Does homeowners insurance cover water damage from washing machine?

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Water damage caused by a leaking washing machine is covered by home insurance if the damage is sudden and accidental, and not the result of poor maintenance or neglect.

While the resulting damage from the water leak will be covered, the washing machine itself will not, unless a covered peril damaged the machine and caused it to leak. You’ll have to pay your deductible before insurance covers anything.

Read on to learn how home insurance works when a washing machine leaks.

Key Takeaways

Homeowners insurance typically covers water damage from a leaking washing machine as long as it’s not due to negligence and is sudden and accidental.
Repairs to the washing machine itself will not be covered unless it was damaged by a covered peril.
Proactive maintenance is the best way to ensure that your appliances, such as a washing machine or dishwasher, don’t leak.

Does homeowners insurance cover water damage from a washing machine?

A homeowners insurance policy will cover water damage when it happens suddenly and accidentally due to a covered peril. If a hose suddenly bursts and water comes out of the washing machine, it will be considered sudden and accidental and likely covered.

Generally, insurance companies can deny claims if they determine the problem stemmed from owners failing to do necessary upkeep to prevent damage from happening. Claims can also be denied if the damage was from a slow leak that the owner was aware of and didn’t repair.

Will insurance pay for a new washing machine if it leaks?

Generally, no. Insurance will cover the water damage caused by the leak, but not the appliance that caused the leak. An exception to this would be if the washing machine was damaged by a covered peril. For example, if a tree falls through a window or wall, crashes into the washing machine and damages it.

In this case, the washing machine was damaged by a covered peril, which also caused it to leak, and both the appliance and the damage will likely be covered.

Tips for filing water damage insurance claims

If you notice water pooling around your washing machine or if the connection hose is lose or wet, address the issue immediately. Contact your insurance company immediately to file a claim. Your insurer may send a water remediation team out to dry out the house and likely will conduct an investigation to determine how the accident happened.

Here are a few tips for filing water damage claims with your insurance company:

First, take photos of the damage and water surrounding the faulty appliance to document the water leak.
Call your insurance company to file a homeowners claim for water damage and ask them what happens next. Make sure to consult your policy as well to see what’s covered – especially if there’s any sort of hassle or questioning with your insurer.
Stop the leak if possible and clean up the water so it doesn’t damage the surrounding area.
Contact an assessor to get an estimate of the damage.
Get the OK from your insurance company to repair the damage to your home caused by the water leak.

Remember, your deductible will apply. So, if your insurer says it will pay $4,000 to cover the water damage from a leaking washing machine and your deductible is $1,000, your payout will be $3,000.

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How to prevent your washing machine from leaking

Proactive maintenance is the best way to ensure that your appliances, such as a washing machine and dishwasher, don’t leak. Make it a regular habit to check the areas and fittings around these appliances to make sure they’re dry and secure, respectively.

Properly maintain your appliances: Inspect all water-based appliances – your washing machine, dishwasher, refrigerator and water heater – every month to ensure that water connections are secure and dry.
Check hoses to make sure they’re clear, operating freely and undamaged.
Ensure that all water supply lines are clean and free from debris.
Keep an eye out for water around all appliances – if you see even a small leak, something’s amiss and it needs to be handled immediately.

Frequently asked questions

Does homeowners insurance cover plumbing?

Not necessarily. The water damage must originate in the home for it to be covered by your homeowners insurance policy, so consider purchasing an additional provision that includes sewer backup insurance.

Does homeowners insurance cover the water heater?

Your policy will cover any damage caused by a sudden and accidental leak from the water heater, but the replacement of appliances is not covered by most homeowners insurance policies.

Does homeowners insurance cover water damage from broken or leaking pipes?

As long as the pipes have been maintained, homeowners insurance will cover the water damage caused by sudden and accidental leaking or broken pipes.

Does homeowners insurance cover water damage from the dishwasher?

A: Similar to the washing machine, a homeowners insurance policy will cover water damage due to appliance malfunctions, but will not pay to replace the dishwasher itself.

Laura Longero

Executive Editor

Laura is an insurance expert with more than 15 years of experience educating people about personal finance topics and helping consumers navigate the complexities of auto insurance. She writes and edits for QuinStreet’s CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Prior to joining QuinStreet, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network.