Does Flood Insurance Cover Broken Pipes?

You own a home in Marietta, GA. That’s great! Do you have flood insurance? Atlanta may not get it as bad as Florida, but storms do hit, and floods do happen. If you’re looking to get a good flood policy, you probably have a few questions. One we’ve seen here at LG Insurance Group is whether or not flood insurance covers burst pipes. Here’s the short answer.

What Is the Source of Water?

When it comes to flooding, there are usually two sources: piped water and external water. Now, every policy is unique, so you always need to check for exceptions in your own agreement. That said, here are the usual rules. Flood insurance covers flood damage that comes from rising, external water. Mostly, it refers to natural flooding, but it never includes water from a burst pipe.

If you have flooding or water damage from a burst pipe, that’s usually outlined in the homeowner’s policy. How that damage is covered will depend on the policy, but it’s where you want to look first.

Initial vs Resulting Damage

Even if you do have coverage for a broken pipe, it can get a little more complicated. Many policies distinguish between initial and resulting damage. Typically, the policy is designed to cover immediate water damage from the flooding. This can include draining the water, treating to prevent mold and replacing drywall. It usually will not include repairing or replacing the damaged plumbing. That is usually considered a routine maintenance and is the responsibility of the homeowner.

Even in Marietta, GA, the risk of water damage can get complicated. If you want to make sure you have the right coverage for all of the risks, talk to your representative with LG Insurance Group.