Does homeowners insurance cover slow leaks behind appliances?

I’ve had my homeowners policy with Merchants Insurance Group for about eight years now. Recently, we discovered a slow leak behind our dishwasher that damaged part of the kitchen floor.

I’m trying to figure out if something like that is typically covered or if insurance only applies to sudden pipe bursts. The leak probably went unnoticed for a while, which makes me nervous about filing a claim. I’d rather not risk my premium going up if it’s something insurance wouldn’t really cover anyway.

With Merchants Insurance Group, like most homeowners insurers, whether this is covered usually comes down to how the damage happened.

Home insurance is designed to cover sudden and accidental damage. So if a pipe bursts or a dishwasher suddenly leaks and causes damage, that’s often covered.

But slow leaks are where things get tricky.

If the leak happened over time and wasn’t noticed right away, insurers may see that as a maintenance issue, not a sudden event. In that case, the damage to the floor might not be covered. The thinking is that homeowners are expected to catch and fix gradual problems before they cause bigger damage.

That doesn’t mean it’s always denied, though. If you can show the damage happened more quickly than it seems or wasn’t reasonably visible, it may still be worth asking.

You’re also right to think about the impact of filing a claim. Even a small claim can sometimes affect your premium or claims history.

A good approach is to:

• Get an estimate for the repair cost
• Compare that to your deductible
• Talk to an agent before filing

You can ask them directly how Merchants would likely view this type of damage. That way, you can make a more informed decision without jumping straight into a claim.

Bottom line: sudden leaks are usually covered, but slow leaks usually aren't. It’s worth checking before deciding.