In many cases, homeowners insurance will pay for plumbing-related damages and some emergency repairs, but only if it’s sudden and accidental, not the result of neglect. Think burst pipes, not slow leaks.
For full protection, you’ll want to add extra coverage to your homeowner’s insurance.
When Homeowners Insurance Covers Plumbing Emergencies
In most cases, your homeowners insurance policy will pay for any plumbing-related damages that occur by accident or unexpectedly. For example:
- If your pipes burst from freezing despite attempts to insulate them
- Water damage caused by a broken washing machine hose
- Accidental overflowing of toilets and bathtubs
- Water heater ruptures
- Damage caused from plumbing backup, if you added the coverage as a rider
Simply put, insurers are most likely to cover the damage caused by the water itself rather than the source of the leak. If a pipe bursts during the winter, for instance, your policy may pay to repair the floor, drywall, and insulation, but it won’t replace the pipe.
What Isn’t Covered By Your Insurance?
Unless you have a specially exhaustive policy, insurance won’t help if you:
- Ignore a slow leak for months until the subfloor develops mold and rots
- Forget to insulate your pipes during the winter, causing them to freeze and crack from neglect
- Let tree roots grow unchecked until they creep into your sewer line
- Refuse to maintain your plumbing fixtures, especially if they’re older and aging
- Experience flood damage, because this requires separate flood insurance
As a general rule of thumb, if regular maintenance could have avoided it, then the insurer will probably deny a claim to cover it.
Grey Area: Sewer Backups and Sump Pump Failures
While homeowners insurance protects you from certain forms of unexpected water damage, standard policies don’t usually cover damage caused by sewer backups or sump pump failures. That means water that backs up from sewers, drains, or overflows from a sump pump won’t usually get paid for, even if you have a separate policy to cover flood damage.
Fortunately, you have options. If you live in a wet climate with lots of storms or power outages, purchasing an optional sewer backup rider for as little as $50 a year can save you thousands in protection.
Will Insurance Cover the Plumber’s Bill?
This is an often confusing part of understanding what homeowners insurance will cover. The fact is that most policies will not pay to fix the pipe, the appliance that failed, nor the plumber’s labor.
It will also not typically cover the cost of a plumber performing basic maintenance. However, they will often pay for new drywall, flooring, electrical damage, mold remediation, and even a hotel stay if the damage renders your home unlivable.
How to Make Sure You’re Covered
Want real peace of mind? Here’s how to bulletproof your plumbing protection.
Perform regular maintenance
The best defense is preventative maintenance, so be sure to watch what you flush, regularly check for leaks, and replace any aging supply lines.
Know your policy inside out
Remember, not all policies are created equal. Knowing what yours does and doesn’t cover ahead of time will save you plenty of headaches down the road when time is of the essence.
Add riders for full coverage
Sewer backup riders, flood insurance policies, and equipment breakdown coverage are relatively cheap ways to bolster your insurance in the event of the unexpected going wrong.
Act fast during emergencies
If the worst should happen unexpectedly, the next best thing is to minimize the potential damage. Shut off your water, document what has happened, and call your insurance company right away; any delay can mean denial.
How to File a Plumbing Claim the Right Way
- Shut off the water immediately: If the pipe bursts, shut off the water so it doesn’t keep coming out.
- Take photos and videos: Document all of the damage that has occurred.
- Call a licensed plumber: Hire someone to fix the damage and document their findings.
- Contact insurance: Submit your claim with all relevant receipts and photos.
- Get it all in writing: For legal protection, keep all communication in writing whenever possible.
FAQs: Homeowners Insurance & Plumbing Emergencies
Will homeowner’s insurance cover a burst pipe?
Yes, as long as the damage was sudden and accidental. If it was a preventable incident that occurred due to poor maintenance and neglect, insurance usually won’t cover the damage or repairs.
Will insurance pay for the plumber’s repairs?
No, usually not. In the same way that insurance typically covers only the water damage rather than the pipe, it will also not pay for the labor involved in the repair.
Is water damage covered?
Yes, as long as the water damage is the result of a covered plumbing issue. Again, neglect will usually result in a denial on your claim, and flooding requires separate insurance.
How can I make sure I’m fully protected?
Maintain your plumbing equipment, understand your homeowners insurance policy inside and out, and throw on any riders that might be necessary for your circumstances. Remember, insurance will only cover sudden, accidental, and unexpected problems, not ones that could have been prevented.
Bottom Line: Be Proactive, Be Protected
Plumbing disasters are no doubt stressful, but they don’t need to be financially devastating. With the right policy, preventative maintenance, and quick action, you can protect your home and your wallet.
Dealing with a plumbing emergency right now? Call Benjamin Franklin: We’re the punctual plumbers serving Bradenton, FL and nearby areas. We respond fast, document everything for insurance, and can help you through the claims process from start to finish.