No, flood insurance does not cover burst pipes. Flood policies cover water from outside, such as river overflow or surface runoff, that covers normally dry land. Water from a pipe that bursts inside your house is handled by your homeowners or renters policy instead. Burst pipe now? Call (413) 603-1274.
Which policy covers which water
| Where the water came from | Usually covered by |
|---|---|
| Burst or frozen pipe inside the house | Homeowners or renters policy |
| Water heater, washer hose, toilet line | Homeowners or renters policy |
| River overflow or storm runoff into the house | Flood insurance |
| Sewer or drain backup | Often only with a homeowners endorsement |
| Groundwater seeping through the foundation | Often excluded by both |
General information only. Your policies control.
Chicopee and flood risk
Chicopee sits where the Chicopee River meets the Connecticut River, and FEMA rates inland flooding risk in Hampden County as relatively high. Homes near the rivers and low streets that flood in storms may carry flood insurance. That policy is for rising water from outside. It does not change how a burst pipe is handled. See flooded basement cleanup.
Burst pipe and storm at the same time
If a storm knocked out power, the pipes froze and burst, and water also came in from outside, two policies may be involved. Document each source separately with photos and notes. See how to document water damage.
Where flood insurance comes from
Most flood insurance in the United States is written through the National Flood Insurance Program, run by FEMA, though some private insurers also offer it. A flood policy covers damage from a general flood: surface water from heavy rain or an overflowing river that covers normally dry land, usually affecting more than one property. It has its own deductibles and its own limits on what is covered in basements. A homeowners policy is a separate contract and handles water from inside the house, such as a burst pipe or a failed water heater.
Do you need flood insurance in Chicopee?
Parts of Chicopee sit near the Connecticut and Chicopee rivers, and some low streets flood in big storms. If your mortgage lender requires flood insurance, your home is in a mapped high-risk area. If not, you can still buy it, and many flood claims nationally come from outside the high-risk zones. FEMA's flood maps show the official zones for your address. For burst pipes, though, flood insurance is not the policy that pays. Make sure your homeowners or renters policy is in force and you know your deductible.
How the two can overlap
If a storm floods a basement and the cold that follows freezes and splits pipes, there can be two separate losses. Document each one: photos of storm water coming in from outside, and photos of the broken pipe and the water it released.
If you are not sure which policy applies, report the loss to your homeowners insurer and describe exactly where the water came from.
Questions
Does homeowners insurance cover a burst pipe?
Usually the sudden water damage is covered, with exclusions for freezing in unheated or vacant homes. See burst pipe insurance in Massachusetts.
Is sewer backup flood damage?
Usually not. It is typically a separate homeowners endorsement. See sewer backup insurance.
Burst pipe? Call now
Call (413) 603-1274 now. Locally owned in Chicopee.