What kind of water damage is not covered by insurance?

Most standard homeowners policies exclude water damage that develops gradually or results from lack of maintenance, such as long-term leaking pipes, slow roof deterioration, or repeated seepage in a basement. Flooding from outside sources—like rising rivers, heavy rain entering at ground level, or storm surge—is typically not covered unless you have separate flood insurance. Damage from sewer backups or sump pump failures may require special endorsements to be covered. In addition, many policies limit coverage for mold or only cover mold that results from a covered water event and is addressed promptly. Reading your policy’s exclusions and endorsements is essential to understand where coverage stops.