Spring is in full bloom, which means it’s time for April showers to bring May flowers. But while that rain is great for your lawn and garden, it’s not always the best for your home—especially when it comes to potential water damage. No matter how fortified you may feel, it’s an unfortunate reality that flooding, excess ground water, and even burst pipes can happen to any homeowner at any time.

If such an event were to happen to you, it may leave you wondering if your homeowners insurance will cover the costs of repairs. The answer? Well, it’s a little complicated. Here’s a closer look at what may or may not be covered under your insurance policy along with what you should do if you experience any water damage.

What isn’t covered

Ultimately, what your homeowners insurance will cover boils down to the source of the issue. That said, policies typically won’t cover the following:

1. Gradual damage: This type of damage happens when something slowly causes damage to your home over an extended period of time, such as with an undetected leaking sink or faucet. As this generally occurs due to a lack of maintenance, it likely won’t be covered by your homeowners insurance.
2. Source of the water damage: Let’s say a part inside your dishwasher breaks, causing it to overflow, leak into your kitchen, and ruin your floors. Most insurance policies would likely cover the costs of repairing the water damage, such as replacing your floors, but since it isn’t intended to cover damage caused by everyday wear and tear, it wouldn’t cover the cost to replace your dishwasher. That’s where your home warranty would typically come in.
3. Water backup from outside sewer: When an outside sewer or drain backs up in your home, traditional homeowners insurance won’t cover the costs of any damages. You can, however, add water backup coverage to your policy at an additional cost. You’ll just need to discuss the options with your provider.

What is covered

Homeowners insurance will typically help cover sudden or accidental damage that occurs when something unexpected happens inside your home. This could include a pipe bursting, an appliance overflowing, or your water heater breaking. Similarly, if a tree falls on your roof or a limb breaks through a window during a storm and water then enters your home, insurance will likely help fix the issue and any subsequent water damage. (Just note that if there isn’t an accident like this, water damage from an outside water source, such as a storm, would not be covered.) However, whether or not your claims will be approved really depends on what perils are covered on your policy.

If any of these situations occur, first make sure that everyone is safe. Then document the issue, remove excess water and temporarily mend the source of the water to prevent further damage, and contact your insurance company as soon as possible. An agent or representative should be able to assist you through the entire claims process. And if your claim is denied, don’t be afraid to ask for specifics as to why or even request a second opinion.

What about flooding?

Because flooding is caused by outside sources, such as storms, oversaturated grounds, or overflowing bodies of water, it typically isn’t covered under standard home insurance policies. Instead, you’d need to purchase separate flood insurance. If you live within a high-risk flood zone, you may be required to do so, but it’s also a good idea if you live near a body of water or by a hill that tends to see a lot of water overflow.

Understand your policy and responsibilities

Though accidents can always happen, doing your part to keep your home in tip-top shape will lower your risks for water damage. Perform regular maintenance to your faucets, pipes, roof, and gutters, and fix small repairs before they can cause bigger problems for you.

Additionally, no one homeowners insurance policy is the same as the next. Everyone has varying deductibles, exclusions, coverage limits, and additional coverages added on, so it’s important that you make sure to familiarize yourself with the specifics of yours. Reach out to your provider with any questions that you may have to help you better understand if your coverage is meeting your current needs.