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Water damage insurance claims

Know what to expect if your home is damaged by water.

Report homeowners claim
 Check claim status

 Notice a water leak?

Here are a few steps to help protect your home.

  • Turn the water off.
  • Take notes and photos of the leak and any damage.
  • Clean up any standing water and try to dry things out as best you can.
  • Contact a plumber or appliance technician if needed.
  • Save any estimates, invoices or receipts. Send them to your adjuster as soon as possible.

How water damage claims work

We’ll help you with every step of your claim and provide personalized updates along the way.

Steps to complete How water damage claims work

  1. Report your claim

    Tell us what happened. Get started on usaa.com or the USAA Mobile App.

  2. Get more details

    We’ll review what happened and check what your policy covers. You can also add more details in My Claims Center.

  3. Evaluate the claim

    We’ll go over the details and figure out what to pay based on your coverage and deductible.

  4. Settle the claim

    If the damage is covered, we’ll make a payment to you or a third party.

How water mitigation helps dry your home and reduce damage

A water restoration company uses special equipment to quickly remove water and extract moisture from walls and floors. They also prevent mold growth and other damage.

By acting fast, they help restore your home and minimize the impact of water damage. If you have a covered loss, we can send a water cleanup professional to assist you.

Here's what you can expect during the process:

  • They’ll set up equipment to help with drying.
  • Some damage may require demolition.
  • They might perform daily monitoring to check the drying progress.
  • The entire process usually takes 4 to 7 days.
  • You may need to pay your deductible to the water removal company.

What to expect during water damage repair

Contractors have the skills and tools to fix water damage safely. The repair process can be different depending on the extent of the damage and other factors. Here’s what you can typically expect.

Set repair timeline

The time it takes to complete the repairs depends on the type of damage, your availability and the contractor's schedule. The contractor will work with you to set the timeline.

Schedule repairs

Contractors typically start repairs after the estimate is approved. But major weather events can cause delays.

Work with subcontractors

Multiple subcontractors might be involved, handling tasks like painting or flooring.

Track progress

As the work progresses, the contractor should walk you through the repairs and note any remaining items.

What should you do if you find more damage?

Contact your adjuster

If you discover more damage after the work starts, let your adjuster know right away. You can message them through My Claims Center. They need to approve any additional costs before the contractor continues the repairs.

Submit a supplement

Your policy might cover the additional damage with a supplement. This is just another payment to you or your contractor. Check out our video to learn more about supplements.

Still need help?

If you can’t find the information you need, give us a call at 800-531-USAA (8722).

Ready to start your homeowners water damage claim?

Report homeowners claim
 Check claim status