The short answer: usually yes, but it depends on how the damage happened.
Most standard homeowner's insurance policies cover water damage that is sudden and accidental. A pipe bursts, an appliance fails, a supply line breaks, that's typically covered. Water that builds up slowly over time, or comes in from outside during a flood, usually isn't.
The good news: most of the calls we get are exactly the kind of damage insurance was designed to cover.
Not sure if your situation qualifies? Call us before you file. We've helped hundreds of Portland homeowners navigate this, and we can usually tell you in a few minutes whether you have a strong claim.
Here's what most homeowner's policies will cover:
Insurance won't cover everything. Here's what typically falls outside a standard policy:
rising water, storm surge, overflowing rivers. This requires separate flood insurance through FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program
a slow drip behind a wall that went unnoticed for months
damage your insurer can argue you should have caught earlier
some policies exclude this unless you added coverage
if mold grew because the damage wasn't addressed quickly
We’ll always be honest with you about what we think is and isn’t covered. Our job is to help you get a fair outcome not to overpromise.
This is the question most homeowners struggle with and the honest answer is: it depends.
Our advice: call us first. We’ll assess the damage, give you a straight answer on what it’ll cost to fix, and help you decide whether filing makes sense for your situation. No pressure either way.
Most homeowners don't realize how much of the insurance process we can handle for them. Here's exactly what we do:
We photograph and report all damage in the format insurance adjusters need. Nothing gets missed, nothing gets left out.
We prepare a detailed repair estimate and submit it directly to your insurance company. This is one of the most important steps, a poorly written scope is the #1 reason claims get underpaid.
We talk to your adjuster directly so you don't have to. If they push back or miss something, we push back too.
We send the invoice straight to your carrier. You don't have to pay us upfront and wait for reimbursement.
If your adjuster tries to reduce the scope or deny part of your claim, we know how to respond. We've done this hundreds of times.
Most of our customers end up paying nothing more than their deductible.
Yes, always.
We work with all major insurance carriers in Oregon and Washington. Once your claim is open, we coordinate directly with your adjuster and submit our invoices to your insurance company.
You pay your deductible. We handle the rest.
Carriers we regularly work with: State Farm · Allstate · USAA · Farmers · Liberty Mutual · Travelers · Nationwide · Progressive · And many more
If you’re not sure whether we work with your carrier, just ask. We almost certainly do.
Call us first. We can assess the damage, help you understand what’s likely covered, and make sure everything is documented properly before you file. Filing without documentation is one of the most common mistakes we see.
It varies. Once we submit documentation, most adjusters respond within a few days. The full claims process from first call to final payment, typically takes 2–6 weeks depending on the complexity of the damage.
We’ll help you understand why and whether it’s worth disputing. Some denials are legitimate; others are worth fighting. We’ll give you an honest read on your situation.
It can, depending on your insurer and your claims history. That’s one reason we always recommend talking to us first if the damage is minor, it might not be worth filing. If it’s significant, it almost always is.
We see this happen. We’ll work directly with your adjuster to reconcile the difference. We document everything specifically to prevent this from becoming a problem.
Not usually. We handle the claims coordination directly as your restoration contractor. For very complex or large losses, a public adjuster can sometimes help and if we think you need one, we’ll tell you honestly.
We’ll document it immediately and include it in your claim. Mold that results from a covered water event is typically covered under the same claim.
If there's water in your home right now, don't wait. The faster we get there, the less damage there is and the stronger your insurance claim will be. We respond 24 hours a day, document everything from the moment we arrive, and handle your insurance company so you can focus on your family.
Portland’s 24/7 water damage team. Licensed, insured, and IICRC certified. We serve Portland, Beaverton, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Gresham, and all of greater Portland metro.
