Sudden and accidental damage is usually covered
Most standard homeowners policies cover water damage that's sudden and accidental — a burst pipe, a washing machine supply line failure, or an appliance malfunction, for example. The key word insurers look for is "sudden."
Gradual damage is usually excluded
Damage that built up slowly over time — a slow leak behind a wall that went unnoticed for months, for instance — is often excluded, because policies generally treat that as a maintenance issue rather than a covered loss.
Flooding almost always requires separate coverage
Standard homeowners policies typically exclude flooding from external sources like rising water or storm runoff. That requires separate flood insurance, usually through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood policy.
Why documentation matters so much
Photos and video of the damage before cleanup begins, along with a clear timeline of when you noticed the issue, make a real difference in how smoothly a claim moves through your insurer's process.
Why we work directly with your timeline
We document the damage thoroughly during the extraction and drying process, which gives you a clear record to submit alongside your claim. We're not a public adjuster and don't speak for your insurer, but we make sure the evidence is there before repairs begin.
What to do first if you're not sure
If you're unsure whether your situation is likely covered, call your insurer's claims line and us at the same time — getting extraction started quickly limits the damage regardless of how the coverage question shakes out.
Dealing with water damage and not sure where to start? Call (832) 479-4406 — we respond 24/7 across Portland.