It depends. While certain kinds of plumbing issues are covered by homeowners insurance, it is contingent on specific conditions.
As an Oakland homeowner, if you are facing any kind of plumbing problem, especially a big one, your first question is likely to be: Will the cost of repair be covered by my homeowners insurance? And we don’t blame you, because this is a very important question. Plumbing repairs can derail your budget and dry up your savings real quick, and the last thing you want is to pay for something that your insurance is likely to cover.
Fact is, insurance coverage for plumbing primarily takes into account the reason behind your plumbing problem, and how well this issue has been documented and maintained. Let’s decode plumbing insurance for homeowners and look at what’s typically included, what’s not, and how the experienced licensed Oakland rooter and plumbing team at Albion Plumbing can help you navigate the process.
What Plumbing Issues are Covered Under Plumbing Insurance?
As a general rule, most homeowners insurance plans cover sudden and accidental damage. This means damages that couldn’t reasonably be predicted or prevented. When it comes to plumbing, here are the plumbing issues included by plumbing insurance:
Sudden Pipe Bursts
Pipes can burst unexpectedly due to freezing or unexpected high water pressure. Most standard homeowners insurance policies cover the resulting damage from such situations. While it may not include the damaged pipe itself, it does cover any damage done to walls, flooring, or ceilings.
Accidental Water Damage
Let us explain this with an example. The hose attached to your washing machine comes loose and floods your laundry room. Homeowners insurance will cover the cleanup and repairs for this type of problem in most cases.
Hidden Leaks
There are some insurance policies that include “hidden water damage” riders. For instance, if the water damage occurred behind walls or under flooring due to a hidden leak that you were not aware of, in some special cases your homeowners insurance may just cover it. But this is applicable only if the damage was not due to neglect.
Appliance Malfunctions
Plumbing appliances like water heaters or garbage disposals tend to get damaged and stop working, throwing your day off the rails. Besides, they can be quite expensive to repair or replace, which is a problem when you also consider the cost of the damage caused. The good news is that if an appliance suddenly fails and causes damage, your insurance policy might cover the damage, though it may not cover the cost of replacing the appliance itself.
What Plumbing Problems Are Not Covered by Insurance?
Unfortunately, there are quite a few common plumbing problems that fall outside of insurance coverage.
Regular Wear and Tear
Pipes age, fittings corrode, and fixtures wear out. The older your plumbing, the higher the wear and tear. Any damage to your plumbing or your property caused by aged plumbing is not covered by insurance.
Root Intrusion
Tree roots invading sewer lines is a huge problem in many older Oakland homes and neighborhoods. Unfortunately, Oakland rooter plumbing problems are considered preventable, and most insurance policies do not cover the cost of removing roots or repairing any damages. They expect homeowners to conduct regular maintenance.
Long-Term Leaks
If there is a leak in your plumbing that has been going on for a while and you have been neglecting it, your insurance company is likely to deny your claim on the grounds of homeowner neglect .
Poor Workmanship or DIY Fixes
Damages caused by poor service or improper installation, as well as DIY fixes, are not covered.
Why Documentation and Professional Inspections Matter
Here’s an important point we want to share with you. Even when your claim might be technically covered by insurance, it could still be refused if your insurance company believes it could have been prevented or if you have been unable to prove the cause behind the damage.
That’s why it’s important to keep records of regular maintenance, inspections, and any repair work. It helps prove that you’ve been a responsible homeowner and have not been neglecting your plumbing system. In case of a plumbing emergency, an inspection report conducted by professional and licensed plumbers can also build your case.
How Albion’s Oakland Rooter and Plumbing Team Can Help
We have been in the business for over six decades and have deep local expertise and knowledge. We understand the unique challenges homeowners face in Oakland. Our Oakland rooter and plumbing professionals have years of experience identifying, documenting, and repairing all kinds of plumbing issues.
We don’t just fix your plumbing problem. We take the time to diagnose the root cause, help you check if it qualifies for insurance coverage, and provide detailed inspection reports to help support your claim.
Need help with a clogged drain or a damaged sewer line? Our Oakland rooter plumbing team uses modern tools and methods like camera inspections to check for root intrusion or other hidden problems.
We also offer preventative plumbing services like routine pipe inspections and water pressure checks, to prevent major damage and mark you as a responsible homeowner should an insurance claim ever become necessary.
If you’re in Oakland and not sure if that pipe leak might be claim-worthy, our team at Albion Plumbing’s Oakland rooter and plumbing service can help you with an honest assessment.