What Home Insurance Won’t Cover in Oklahoma

When Landon and Elizabeth bought their first home in Oklahoma City, they assumed their homeowners insurance would cover just about anything that went wrong. But when a slow plumbing leak led to major water damage in their kitchen, they were shocked to learn their claim was denied. The reason? Their policy didn’t cover gradual water damage.
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Many homeowners don’t realize that standard home insurance policies have exclusions—things they won’t cover. Finding out what’s missing after something goes wrong can be a costly lesson. Understanding these gaps ahead of time can help you plan better and even add coverage where needed.

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Flood Damage Isn’t Covered

Oklahoma isn’t as flood-prone as some coastal states, but heavy rains and flash flooding can still cause serious damage. Unfortunately, standard homeowners insurance won’t cover water damage from external flooding. If a river overflows or a downpour leaves your home underwater, you’re out of luck unless you have a separate flood insurance policy.
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Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private insurers. If you live in a flood-prone area or just want peace of mind, this additional coverage is worth considering.

Earthquake Damage Requires a Separate Policy

Oklahoma has seen an increase in earthquake activity over the last decade, but standard homeowners insurance won’t cover damage caused by seismic activity. Cracks in your foundation or structural damage from a quake won’t be covered unless you have earthquake insurance.
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Earthquake insurance is typically sold as a separate policy or endorsement. If you live in an area where tremors are common, adding this coverage can help protect your home from expensive repairs.

Gradual Wear and Tear Isn’t Covered

Homeowners insurance is designed to protect against sudden, unexpected damage—not ongoing maintenance issues. If your roof starts leaking due to old age, or your foundation shifts over time, your policy won’t pay for repairs.
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Insurance companies expect homeowners to maintain their homes and handle normal upkeep. If damage occurs due to neglect, it will likely be excluded from coverage. Keeping up with maintenance—like cleaning gutters, replacing old pipes, and repairing minor roof damage—can help prevent issues that insurance won’t cover.

Termite and Pest Damage

If termites chew through your walls or rodents damage your wiring, don’t expect your home insurance to cover the repairs. Pest damage is considered a preventable maintenance issue, so it’s the homeowner’s responsibility.
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Regular pest control and home inspections can help catch problems before they cause costly damage. Some pest issues, like wild animal damage, may have limited coverage, but it’s best to check with your insurance agent to be sure.

Sewer Backups and Water Backup

A standard home insurance policy won’t cover damage from sewer backups or water backing up through drains or sump pumps. If your basement floods due to a sewer issue, the cost of cleanup and repairs will likely fall on you.
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To protect against this, you can add water backup coverage to your policy. This is especially important if you have a finished basement or live in an area prone to plumbing backups.

Home-Based Business Losses

More people are working from home than ever, but home insurance doesn’t cover business-related losses. If you run a business out of your house and experience property damage, theft, or liability claims related to your business, your homeowners policy likely won’t help.
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If you keep expensive business equipment at home or have clients visiting your property, consider adding home business coverage or a separate business insurance policy.

Certain Types of Personal Property

Home insurance covers personal property, but there are limits—especially for high-value items. Things like jewelry, artwork, antiques, firearms, and collectibles may have coverage caps that don’t reflect their full value.
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For example, your policy might only cover $1,500 worth of jewelry, which wouldn’t go far if you own an expensive engagement ring or a collection of watches. To fully protect your valuables, you may need scheduled personal property coverage, which provides higher coverage limits for specific high-value items.

Mold, Mildew, and Rot

Most home insurance policies won’t cover mold, mildew, or rot unless it results from a covered peril. If a pipe bursts and causes mold growth, you might be covered. But if mold builds up over time due to poor ventilation, humidity, or an unnoticed leak, it’s likely excluded.
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To avoid costly mold damage, keep your home well-ventilated, fix leaks quickly, and use dehumidifiers in damp areas.

Intentional Damage or Negligence

If damage occurs because of carelessness or intentional actions, your insurance won’t step in. This includes things like:

• A fire started because of unattended candles
• Roof damage caused by ignoring a leak for months
• Structural damage due to DIY renovations gone wrong

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Insurance companies expect homeowners to take reasonable care of their property. If they find that damage was caused by negligence, they may deny your claim.

Identity Theft and Cyber Crime

While not a physical home issue, identity theft and cyber crime aren’t covered by standard homeowners insurance. Some insurers offer identity theft protection as an add-on, but it’s not automatic.
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If you want coverage for fraudulent credit card charges, hacked accounts, or stolen personal information, look into identity theft endorsements or standalone policies.

Should You Adjust Your Policy?

Now that you know what homeowners insurance doesn’t cover, it’s a good time to review your policy and see if you need additional protection. Adding endorsements or separate policies for things like flood damage, water backup, or valuable personal items can help you avoid expensive surprises down the road.
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If you’re not sure where to start, talk to an insurance agent who can help tailor your coverage to your needs.

Get the Right Home Insurance for Your Oklahoma City Home

Oklahoma homeowners deal with everything from tornadoes to earthquakes to unpredictable winter weather. Making sure your insurance covers the right risks is one of the best ways to protect your home and finances.
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At Oklahoma Insurance Professionals, we help homeowners in Oklahoma City, Edmond, Norman, Yukon, and surrounding areas get the right coverage for their unique needs. If you’re unsure whether your policy is protecting you from unexpected losses, we’re here to help. Reach out today for a home insurance review and make sure you’re covered where it matters most.

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Scott Godwin
Founder

Oklahoma Insurance Professionals LLC serves Oklahoma City and the surrounding Oklahoma communities by protecting the people we work with just like we protect our own family members. Home insurance, auto insurance, business insurance, and more. We can help you find the coverage you need. ​