If you ask multiple people whether homeowner's insurance coverage water damage, you are likely to get different answers. What is more, the different answers can all be right. This is because home insurance can cover water damage depending on some factors. Below is an overview of water damage coverage and how you can mitigate the risk of water damage.

Factors Determining Coverage

Below are the three major factors that determine coverage for water damage. 

Cause of Damage

In many cases, the direct cause of the water damage is what determines whether the insurer pays your claim. For example, flood damage is usually excluded, so if a heavy downpour floods your neighborhood, including your house, your standard coverage probably won't help. However, you probably have coverage if a heavy snowfall causes the roof to collapse and allows water into the house.

Speed of Damage

Home insurance doesn't pay for maintenance issues; it only pays for accidental damages. Maintenance issues often arise gradually, while accidental damages are typically sudden. Thus, your gutters leak and damage the siding over several months, then your insurance company won't cover the damage. However, if a freak storm damages the same siding, your coverage will apply.

Add-Ons

Since home insurance doesn't cover everything, many homeowners buy additional coverage for specific disasters. The additional coverage, which goes by various names such as riders and add-ons, include things like flood and sewer backup, among others. Thus, your insurer will pay your water damage claim if you have the appropriate rider for it.

Mitigation Measures

Water damages can be expensive, so it's important to take measures to avoid them. Below are some of the measures that can help.

Regular Inspection and Service

Inspect your plumbing systems regularly for signs of damages, wear, and tear. That way you might notice, say, a weak pipe connection that is in danger of disconnecting and causing water damage.

Anti-Flood Measures

It also helps to adopt flood-proofing measures in your home. Measures include things like ensuring proper roof drainage, adopting landscaping measures where the ground slopes away from the house, and installing a sump pump in the basement, among others.

Replacement of Old Appliances

Old plumbing appliances should be replaced before they trigger disasters. For example, an old water heater or aging plumbing pipes can burst and flood your home.

Hopefully, you will adopt the above measures, and you won't suffer water damage any time soon. However, you can't be sure that you will never be a victim of water damage. The best way to ensure absolute protection is to call your insurance agent and confirm that you have relevant and adequate coverage.