Does homeowners insurance in Mississippi cover busted pipes?

I’m a new homeowner in Mississippi. If I have a problem with my plumbing system and experience leaking or burst pipes, will my Mississippi homeowners insurance cover it? 

The answer is a bit murky and mostly depends on the circumstances surrounding your burst pipes. In many cases, your insurance will cover the water damage caused by the burst pipes, but not the pipes or plumbing themselves. 

When are busted pipes covered under Mississippi homeowners insurance? 

In general, homeowners insurance in Mississippi will cover water damage if it caused by:

• Rain or snow
• Plumbing (burst pipes, frozen plumbing, faulty plumbing, accidental overflow)
• Water damage from extinguishing a fire
• A leaky roof 
• Accidental overflow of an appliance or fixture (toilet, sink, washing machine)
• Mold that results from covered water damage
• Vandalism

Plumbing in particular is considered to be a home maintenance issue, and if your insurance company feels that you were at fault or failed to take precautions to protect your pipes, your claim could be denied. 

But in general, homeowners insurance covers damage due to broken pipes if their collapse is sudden and unforeseen. If water damage occurs gradually due to a leaky or rusty pipe that you should have been aware of and taken steps to fix, your may find yourself without coverage.

Keep in mind that your coverage will be for the water damage, not the plumbing system itself. So flooring, cabinetry, and other personal possessions that are damaged by the resulting water flow would be covered. What’s more, you’d likely have coverage for the destruction necessary to get to the plumbing system (e.g., digging a ditch in your garage or tearing through a wall), but not for the replacement of any pipes or plumbing equipment. 

If homeowners insurance doesn’t cover busted pipes, what will? 

Your Mississippi homeowners insurance policy will provide coverage for damage caused by the burst pipes, as well as any destruction to your home that is necessary to get to the plumbing system to make repairs. There are not other insurance policies that cover busted pipes or other damage to your actual plumbing equipment. 

Some policies, called earth movement insurance, may provide some coverage for pipes and other plumbing equipment that bursts due to earthquakes, landslides, or soil changes. Only people who live in certain areas would need this type of coverage, so it is not a policy that is widely purchased or available.