Homeowners Insurance: What's Covered and What Isn't

It depends on the cause. A roof leak from a sudden covered peril — a storm, fallen tree, or wind damage — is generally covered, including resulting interior water damage. A leak from age, wear, or deferred maintenance is not; insurers treat that as a homeowner responsibility. The key question your adjuster will ask is whether the damage was sudden and accidental or gradual.

Only if you've added the sewer/drain backup endorsement — it's excluded from most standard policies by default. Water backing up through drains or a sump-pump failure can cause expensive damage, and the endorsement is usually inexpensive to add. If you have a basement or live in an older area, it's worth requesting.

Sometimes, and usually with a sublimit. Mold is typically covered only when it results from a covered peril — for example, mold that grows after a covered burst pipe — and policies often cap mold remediation at a specific dollar sublimit. Mold from long-term humidity, neglect, or flooding is generally excluded. Prompt cleanup after any water loss is critical to keep a claim payable.

Usually yes, under your personal liability coverage — if your dog bites someone, the medical and legal costs are typically covered up to your liability limit. However, many insurers exclude certain breeds or a dog with a bite history, and some states apply strict liability to owners. Check whether your insurer restricts breeds, and consider higher liability limits or an umbrella policy if you own a dog.

Only minimally. A standard policy caps business property (equipment, inventory) at a low amount and generally excludes business liability entirely — so a client injured at your home office, or a product you sell, isn't covered. If you run a business from home, add a home-business endorsement or buy a separate business owner's policy. Relying on homeowners alone is a common, costly gap.

Yes — if a tree falls on your home, garage, or other covered structure from a storm or other covered peril, the damage to the structure is covered, and removal of the tree is usually covered up to a limit. If a tree falls without hitting a structure, removal may not be covered. A neighbor's tree that falls on your home is generally your policy's claim, not theirs, unless negligence is proven.

Generally yes — sudden and accidental water damage from a burst pipe is a covered peril on most policies, including the cost to tear out and repair to reach the pipe. What's typically not covered is the pipe repair itself if it failed from age or neglect, or damage from a leak you left unaddressed. Frozen-pipe damage may be excluded if you left the home unheated.

Yes — personal property theft is covered under Coverage C, whether items are taken from your home or, in many cases, away from it. Be aware of special sublimits on high-value categories like jewelry, firearms, cash, and electronics; to fully protect those, schedule them with a rider. A police report and a home inventory make the claim far smoother.