Shower leak insurance

Can home insurance cover shower leaks?

Yes, if a leaking shower is caused by a sudden burst pipe or other event that occurred quickly and unexpectedly – for example, a plumbing malfunction or broken pipe – home insurance can cover you for the damage caused.

Gradual water damage by a shower leak, on the other hand, is usually not covered by most home insurance policies.

When won't I be covered for a shower leak?

You probably won't be covered for a shower leak insurance claim if:

• It was the result of wear and tear – for example, the leak occurred gradually over time
• The leak was caused by lack of maintenance – for example, an unrepaired hole in the wall behind a shower
• The source of the leaking water was not within your own plumbing system

Get cover for shower leaks with home insurance

How we calculate Home insurance Finder Scores

Read full methodology

What different scores mean

9+

Excellent

These products offer a balance between low pricing and more features.

7+

Great

Competitive products within their group.

5+

Standard

Usually these products would either have fewer benefits or higher pricing.

0+

Basic

Offering basic cover with limited features or higher pricing.

Which home insurance policy should you buy?

Different types of insurance treat shower leaks, and the damage they can inflict, in different ways.

Home and contents insurance
With most combined home and contents policies, you'll be covered for repairs to certain kinds of shower leaks as well as any water damage they cause to your insured contents.
That is, if your shower leaked overnight and you woke up to find the escaping water had ruined some of your belongings, the right home and contents policy could cover you for the leak as well as any insured items it damaged.

Contents insurance
The assets you've insured under a contents policy should be covered against damage caused by a leaking shower – but you won't be covered for the plumbing costs involved in repairing the leak.

Home/building insurance
Most building insurance policies will give you a similar level of cover for repairing shower leaks as straight home insurance policies, but, like contents insurance, they won't cover any belongings that are damaged as a result of the leaks.

How to make a leaking shower insurance claim

Follow these 4 steps to make a leaking shower insurance claim:

Prevent further damage and contact your insurer

If it's a sudden and strong leak (e.g. from a burst pipe) and the escaping water could damage property or become an electrical hazard, switch off your water supply at the mains. The next step will usually be calling in a professional. You should also contact your insurer to let them know what happened.

Take stock of the loss

Take photos of the affected areas while the leak is in progress. Your insurer will probably send someone to take stock of the damage and estimate the extent of the damage.

File a claim

Fill out a leaking shower insurance claim by answering a few questions about the incident. Attach all relevant evidence (e.g. photographs, receipts).

Wait for your claim to be accepted or rejected

If your claim is denied, you can file an internal dispute with your insurer. If that doesn't result in it being accepted, you can also file a complaint with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority.

Frequently asked questions

• Is mould covered as well?

  If you can prove that mould damage occurred directly from the shower leak, then you may be able to claim your expenses. However, general mould damage is an exclusion on most home insurance policies.

• Does building insurance cover shower leaks?

  Yes. Most building insurance policies will cover shower leaks, with similar conditions to home insurance policies.

• How can I prevent shower leaks?

  Most importantly, have a reputable plumber install your bathroom and shower and do maintenance work on it as needed over time. Low-quality materials, substandard work and lack of maintenance are the most common causes of shower leaks.

  Leaks in walls – which your insurer may not cover – are generally caused by wear and tear and are often preventable through proper pipe installation and maintenance.

  If you have some basic plumbing knowledge, or you're willing to try to get some, there are certain things you can do to protect yourself against shower leaks:

  • Look for and seal up (with a silicone gun) any cracks in grouting or caulking that water could seep through.
  • Watch for leaking taps and, if you can, learn how to seal them.
  • Make sure the shower screen door is closing as it should and that it isn't cracked. Water consistently escaping from the shower area can rot a bathroom's subfloor and any support beams underneath it.

  Obviously, you shouldn't attempt any work that's beyond your knowledge level; sometimes, all there is to do is call in a pro.

• What does 'escape of liquid or water' mean?

  "Escape of liquid or water" is an insurance term that means you are covered for damage from liquid or water that is sudden and immediate or that has escaped slowly over time that you couldn't be reasonably aware of. It does not mean something gradual that you were well aware of.

• What's the difference between a shower leak and a flood?

  Insurers generally distinguish between damage from floods, which come from nature, and damage from "escape of liquid", which comes from your home plumbing system.

  Usually, the definitions will depend on the source of the unwanted water:

  • If it's from a river, dam, lake, creek or other body of water, it's a flood.
  • If it's "escaped" from somewhere within your plumbing system, it's a leak.

Written by

Jessica Prasida

Travel Insurance Expert

Jessica Prasida brings a decade of experience in the travel industry, including over four years as a travel agent and branch manager at STA Travel. She holds a Bachelor of Business and a Master of Marketing from the University of Technology, Sydney, as well as a Tier 1 General Insurance qualification that complies with ASIC guidelines. An avid traveller herself, Jessica combines her professional expertise with a passion for ensuring safe and enjoyable journeys for all travellers. Jessica was a Travel Insurance Publisher at Finder from 2019 to 2024. See full bio