Does Insurance Cover Window Leaks?

Generally, insurance covers window leaks that are sudden and unexpected – but it doesn’t cover window leaks caused by wear and tear.

If your window suddenly starts leaking and causes water damage to your home, then you should be able to make a homeowners insurance claim.

Today, we’re exploring everything you need to know about window leaks and how insurance covers them.

Most Policies Cover Window Leaks & Other Water Damage

A standard homeowners insurance policy covers water damage – including damage caused by a leaky window, leaky pipe, or other water intrusion into the home.

Generally, insurance covers sudden and unexpected events – like damage caused by a burst pipe or storm.

Homeowners insurance does not, however, cover flood damage. If rising floodwaters damage a window, causing it to leak, then insurance won’t cover the cost.

Homeowners insurance also doesn’t cover slow leaks. If you have ignored a leaking window for years, for example, and then try to make an insurance claim, then your insurance could deny your claim.

Is Your Window Leak Covered?

Insurance doesn’t cover all window leaks.

Is your window leak covered? Things to consider include:

• Type of Policy: Do you have a standard homeowners insurance policy? Or do you have homeowners insurance and flood coverage? A standard homeowners insurance policy excludes flood damage.
• Source of Damage: A standard homeowners insurance policy covers water leaks from plumbing, roof leaks, and other water damage from inside your home. However, it may not cover damage from outside sources – say, if flooding causes a window leak.
• Sudden vs. Slow: Insurance doesn’t cover slow, gradual damage. Slow and gradual damage is considered “wear and tear” and it’s an expected part of owning a home. Insurance is designed to cover sudden and unexpected damage – like when a storm destroys the flashing above your window, causing a leak.
• Accidental vs. Deliberate: Insurance does not cover deliberate actions. Generally, deliberate damage to your property is considered insurance fraud. You can’t cut a hole in your window and expect insurance to cover the ensuing leak damage. Instead, insurance is designed to cover sudden, unexpected, and accidental damages.

How Window Leaks Occur

Your home is covered with windows. It’s easy to assume those windows won’t leak – but they can and do leak.

Here are some of the common ways in which window leaks occur:

• Broken windows or sills. If the windowpane or area around the window is damaged, it could allow water to enter your home, creating a leaky window.
• Degraded flashing or seals. If the flashing or seal around a window degrades, it could lead to a leak.
• Roof leaks. A leaky roof could cause water to enter the space around the window, leading to a leaky window.
• Burst pipes. If a pipe suddenly bursts (say, due to sub-freezing conditions), it could spread water throughout your home, including in and around a window.
• Flooding and sewer backups. Although less common, flooding and sewer backups could cause leaky windows – particularly around basement windows.

How Insurance Covers a Leaky Window

Two main types of insurance cover a leaky window, including:

• Dwelling coverage, which covers the cost of restoring the structure of your home (including the window and areas surrounding the window) to pre-loss condition.
• Personal property coverage, which covers the cost of repairing damage to your belongings. If your window leaks and damages a nearby couch and TV, for example, then insurance covers the cost of replacing or repairing those belongings.

When Does Insurance Not Cover Window Leaks?

Generally, insurance covers window leaks when they’re sudden, unexpected, and accidental (and not caused by flooding).

Some of the situations where insurance does not cover window leaks include:

• Water Backup Damage: If a sewer or drain backs up and damages your window or causes a leak, a standard homeowners insurance policy will not cover it. Instead, you may need optional sewer and water backup coverage. Many insurers offer this coverage as an extra endorsement.
• Flood Damage: A standard homeowners insurance policy doesn’t cover flood damage. If rising waters damage your window and cause a leak, then you may not be able to make an insurance claim.
• Wear & Tear or Maintenance Issues: If you ignore a window leak for an extended period, then insurance may deny your claim. Generally, damage needs to be sudden, unexpected, and accidental for insurance to cover it. It doesn’t cover wear and tear or maintenance issues. If you allow the flashing or seal around your window to degrade over many years, for example, then your insurer could deny or reduce your claim.

Tips to Navigate a Leaky Window Claim

Navigating a leaky window insurance claim can be tricky.

Here are some of the tips to make navigating a leaky window claim easier:

1. Is It Worth Making a Claim? Sometimes, it’s not in your best interest to make a claim. Instead, you’re better off paying out of pocket. According to Home Depot, it costs anywhere from $600 to $3,000 to replace an average vinyl window. If the leak only affected one window, it may be in your best interest to pay for repairs out of pocket.
2. Can You Fix It Yourself? Sometimes, you don’t need to replace an entire window to fix a leak; instead, you just need to seal it – say, to repair a crack or fill a hole. Request an estimate from a contractor to determine if you can fix your window leak yourself without involving insurance.
3. Consider Hiring a Public Adjuster for Complex Window Leaks: Public adjusters can help navigate a tricky, expensive claim – say, claims worth over $10,000. Public adjusters can speed up claims, increase payout, and negotiate with the insurer on your behalf to achieve the best possible outcome.
4. Check Your Policy: As mentioned above, your policy may or may not cover your window leak. If your window leak was caused by flooding, for example, then you can’t make a claim unless you have flood damage.
5. Get Multiple Estimates: You’re not obligated to use your insurer’s recommended contractor. Instead, get multiple estimates from trusted, local window replacement contractors.

Even a small window leak can cost thousands of dollars to repair.

As long as the damage was sudden, unexpected, and accidental, insurance should cover it.

However, if the water leak occurred over an extended period or was caused by flood damage, then it may not be in your best interest to make a claim.

Stephanie Corona

Stephanie is a property insurance claim expert with over 20 years of experience working as an insurance adjuster, expert witness, appraiser and umpire. She is passionate about sharing her expertise, knowledge, tips and training to help both property owners and Public Adjusters in their pursuit of effectively managing claims and recovering the claim settlement they deserve after a loss.