Home insurance covers a lot of plumbing damage, but only if it’s sudden and accidental — and it is not without limits. Show
Home insurance covers most plumbing damage, but home insurance policies usually exclude negligence, water damage under the slab and sewer line backup and repair. Does homeowners insurance cover plumbing?Home insurance covers many instances of sudden plumbing damage in your home, such as a sudden leaking drain pipe in your bathroom or a burst pipe in your wall or ceiling. Coverage extends to your personal property as well as the structure of the house. If you need to relocate while the water damage is fixed, your home insurance may cover your additional living costs, too. When does home insurance not cover plumbing problems?Home insurance doesn't cover plumbing issues that result from poor maintenance, sewer backups, flooding, mold or certain kinds of piping. Poor maintenanceYou're responsible for damage due to poor maintenance, such as failing to fix a pipe until after a few weeks or months. You're also responsible for any plumbing issues from wear and tear. Wear and tear is the normal deterioration of an item. Sewer backupsA sewer backup is usually not covered under homeowners insurance. Most of the causes of a backup occur outside the premises of the house, such as tree root damage or city line problems. These are all standard reasons for exclusion. Most home insurers offer a sewer backup rider to cover these instances. FloodingHome insurance does not cover damage due to flooding natural disasters. You can purchase flood insurance separately if you live in an area with a history of flood risk. MoldMold will only be covered if it was a result of the plumbing break you file a claim on. If the mold turns out to be a problem that was occurring over time, it is excluded. Polybutylene pipingPolybutylene pipes were popular between around 1978 and 1995 because they were inexpensive. Over time, it was discovered that chlorine and other oxidants could easily break down polybutylene plumbing. As such, polybutylene pipes have been blacklisted by almost all home insurers. How does homeowners insurance cover plumbing?A standard homeowners insurance policy usually covers sudden or accidental damage to the plumbing system of your house within your coverage limits. Your home insurance policy often includes separate types of coverages. Here's how each handles plumbing damage: DwellingYour homeowners insurance should cover repair of plumbing problems involving the structure of your home and the plumbing system itself. Your dwelling coverage may also cover damage to pipes, your ceiling and walls and appliances in your home. Personal propertyAlso known as contents coverage, the personal property portion of your homeowners insurance covers your belongings against perils listed in your policy. This coverage will cover your clothing, furniture and valuables up to a certain limit. If you feel your contents coverage is inadequate, consider upping your limit with an endorsement. External structuresStructures off the main house but still on your property, like detached garages, are covered for plumbing damage. External structure coverage limits tend to be very limited, usually coming in around 10% of your home's dwelling coverage. For example, if you have your home insured for $350,000, then your coverage limit for external structures is $35,000. Additional living expensesIn some extreme cases, you may have to relocate to other living arrangements while plumbing repairs are made. In these instances, additional living expenses (ALE) coverage, also known as loss of use coverage, can help with additional costs that can arise due to your relocation, up to your policy limits. LiabilityIf a plumbing issue causes damage to your neighbor's property, your home insurance provides liability coverage for repairs. Optional home insurance coverages for plumbingSome of the optional home insurance coverages you can buy to protect yourself from plumbing issues and damage include flood insurance and riders or endorsements for water backup and mold.
What to do if you have a leaking pipeWhen you notice a leak, move quickly. Water damage moves fast and can quickly cause thousands of dollars in repairs. In the event of a plumbing leak, here are the steps to follow:
How to avoid leaking pipesYou can better protect your home from future issues with your pipes by following these steps:
QuoteWizard.com LLC has made every effort to ensure that the information on this site is correct, but we cannot guarantee that it is free of inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. All content and services provided on or through this site are provided "as is" and "as available" for use. QuoteWizard.com LLC makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, as to the operation of this site or to the information, content, materials, or products included on this site. You expressly agree that your use of this site is at your sole risk. Is a main water line leak covered by homeowners insurance?Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Line Breaks? Most homeowners insurance policies will not cover water line breaks unless a line has undergone sudden, significant damage. For example, if you dig in your yard and accidentally damage the water line running from your meter, repairs and cleanup may be covered.
Is damage from a leaking pipe covered by insurance?Your homeowners insurance policy should cover any sudden and unexpected water damage due to a plumbing malfunction or broken pipe. However, most home insurance policies exclude damage to your home that occurred gradually, such as a slow, constant leak, as well as damage due to regional flooding.
Are underground pipes covered by home insurance?Underground pipes within your property lines are considered to be part of the home and therefore insurable by your home insurance. If your insurance company offers any endorsements to insure these pipes, you may want to add them to your policy for the most possible coverage.
How do I make a successful water leak claim?How to Get Insurance to Pay for Water Damage. Determine the source of the water; take (reasonable) measures to stop it from flowing.. Determine if your water damage is covered by your home insurance policy.. Call your insurance agent and report the claim.. If needed, hire a professional water damage clean-up company.. |