One of the most important questions on your mind after your house has burst pipes is, “Does homeowners’ insurance cover plumbing?” You definitely need to know where the money will come from to pay for necessary repairs after your home’s plumbing fails or whether your insurance company covers damage caused by a malfunctioning plumbing system.
What Your Homeowners’ Insurance Policy Covers
Each insurance carrier’s policies are different than those of other insurers. Each policy will outline specific terms of coverage and the types of damage the insurer will pay for. You should read your policy carefully to learn what your homeowners’ insurance covers and what kind of personal property coverage you have. However, many standard homeowners’ insurance policies have similar dwelling coverage.
Usually, homeowners’ insurance can cover the cost of sudden and accidental emergency plumbing issues, like a burst pipe or water backup. It typically does not cover plumbing issues like slow leaks or other problems that could have been avoided with proper care and preventative maintenance or issues caused by outside forces, like tree roots, which could have been removed before they caused problems.
It’s important to read your policy carefully or talk to your insurance agent to be sure you know what is and isn’t covered. You could also ask if the insurance company has additional home insurance riders covering plumbing issues not included in your standard policy.
Sometimes, paying out-of-pocket for plumbing issues in your home may not be your only recourse. For example, if another party caused the damage, they or their insurance company should cover any harm to your property or the structure of your home. For example, maybe you had a washing machine improperly installed. In that case, the installation company would have to pay for the damage they caused. Or maybe your neighbor had a clogged pipe that caused damage to your property when it burst. Their homeowner’s policy may cover your losses.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Pipes That Burst?
Frozen pipes are a threat in the wintertime, even in Austin. Imagine waking up in the morning to a flooded kitchen or bathroom. Many homeowners’ insurance policies will cover the cost of repairing damage to the home’s structure but may not cover the cost of a broken pipe replacement or repair.
The insurance company may deny your claim if the insurance adjustor believes you didn’t take appropriate steps to prevent the pipes from bursting. Perhaps you could have insulated the pipes more effectively, or you didn’t take precautions like leaving a faucet trickling or opening bathroom or kitchen cabinets to permit more warm air to circulate around the pipes. Or maybe you went out of town and didn’t leave your home’s thermostat set high enough to keep the pipes from freezing. Homeowners’ insurance policies don’t cover negligence, and an insurance company could view these actions as negligent behavior.
Is a Broken Sewer Line Covered by Insurance?
Few things are more frustrating and messier than a broken home sewer line. These can require seriously expensive repairs, in addition to the smell and mess you’ll have to endure because of a broken sewer pipe. Not all standard homeowners policies cover broken sewer pipes or leaking pipes. This is because the sewer pipe is mostly located outside the foundations of your home. Additionally, the broken pipe may not be covered by the city if the damage is on your property.
You may have the option to purchase a service line coverage policy, which can cover damages associated with seepage, leakage, or sewer and drainpipe backups. This optional coverage may very well be worth the price. The policy will likely have its own deductible, so you may have to make two separate claims on these two separate policies to get all your damage covered. Talk to your insurance company to learn about what your options are and the steps you need to take to file a claim.
What Kind of Plumbing Problems Aren’t Covered by Homeowner’s Insurnace?
There are a lot of things that your homeowner’s insurance policy won’t cover. We noted above that negligence or carelessness in taking care of your home may result in a lack of coverage for damage that occurs as a result. Some of the most common exclusions of standard Texas homeowner’s policies are:
- Normal wear and tear. You’re responsible for maintaining the integrity of your pipes, which requires regular drain cleaning and clog removal. If you have leaking pipes because you failed to maintain them correctly, or if you neglect indications that something is wrong and a pipe bursts, then your claim may be denied.
- Flooding, in some situations. If your home floods because of a burst pipe, your policy will probably cover it. However, if you have flooding damage because of excessive rainfall, then your homeowner’s insurance policy may not cover it. If you live in a location where there is a flood risk, you might need a separate flood insurance policy.
- Backed up sewers. If you have a sewage line failure or a malfunctioning sump pump, the damage caused by this may not be covered unless you purchased an optional rider for this sort of loss.
- Homeowner negligence. If you file a claim, the insurance adjuster may ask about the steps you took to keep your home’s plumbing system in good working order. They may ask for preventative maintenance records showing that you took reasonable steps to maintain the plumbing system. They could deny your coverage because they found proof that you weren’t taking care of the plumbing.
Do You Have a Leaking or Burst Pipe? Call Us Today
Did a pipe break in your house, or do you suspect you have a slow leak? Plumbing problems only get worse with time, so ignoring them won’t make them go away. Call the team at Indigo Home & Facility Services for a professional plumbing inspection and diagnosis of the problems with your home’s pipes. We use industry-leading techniques and top-of-the-line tools for plumbing repairs and replacements that last.
Don’t forget to ask about our minimally invasive, “no dig” plumbing services that can save you money and preserve your landscaping. Call (512) 608-4999 now.