"Generally, the damage caused by water will be covered, but whatever caused the damage may not be" says one insurance executive when asked about coverage. In the case of a leaking dishwasher hose, this means that although your insurer might pay to replace a carpet damaged by your dishwasher leak, you must pay to replace or repair the hose. If a sudden, unforeseen problem such as a frozen pipe or hose leads to water damage, your homeowners insurance covers both repairs to the broken pipe and to your home and furnishings.

The following are some common situations resulting to water damage and how a homeowner's insurance policy covers it.

Situation 1:Temperature drops to below zero causing your water pipes to freeze and burst

Water damage due to burst pipes is covered but most policies won't cover you if you've left the house unoccupied and without the central heating unit turned on during cold days. If that's the case, your claim could be denied because you've failed to perform the necessary upkeep that would prevent the accident.

Situation 2: Washing machine overflows flooding the basement

The extent to which insurance covers this situation depends on how the insurance company views the problem. Did you fail to maintain the washer properly or did sudden, unforeseen damage cause the flooding? In most cases, if an appliance breaks and water goes all over, the insurance policy covers it. In the case of a washing machine, you might need to purchase replacement parts out of your own pocket because they were not properly maintained, but the damage to your basement is covered.

Situation 3: Water seeps from the ground into your basement, damaging your foundation and interior

Seepage is considered a maintenance problem, not "sudden and accidental" damage, and is excluded from homeowner's insurance coverage.

Situation 4: During a heavy storm, your neighbor's tree falls on your roof, damaging it and causing water to get inside your home

The damage to your roof caused by the fallen tree may be considered "sudden and accidental". Therefore the damage to your roof, home and belongings is covered. Your policy may also reimburse you up to a certain amount for the cost of removing the tree.

Situation 5: Your bathtub overflows

Are you covered? Yes. Surprisingly enough, you are even covered if the bathtub overflowed because you forgot to turn off the faucet.

Situation 6: A nearby lake or river overflows its banks, causing a flash flood in your living room.

Flood damage is not covered by homeowners insurance. You therefore have to obtain flood insurance from the federal government. You can purchase flood insurance as long as your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Therefore, if water damage occurs in your home, don't panic. Report it immediately to your insurance company. Be careful, however, because what you say may affect the outcome of your claim. Know exactly what is in your policy, what's covered, what's not covered, and report your water damage claim accurately.