How to Avoid Water Damage That Insurance Won’t Cover

Smart Homeowner Warning: Your insurance might not pay a cent — even if your home floods.

Most South African homeowners don’t realise insurance won’t cover water damage if the cause was poor maintenance or a slow leak. Your claim can be rejected in seconds if the damage was caused by poor maintenance or slow leaks you never fixed.

Let’s break it down so you stay protected — and paid.

⚠️ What Insurance Won’t Cover When It Comes to Water Damage

Even if you have a solid household policy, insurers often exclude:

✅ Gradual leaks (under sinks, behind toilets, in ceilings)
✅ Damp caused by long-term moisture
✅ Poor workmanship from previous DIY or cowboy jobs
✅ Blocked gutters and overflowing stormwater
✅ Old geysers that haven’t been maintained

They’ll call it “wear and tear” or “lack of maintenance”, and suddenly your R100,000 ceiling damage is your own problem.

What You Can Do to Stay Covered

Here’s how to stay on the insurer’s good side — and avoid a rejected claim:

1. Do Monthly Plumbing Checks

Look under basins, behind toilets, and around the geyser
Check for moisture, drips, or mould
Early action = covered claim(We show Smart Homeowners exactly how to do this at PlumbPal)