This is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Your policy wording decides what is covered. Call your agent or carrier with questions.
What is usually covered
Most homeowners policies cover sudden and accidental water damage from inside the house:
- A supply line, pipe or fitting that bursts.
- A water heater that fails and leaks.
- An appliance hose that splits, like a washer or dishwasher line.
- A toilet or sink that overflows.
- Rain that gets in through a roof or window damaged by wind or a falling tree.
Coverage usually includes removing the water, drying the structure and repairing the damage. It may not include fixing the pipe or appliance that failed.
What is usually not covered
- Flooding from outside, including Issaquah Creek or the Snoqualmie River over their banks, or storm water running in from the street or yard. That needs a separate flood policy.
- Slow leaks that went on for weeks or months.
- Groundwater seeping through a foundation or crawl space.
- Sewer and drain backups, unless you added a water backup endorsement.
- Maintenance problems, like a roof that was already worn out.
- Freezing in a house that was left unheated or vacant, depending on the policy.
Flood insurance
Flood policies come through the National Flood Insurance Program or private insurers. An NFIP policy usually has a 30-day waiting period before it takes effect, so buy it before the rainy season, not when the creek is already rising. Homes outside a mapped flood zone can still buy flood coverage, often at a lower price.
Sewer backup coverage
A water backup or sump pump endorsement is an inexpensive add-on to most policies. If you have a basement, a lower-level bathroom or a sump pump, ask your agent about it.
Help with a claim
The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner answers consumer questions and takes complaints about claims. If you feel a claim is being handled unfairly, you can contact them.
Tips for a smoother claim
- Report the loss quickly.
- Photograph everything before cleanup.
- Keep damaged materials or photos of them until the adjuster has seen them.
- Ask the restoration company for its moisture readings and drying logs.
- Keep receipts for hotel stays, meals and supplies if you had to leave the house.
Need a crew to start drying while you sort out the claim? Call now.
Related services in Issaquah
- Emergency water removal: Standing water pumped out, wet carpet and drywall pulled, and drying equipment set the same day.
- Creek and storm flooding: Cleanup after Issaquah Creek or a tributary leaves its banks, or heavy rain pushes water into a garage or lower floor.
- Sewage backup cleanup: Safe removal and disinfection after a toilet, floor drain or sewer line backs up into the house.