Homeowners insurance covers wells damaged by fire, storms or vandalism but excludes wells that dry up from drought, falling water tables or poor maintenance. Your well's location determines which coverage applies. Wells attached to your home fall under dwelling coverage, which covers your home's physical structure. Detached wells fall under other structures coverage, the same coverage that protects sheds, fences and detached garages.
Standard policies provide limited well protection. Ask your insurer about well endorsements if you want broader coverage for mechanical failures, equipment breakdowns or underground pipe damage.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Wells Going Dry?
Updated: November 12, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Wells attached to your home are covered under dwelling coverage; detached wells often fall under other structures coverage.
Some insurers offer endorsements that extend coverage to well components like pumps or pressure tanks.
Preventive maintenance and water conservation can reduce the risk of your well drying up and lower the chance of denied claims.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Wells?
Water Well Insurance Coverage: When Does Coverage Apply?
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.
Here are examples of covered perils that home insurance covers:
- 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.
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Most homeowners discover coverage limits after filing a claim. Review your policy's 'other structures' coverage limit, as it often caps at 10% of your dwelling coverage. If you have a $300,000 dwelling policy, your detached well has only $30,000 in coverage. Ask your insurer about increasing other structures coverage if your well is expensive or essential to your water supply.
Well Insurance Coverage: Exclusions
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.
Water Well Insurance Coverage Alternatives
If your standard policy won't cover your dry well, the best home insurance providers offer endorsements and specialized policies to fill the gaps:
Equipment Breakdown Coverage | Endorsement to homeowners policy | Covers mechanical or electrical failure of well pumps, pressure tanks and control boxes. Get this if your equipment fails from power surges, motor burnout or mechanical issues rather than normal aging. |
Service Line Coverage | Endorsement to homeowners policy | Protects underground pipes from your well to your home, including damage from tree roots, freezing or ground shifts. Covers excavation and repair costs that often reach thousands of dollars. |
Private Well Insurance | Separate standalone policy | Comprehensive coverage designed specifically for wells, including drilling new wells, deepening existing wells and replacing contaminated systems. Some policies cover naturally occurring dry wells, which standard homeowners insurance never covers. |
Home Warranty with Well Coverage | Separate service contract | Covers repair or replacement when well pumps and pressure tanks fail from normal wear and tear. Warranties differ from insurance by covering expected breakdowns and charging a service fee instead of a deductible. |
Umbrella Policy with Well Liability | Separate liability policy | Adds liability protection if your well damages neighboring properties or someone gets injured near your well. Matters if well contamination spreads to nearby properties or water sources. |
Water Well Insurance: Tips To Prevent a Dry Well
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.
- 1Schedule Regular Well Inspections
Hire a professional to inspect your well annually. They'll check your pump, pressure tank and water quality to catch problems before they become expensive repairs.
- 2Monitor Water Table Levels
Contact your local water district or geological survey to track groundwater levels in your area. This warns you when drought conditions might affect your well.
- 3Invest in a Well Cap
Make sure your well has a proper sanitary seal cap that keeps out contaminants and prevents water evaporation during hot weather.
- 4Implement Mindful Water Usage
Use water-saving fixtures and spread out high-water activities like laundry and dishwashing throughout the week. This reduces strain on your well during dry seasons or droughts.
- 5Maintain Your Well Area
Keep the area around your well clear of debris and deep-rooted plants that could damage underground pipes or compete for groundwater.
- 6Diversify Water Sources
Set up rainwater collection barrels or cisterns to supplement your well water for outdoor use like watering gardens or washing cars.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Well Replacement: Bottom Line
Homeowners insurance covers wells damaged by fire, storms or sudden accidents but excludes drought, maintenance issues and natural water depletion. Coverage depends on your well's location, as attached wells use dwelling coverage while detached wells use other structures coverage, which typically limits payouts to 10% of your dwelling coverage.
If your well is essential to your home's water supply, review your policy's other structures limit and consider adding equipment breakdown or service line coverage. These endorsements may add to your annual premium, but they cover thousands in potential repair costs. Compare quotes from multiple insurers to find the best home insurance for your well system.
Is a Well Covered by Homeowners Insurance: FAQ
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.
Does homeowners insurance cover a well drying up from drought?
Homeowners insurance doesn't cover wells that run dry from drought, falling water tables or gradual environmental changes. Insurers treat these as maintenance issues or natural conditions, not sudden accidents.
What kind of coverage applies to a damaged well?
Damaged wells physically attached to your home fall under dwelling coverage. Standalone wells elsewhere on your property fall under other structures coverage, the same coverage that protects sheds, fences and detached garages.
Can I get add-on insurance for better well protection?
Some insurers sell optional endorsements or riders that provide broader well protection. These add-ons may cover mechanical breakdowns or other causes that standard policies exclude. While adding an endorsement may cost a little more, you can still get cheap homeowners insurance by comparing providers.
Is the cost of drilling a new well covered by insurance?
Insurance covers drilling costs only if your well needs replacement from a covered peril like fire or storm damage. It won't cover drilling if your well dries up from natural causes or poor maintenance.
Will insurance cover well contamination?
Insurance may cover well contamination if it comes from a covered peril like a neighbor's leaking oil tank. It won't cover contamination from natural causes like bacteria or mineral buildup. Most contamination from agricultural runoff, septic issues or naturally occurring substances requires separate environmental coverage or you'll pay out of pocket for remediation.
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About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.