Water Damage Statistics [2025 ]: Claim Data & Facts

Last Updated: February 18, 2025

Report Highlights. Water damage statistics indicate even a minor leak can increase the average household water bill by 10%.

$52,000 is the average claim from the National Flood Insurance Program; the average private homeowners insurance claim for water damage is $13,954.
98% of basements experience some sort of water damage.
Home water damage affects 14,000 people every day.
U.S. home flooding costs total up to $34.30 billion per year.
One (1) inch of floodwater costs an average homeowner $27,000.

Typical Household Water Damage Costs
Type of Damage	Total Cost^*
Minor plumbing or fixture leak	$100
Malfunctioning appliance	$1,600
Single floor, 1 inch of water in a small home	$11,000
Single floor, 1 foot of water in a single-family home	$29,000
Heavy storm damage	$38,000
Unfinished basement flooded with contaminated water	$60,000
2nd floor contaminated water damage	$100,000

^*Including all repairs, replacements, and wastage.

Common Household Water Damage Statistics

Water damage and freezing as a category is the second-most common type of home insurance claim (following wind and hail).

The average annual flood insurance policy premium is at least $700 and may be as high as $1,200.
Nationwide, household leaks waste almost one (1) trillion gallons of water per year.
99% of U.S. counties were impacted by a flooding event between 1996 and 2019.
25% of flood losses occur outside a FEMA designed flood zone.
9.1% of homes are considered at risk^** of flooding.

^**According to the Congressional Budget Office: “…at least a 1 percent annual probability of experiencing a flood of a depth of roughly 1 foot or more, CBO estimates. A 1 percent annual probability is equivalent to having about a one-in-four chance of experiencing at least one such flood over a period of 30 years.” (#11)

Water Waste and Leak Statistics

The cost of a leak includes water damage and wasted water.

Common household leaks lose enough water to supply 11 million homes.
The average household leaks almost 10,000 gallons of water in one year.
One leaky faucet wastes over 3,000 gallons of water per year.
A faulty showerhead can leak over 500 gallons of water in a year.
A leak in an irrigation system can waste 6,300 gallons of water per year.
10% of homes leak over 90 gallons of water per day.
Annual water wastage from a typical household leak is equivalent to the water used for:
- 40 days of the average household’s water needs.
- 270 loads of laundry.
- 600 showers.
- 1,200 loads of dishes in a standard dishwasher.
- 6,250 flushes of a standard toilet.
- 7,813 flushes of a WaterSense toilet.

Weather and Water Emergency Statistics

Water damage can be an emergency situation, especially if the damage is weather-related. The most expensive home repairs are typically due to emergency water damage.

4% of American homeowners have flood insurance.
Over 30 years, a home with a history of flooding will incur an average of $55,000 in flood damage.
4 million single-family homes are built on a floodplain.
The average single-family home on a floodplain is overvalued by $11,526; collectively, U.S. homes on flood plains are overvalued by $44 billion.
From 2000 to 2020, the value of flood damage quadrupled.
Flooding is most expensive for homeowners in Connecticut, with a 30-year average annual cost of $9,441.

Water Damage Health Risks

Water entering a home can be detrimental to the health and well-being of those living there.

Mold and mildew are significant health risks that can produce allergens, irritants, and toxic substances (myotoxins).
Injuries from slip-and-falls, electrocution (water is highly conductive), and floodwater debris can cause permanent bodily damage and death.
Toxic chemicals may be a hazard in cases of water damage from natural disaster, such as flooding.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends homeowners regularly check for leaks and advises that it is unlikely that a family of four would use more than 12,000 gallons per month.

Water Contamination Levels

The contamination levels in water influence clean up costs of water damage.

Category 1 is white water, which originates from a hygienic source such as a water supply line, rainwater or melted snow.
Category 2 is grey water, which has been exposed to contaminants, such as bath or shower water, discharge from a washing machine or dishwasher, aquariums, etc.
Category 3 is black water, which is highly dangerous and may contain pathogenic or toxigenic contaminants from sources like sewage, toilet backflows, seawater, river or lake water, and water containing toxic substances. All floodwater is Category 3.

Water Intrusion

The level of water intrusion in a water damage event is measured by the amount of water, the materials affected, and level of absorption.

Class 1 indicates a minimal amount of water flow to the area and materials are mainly low porosity, such as a tile floor. Little moisture remains after bulk water was removed and minimal amount of evaporation needed for drying to complete. Can deteriorate to Class 2 or 3.
Class 2 is due to a significant amount of water flow into the area. Materials that got wet are medium to high porosity (carpet, gypsum wall board). Scope of what got wet is confined to what flowed across a floor with adsorption into other materials. Can deteriorate to Class 3.
Class 3 indicates the greatest amount of absorption into materials, with highest potential rate of evaporation needed after bulk water is removed. Includes major part of structural surfaces within the wet area, such as carpet, particleboard, wall and ceiling boards.
Class 4 means the majority of moisture is trapped or bound within the building materials with a very low potential rate of evaporation after bulk water removal. Materials are typically low in porosity, may require special methods, longer drying times, or structure disassembly.

Untreated Water Damage

Homes continue to deteriorate when water damage is left untreated. Left to sit, water damage goes through a general timeline.

Within Minutes

Carpets, padding beneath flooring, subflooring becomes saturated.
Furniture on wet carpets begin to leach and stain.
Wood and wood products begin absorbing water.
Personal belongings, such as photos and paperwork, may be completely destroyed.

Within Hours

Humidity begins to make the house stink.
Furniture in contact with water delaminates and swells.
Particleboard cabinetry and furniture distorts and weakens, crumbling over time.
Dyes from non-colorfast fabrics bleed (clothing stored together, upholstery, etc.).
In 48 hours or less, clean or grey water can deteriorate to black water, and areas that experience water intrusion clean water can rapidly become toxic.

Within Days

Fungi and mold becomes visible and causes musty odors
Allergen sensitivities can be caused by microbial organisms.
Wood may severely warp and cup, making most wooden floors unsalvageable.
Painted walls blister and wallpaper begins to peel away.
Structural wood within home, such as framing, begins to swell and split.

Within Weeks

Home is hazardous to human health and must be evacuated.
Mold infests organic materials, rendering it unsalvageable.
Drywall crumbles while the home’s structural integrity declines.
Damage to the foundation becomes apparent.
Home may be salvageable but may need to be gutted down to the studs.

Within Months

Damage to the foundation may be significant.
The cost of repairs is likely more than the value of the home.
Damage that could have been prevented over time (i.e., neglect) disqualifies the owner from insurance claims.
The home may be unsalvageable.

Water Damage Statistics