Homeowners insurance generally covers damage from frozen pipes, as long as you made a reasonable effort to prevent them from freezing in the first place. This can include keeping your home heated and winterizing your plumbing.
What frozen pipe damage does home insurance cover?
When frozen pipes burst, water can enter your home and damage its structure and your personal belongings. Home insurance may step in to cover:
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Water damage repairs to ceilings, floors, walls, and other structural elements through the dwelling coverage portion of your home insurance policy
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Damaged or destroyed belongings like clothing or furniture through the personal property coverage portion of your policy
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Professional services like water removal, drying services, and mold remediation
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Temporary living expenses, such as hotels or meals, through the loss of use portion of your policy if you must move out while repairs are made due to covered damage
What isn’t covered when a pipe freezes?
Home insurance doesn’t cover all types of losses caused by frozen pipes. Your policy will usually only pay for damage caused by the frozen pipe. If freeze is a covered cause of loss by your policy, the actual repair to the pipe may be covered. Otherwise, the pipe itself may be excluded.
Importantly, if the damage was caused by the homeowner’s negligence or improper maintenance, the loss may not be covered at all.
How insurers decide whether negligence played a role
When you file a claim, your insurance company will assign an adjuster to inspect the damages and determine the cause. If the insurer determines the pipes froze because of homeowner negligence, your claim could get denied.
Insurers expect homeowners to take reasonable steps to prevent pipes from freezing during cold weather. Reasonable steps that your insurer may expect you to take include:
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Keeping the thermostat set at a minimum temperature of 55°F
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Maintaining your heating system to ensure it functions properly
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Shutting off the water and draining the lines if the home is left unoccupied
Make sure to save records of home upkeep, such as utility bills, smart thermostat logs, or records of HVAC or plumbing maintenance. These documents can help support claims you make in the future.
Note: There's a difference between an "unoccupied" home (still furnished, utilities on, owner returning soon) and a "vacant" one (empty, no plans to return soon). Most policies limit or exclude coverage — including for frozen pipes — once a home has been vacant for 30 to 60 days, even if you took every reasonable precaution. If a property will sit vacant for a while, ask your insurer about a vacant home policy or vacancy endorsement, a type of policy modification, to keep coverage in place.
What to do if your pipes are frozen or have burst
If you suspect you have a frozen pipe, or one has burst, follow these steps:
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Shut off the water supply. Locate the main valve supplying water to your home and turn it off. This prevents additional water from entering your home and causing damage.
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Turn on your faucets. Leave your faucets open to allow melting water to drip out of the taps.
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Apply heat to pipes. Thaw the pipe with a hair dryer, heating pad, or space heater, or wrap it in a towel soaked in hot water. Don’t use a blowtorch, charcoal stove, kerosene or propane heater, or open flame.
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Check other pipes. If one pipe in your home is frozen, there could be more. Check the other pipes and remedy them as needed.
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Call a plumber. Improper DIY repairs could lead to further damage down the line. Call a reputable plumber to repair burst pipes correctly the first time.
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Clean up the damage. If a pipe bursts and you can safely access the damaged part of your home, clean up standing water to prevent greater losses and reduce the chance of mold developing.
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Document your losses. Record, photograph, and catalog everything that was damaged. Be sure to include dates and times as well.
How to file a home insurance claim for frozen pipe damage
Claims processes can vary, but most include the following steps:
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Contact your insurer. File a claim on the phone, in your insurer’s claims portal, or via a mobile app. Expect to provide details about the date, time, and location of the losses, as well as your policy number.
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Make short-term repairs and keep your receipts. When necessary, make emergency repairs to prevent further damage and keep your home safe. Keep receipts of repair expenses, as your insurer may reimburse you for them.
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Work with the adjuster. Your insurer will assign a claims adjuster to visit your home, assess the damage, gather information about your losses, and determine whether the event is covered by your policy.
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Complete repairs. If your claim gets approved, you can use the payout to complete your repairs. Your insurer may provide a list of contractors you can use, or you may be able to select your own. Save all documents provided by the contractor to support your claim.
How to prevent frozen pipes before they burst
If frozen pipes burst, they can quickly create extensive water damage to your home and personal items. Taking steps to keep your pipes from freezing can help prevent losses and improve the chance a future burst pipe would be covered. Here’s what to do:
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Keep your home heated to at least 55°F
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Insulate exposed pipes with sleeves, tubes, or wraps in unheated areas like attics, basements, and garages
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Shut off the water supply and drain your lines by turning on the taps when your home is vacant or you plan to be away for an extended period of time
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Leave faucets open at a drip when temperatures dip below freezing to keep the water moving
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if my pipe is frozen?
Signs of a frozen pipe include a sudden drop in water pressure, whistling or banging sounds, and wet spots on your walls or ceilings. If you notice any of these signs, shut off the main water supply to your home right away before attempting to thaw the pipe.
Does homeowners insurance cover frozen pipes if my home is vacant?
If your home is vacant, it’s a good idea to check with your insurer to understand how this may impact your coverage. For example, many insurers will limit or exclude coverage for vacant homes, so your frozen pipes still may not be included regardless of the precautions you take.
What should you avoid saying when filing a home insurance claim?
Never falsely represent the facts or withhold information from your insurer when you file a claim. Misrepresented information could lead to the denial of a claim and even cause your insurer to drop you altogether.
What type of plumbing issues does home insurance typically not cover?
Standard home insurance typically doesn’t cover long-term or ongoing leaks, damage caused by flooding (unless you have flood insurance), or damage caused by clogged or backed up sewer drainage systems. Your policy also likely won’t cover repairs to the plumbing itself. You’re generally only covered for the secondary damage caused by the plumbing issue.
Does home insurance cover a slow, gradual pipe leak?
Standard home insurance policies typically won’t cover gradual leaks that take place over time. It will generally only cover sudden and accidental leaks, like from burst pipes.
