Water, Burst Pipe, Plumbing and Service Line Damage

Water damage is one of the most common types of home insurance claims and very often the cause of it is burst or damaged pipes or plumbing. Even a small fissure in a pipe that is hardly visible can send hundreds of gallons/litres of water into your home, causing very expensive damage. In the United States the average cost of a residential water damage claim is $10,000. Another aspect of home plumbing that many homeowners do not generally think of is the service lines that connect your home to the plumbing infrastructure of the city. The maintenance of these service lines is the responsibility of the homeowner but service line coverage is not included in most homeowner’s insurance policies. It is an optional supplemental type of coverage that will cost extra to include.

Every policy differs and some have certain conditions that homeowners must adhere to in order to prevent their coverage from becoming null or void. Under some policies it is required that the temperature of the home or other buildings on the property be maintained at a certain level. Under other policies, if the homeowners leave the premises for more than 24 hours they must insure that the main water line is turned off and a ‘caretaker’ checks on the status of the home, regularly. It is always important to read your policy carefully and understand all of the inclusions, exclusions, limitations and benefits to the best of your ability. If you encounter a situation where you disagree with your company when it comes to a claim it is your right to seek outside help.