Water damage is responsible for a large number of home insurance claims, and it can be caused by any number of sources. When filing a claim, homeowners need to know what is covered in their policy and what is not.

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When water damage is sudden or accidental, chances are good that the property owner is covered by his or her standard home insurance policy. Some coverage will be included with basic policies, while other sources of damage will require endorsements. It largely depends on the type of home that is being insured.

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By default, standard policies typically include coverage for repairs needed due to:

• Hurricane or storm damage, which is a common cause of roof collapse and water damage

• Discharge and overflow

• Burst plumbing

• Tearing, burning, bulging, or cracking of hot water heating systems

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By contrast, the least expensive home insurance policies may include very limited coverage options. Unlike standard policies, they generally will not include the situations listed above.

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Trying to understand these differences can be frustrating and confusing. Read on for explanations and definitions of the most commonly confused terminology as well as tips on what to know about your insurance should you ever need to make a claim.

Types of Water Damage

When customers call their insurance companies to file claims, customer service representatives might use phrases like:

• Overflow and discharge

• Sewer backup

• Water backup

• Flood damage

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The use of these terms helps the company to determine what claims are covered by pinpointing the cause of the water damage. Unfortunately, the source is not always easily apparent. Oftentimes, the company will need to send an adjuster to investigate where the water is coming from, why the damage happened, and whether the claim will be covered by the homeowner's policy.