The type of water leak can predict whether homeowners’ insurance will cover the cost of damages and repair to a home from a leaking dishwasher.
Under most homeowners’ insurance policies, a slow dishwater water leak is caused by a lack of proper maintenance, so damages and repairs are not covered.
Read on to learn more about how insurance companies determine the type of water leak causing damage and what you can do in this situation.
Two Types of Water Leaks
According to the insurance industry, there are two types of water leaks: sudden and accidental or slow and gradual.
Sudden and Accidental
The term “sudden and accidental” water leak refers to a significant flow of water where there was no water.
Think of this as a water leak spraying several inches or feet or a ruptured pipe flowing gallons of water every minute.
For example, a sudden and accidental water leak on a dishwasher might look like a burst water supply hose from underneath the appliance.
These water leaks often involve large volumes, not drips or dribbles.
Slow and Gradual
If a water leak does not fall under the “sudden and accidental” category, it is considered a slow and gradual leak.
As such, it is considered a result of neglected maintenance for plumbing and appliances and not generally covered by the insurance policy.
A slow water leak refers to a few drops per minute. These types of leaks can occur under a sink, behind a washing machine, or under a dishwasher.
Insurance Coverage for Water Leaks
Most insurance policies cover damages and repairs from sudden and accidental water leaks, but omit coverage for slow and gradual leaks or personal property damage.
Standard homeowner’s insurance policies typically do not cover gradual water damage without purchasing an additional rider policy.
For landlords and tenants with rental property, this is also true.
The insurance company can deny a claim if a tenant has an unnoticed water leak causing gradual water damage to a rental unit.
They can base the denial on the tenant neglecting to report the leak or the landlord failing to inspect rental units for maintenance issues regularly.
Investigating Water Leak Damage
Because water leak damage can have significant financial impacts, the cause of the leak must be investigated.
Depending on the severity of the water leak and resulting damage, an insurance claim may be initiated.
In these cases, a representative of the insurance company, known as an insurance adjuster, will investigate the water source and the cause of the leak.
When investigating damage, an investigator will look for slow water leak signs, such as wood swelling, staining, or the presence of mold or mildew.
A qualified person, such as a plumber or maintenance technician for rental property, can also conduct an investigation for the cause of water leak damage.
In either case, the cause of the water leak damage will be determined by the evidence collected during the investigation.
How to Avoid Slow Water Leak Damage
To avoid a situation where water leak damage in your home is not covered by insurance, consider installing an Appliance UnderPan under the dishwasher.
Appliance UnderPan is designed to collect and redirect a water leak, especially slow and gradual leaks, while preventing water leak damage.
Water leak damage repairs can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars, with or without an insurance claim.
Even if your insurance policy covers the damage and repair costs, you are still responsible for the deductible.
Insurance deductibles can be several hundred to over one thousand dollars, a significant cost for any homeowner or property owner.
In comparison, purchasing and installing an Appliance UnderPan under your dishwasher is a cost-effective method to avoid water leak damages and problems.
Click here to purchase the Appliance UnderPan!