Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Well Going Dry?

Homeowners insurance policies cover well damage from fire, storms or vandalism, but most don't cover wells that dry up from drought, falling water tables or poor maintenance.

Where your well sits on your property determines which coverage pays for repairs. Wells attached to your home fall under dwelling coverage, while standalone wells elsewhere on your property fall under other structures coverage.

Ask your insurer about add-on well coverage if you want protection beyond standard policies. This extra coverage protects your well from more causes of damage than basic homeowners insurance.

Homeowners insurance may cover a well that goes dry, but only if the cause is a covered peril. Covered perils are sudden, accidental events explicitly listed in your policy.

For example:

• If lightning strikes your well pump and causes the well to run dry, repair costs may be covered.
• If a tree falls during a storm and breaks the well structure or equipment, your insurer may pay for replacement or repair.

Check your policy to confirm which perils are included. Common covered events include fire, storms, vandalism and certain types of accidental impact.

Insurance doesn't cover wells that dry up from gradual or environmental causes:

• Drought or falling water tables: Natural water level drops
• Wear and tear from age: Normal deterioration over time
• Poor or infrequent maintenance: Neglect or skipped maintenance

Insurers consider these preventable or normal wear and tear. You'll pay all costs to repair or replace your well, including drilling a new one, if it runs dry for these reasons.

If your standard homeowners insurance won't cover your dry well, these endorsements and specialized policies can fill the gaps:

Keep your well from running dry to avoid costly repairs and maintain your water supply year-round. Homeowners insurance rarely covers wells that dry up from drought or neglect, so prevention matters in areas with fluctuating water tables or frequent dry spells.

Regular maintenance, water conservation and monitoring local groundwater levels protect your well and your budget.

Homeowners insurance may cover a well going dry, but only if it's caused by a covered peril like fire or storm. Coverage depends on the well's location, falling under either dwelling or other structures coverage.

Review your policy details and consider additional protection if your well is essential to your home's water supply. This preparation helps you avoid surprises when you need coverage most.

Homeowners with private wells often have questions about when coverage applies and what steps they can take to protect their water supply. Below are answers to common concerns about insurance and dry wells.

Well pumps fail without warning, leaving homeowners without water until repairs get done. Standard homeowners policies often exclude mechanical breakdown, creating confusion about what's covered. We designed our methodology to identify which insurers clearly cover well pump failures and which ones force you to buy separate equipment breakdown endorsements.

How We Evaluated Coverage

We analyzed premium data from Quadrant Information Services and reviewed standard policy terms across major homeowners insurers, focusing on:

Well System Coverage: How policies handle well pumps, pressure tanks, piping and electrical components. Some insurers cover sudden mechanical failure under standard policies, while others exclude it entirely or require add-on endorsements.

Exclusions and Limitations: Which well-related damages get denied. Most policies exclude gradual deterioration and maintenance issues but differ on sudden breakdowns, power surge damage and water contamination from well failures.

Equipment Breakdown Endorsements: Availability and cost of coverage extensions specifically for mechanical systems like well pumps. These endorsements bridge gaps in standard policies but add $40 to $150 annually to premiums.