Does Homeowners' Insurance Cover Broken Pipes?

10/9/2018 (Permalink)

Ceiling damage from a broken pipe in a Edmond, Ok home

An all-perils homeowner's policy provides a wide range of coverage for your home. These policies may not cover issues that result from a lack of normal maintenance. Even if your policy does not cover the cost to fix broken pipe, it should offset the restoration of water or flood damage caused by a burst. Find out more about what probably is and is not covered by homeowners' insurance.

A Broken Pipe

Most homeowners' policies consider plumbing problems preventable with regular maintenance. Schedule inspections to prevent your claim from being rejected on the basis of indications of negligence such as

• Old or damaged plumbing
• Signs of corrosion or rust
• No recent inspections by licensed professionals
• Lack of preventative measures such as heating your home or dripping faucets

If you can prove that you have done everything you can to prevent a pipe break, you may be able to file a successful claim. Even if your policy will not pay for the burst, flood or water damage from a broken pipe is usually covered.

Water Damage

Act quickly to mitigate damage to increase the chances of your claim being accepted. Shut off the water supply and collect as much water as possible. Contact a plumber to fix broken pipe and a restoration service.

A pipe burst usually causes Category One water damage. There are several categories that require more or less extensive cleanup.

• Category One water is clean and treated
• Category Two water may contain chemicals or microbes
• Category Three water contains solid waste

Water from a pipe break can develop into Category Two damage if you wait too long. You can increase the likelihood your insurance coverage will pay for your claims by gathering evidence that you have done everything in your power to limit flood damage. Start by contacting a plumber and professional water damage restoration service in Edmond, OK.