Homeowners insurance typically covers damage caused by unexpected plumbing problems.

If something goes wrong with your plumbing system, you may be left with a soggy, costly mess to clean up. You can seek assistance from your homeowners insurance company, but whether it will pay for the damage depends on what caused it. Here's everything you need to know about plumbing and house insurance.

Is Plumbing Covered By Homeowners Insurance?

In most cases, homeowners insurance will cover damage caused by unexpected plumbing problems. Here are a few scenarios that are typically covered by a standard homeowners policy.

Pipes That Have Burst

You awaken from a cold winter night to find a sopping-wet basement. In the cold, a pipe broke, and there's water everywhere. Most homeowner's insurance policies will cover the cost of repairing damaged plasterboard and replacing ruined carpets. (Please keep in mind that most policies do not cover the expense of repairing or replacing the pipe.)

If you could have done more to prevent the burst pipe, your insurer may refuse to pay your claim. Assume you were out of town and did not leave the thermostat set to a high enough temperature to warm the area. The insurer may argue that the damage occurred as a result of your fault, which a homeowners insurance does not cover.

Leaks From Appliances

Your dishwasher bursts, spewing soapy water all over your kitchen and into the basement below. Your homeowners insurance will most likely cover the cleanup as long as the leak was sudden and unexpected.

This coverage may also cover plumbing issues with other appliances such as washing machines, water heaters, refrigerators, and air conditioners. Nevertheless, unless you add water backup coverage, many plans exclude sump pump failures. (We'll get to that later.)

The replacement or repair of the broken equipment is also not covered by your coverage. In order to obtain this coverage, contact your insurer and enquire about equipment breakdown insurance. It's a popular addition to a homes insurance that covers mechanical or electrical failures of large equipment such as heating and cooling systems.

Toilets, Bathtubs, And Sinks That Are Overflowing

You're lying down on the couch when you notice water dripping from the ceiling. You rush upstairs to find that one of your children has left the bathtub running for the previous 20 minutes, causing it to overflow. Your homes insurance will most likely cover any damage caused by this sort of catastrophe.

Would your insurance cover damage caused by a sink, tub, or toilet that overflows due to a clogged drain or pipe? This is where things may get a bit complicated.

Water that backs up into your house is frequently covered by homeowners insurance as long as the obstruction is inside your property's plumbing system. But, if the problem is in a public sewage system, your insurer is unlikely to pay it unless you have water backup coverage added to your policy. The extent of your coverage is determined on where you reside and the terms of your policy.

If you have any questions regarding your coverage, read your policy thoroughly or contact your agent or insurer.

Additional Reasons For Pipe Deterioration

Some occurrences that might damage your pipes are covered by homeowners insurance. This may involve a kitchen fire or a snowstorm knocking a tree onto your house. Pipe damage in these instances would often come under the housing coverage component of your insurance. Dwelling coverage pays to repair damage to your home's structure.

Which Plumbing Issues Are Not Covered?

There are some things that no insurance policy will cover. Here are a few common ones, as well as how you might be able to supplement your coverage.

Sump Pump Failure And Sewer Backups

As previously stated, many homeowner insurance will not cover damage if your sewer system backs up or your sump pump fails. If you need assistance dealing with these claims, talk to your insurance company about adding water backup coverage to your policy.

It's important to note that water backup coverage does not cover the cost of replacing a damaged sump pump; it only covers the damage caused by the failure. If you want your insurer to pay for failing appliances like sump pumps, consider adding equipment breakdown coverage.

Flooding

Flooding, as defined by insurance, is water that floods your property from sources such as an overflowing river, a tidal surge, or severe rain that the earth cannot absorb quickly enough. Unless you expressly add flood coverage to your policy, homeowners insurance does not cover floods.

Consequently, if a flood destroys your plumbing, for example, by washing soil or debris into your pipes, your homes insurance is unlikely to cover the repairs.

General Wear And Tear Or Maintenance

Insurance exists to cover for unexpected, unplanned expenditures, not for routine house upkeep. As a result, your homeowners policy is unlikely to cover the cost of a plumber repairing a leaking tap or replacing corroding pipes.

Insurers expect their policyholders to keep their appliances and other property in good working order. If you discovered a little leak under your bathroom sink but did not address it before it became worse, your insurance may refuse your water damage claim due to carelessness.

Should You Submit A Claim If You Have Plumbing Issues?

Consider the type of problem and the quantity of damage before considering whether to make a claim. If the damage was caused by a quick unintentional occurrence, you are more likely to be covered than if the problem was caused by a steady leak or similar maintenance issue. If you're unsure about a claim, your insurance agent may be able to walk you through your alternatives.

If the damage is modest, it may not be worth submitting a claim. Most homes claims are subject to a deductible, which is a sum deducted from your compensation by your insurance. Assume you have a $1,000 deductible and a $750 damage from a busted pipe. Your insurance company will not pay anything.

Because insurance companies prefer to hike rates following a claim, you may elect to pay for minor issues yourself.

How To Avoid Plumbing Issues

These are a few tips for preventing plumbing problems before they cause severe harm.

Look For Any Leaks.

Inspect the water seals on your dishwasher, water heater, washing machine, and refrigerator on a regular basis. This is especially crucial as your appliances age and become more prone to failure.

Keep The Drains Flowing.

Pipes can become clogged with hair, grease, food, and other substances over time. To avoid this:

• Regularly flush drains with hot water. Baking soda and vinegar can also be used to dissolve blockages.
• To capture hair in showers and baths, use a mesh screen.
• Place food and grease in the trash rather than the kitchen sink.
• Apart for toilet paper and human waste, never flush anything down the toilet.

Take Action Immediately.

Do not disregard potential leak indicators such as a lack of water pressure or an unexpectedly high water bill. A plumber may be able to prevent a minor problem from becoming a large one.

Use technology

Consider purchasing an intelligent water leak detector (or several). You can install these devices near leaky appliances and receive notifications on your phone if they detect water. More costly gadgets can monitor the whole plumbing system and immediately cut off the water if they detect a problem.

Several homeowners insurance companies provide discounts for the installation of this and other forms of smart-home devices.

Prevent Pipes From Freezing.

Set your thermostat to a minimum of 55 degrees Fahrenheit when the weather turns cold, even if you're not at home. This aids in keeping pipes warm. Let hot air to circulate around the pipes by opening cabinet doors under your bathroom and kitchen sinks, and set faucets to a gentle drip. It is also beneficial to insulate exposed pipes.

Commonly Asked Questions