reading what it covers. A settlement that closes the claim is a decision with lasting effects.
If the reason is unclear, ask for it to be explained. A reasonable insurer will explain its decision in plain terms and point to the wording it applied. This page does not describe any further steps, and you can decide those with your own advisers.
If the claim is denied and the insurer will not move, the state regulator for insurance in Texas is the Texas Department of Insurance, at tdi.texas.gov. It is the body that takes a complaint about how an insurer handled a claim. What it can do is review the complaint and take it up with the insurer; it does not decide a disputed claim for you, and it cannot order a payment. Read your own policy for what it says about disputes before you go that route.
How should I document the timeline of a loss?
Write down, in order, when you first noticed the water, what you did, when the source was stopped, when the crew arrived and what it did. A clear timeline is the most useful document for an insurer's first questions.
Keep the timeline in one place, with the date and time of each entry and the names of anyone you spoke to. Add the crew's visit notes and readings to the same file as they arrive, so the timeline and the record agree.
Gaps in the timeline are the most common source of questions. If you do not know the exact time of something, say so and give your best estimate, marked as an estimate. A timeline that is honest about its gaps is more useful than one that fills them with guesses.
Should I keep damaged items before the adjuster sees them?
Keep what you can until the insurer has had the chance to see it, and photograph items before they are moved. Where an item is a health or safety hazard, remove it and keep a record of what it was and where it came from.
Some damaged items can be dried and kept, and others cannot. Where an item is going to be discarded, photograph it, list it and note its condition. That record lets the insurer decide what it needs to see without asking you to keep everything.
Do not throw away items that are part of a dispute, such as a broken appliance or a failed fitting, until you have asked the insurer and the repair party. Those parts can be the best evidence of how the loss happened.
When you speak to the insurer, note the name of the person, the date, the claim reference and a short summary of what was said. Keep the same notes for every call and every letter. A consistent record makes it much easier to answer later questions without relying on memory.
Frequently asked questions
Will my policy pay for a burst pipe?
A sudden burst is generally the kind of water loss a standard homeowners policy responds to. The policy wording and the facts of the loss decide the answer, so read your own policy or ask your insurer.
Is flood damage covered by a homeowners policy?
Flood from outside the house is generally excluded from a standard homeowners policy. Where flood protection is available, it is often a separate policy, so check whether you have one.
Does a policy cover water backing up from a drain?
That is generally handled by a specific endorsement rather than the base policy. Check whether your policy includes one, because it is much easier to check before a loss than after.
Do I have to fix a leak before I can make a claim?
Insurers generally expect you to take reasonable and prompt steps to stop further damage. Stopping the source and starting the drying is that step. Keep the record of what you did and when.
What if I already threw the damaged items away?
Tell the insurer as soon as you can. Keep whatever photographs, receipts and descriptions you have, and say what was discarded and why. The insurer decides what it needs to see.
Does this site cover my claim?
No. This site describes the general pattern of water damage claims and does not decide any claim. The policy and the insurer decide what is covered, and a licensed insurance professional can advise on your own policy.
This guide is general information for Lubbock County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.