A Broken Pipe and Insurance

11/6/2022 (Permalink)

A Broken Pipe and Insurance

Most homeowners insurance policies cover broken pipes, but it's important to know for sure if they're covered and how much you might be able to claim.

How Do I Know If It’s Covered?

If the pipe is inside your Noble, OK home, it's likely not covered by insurance. But if the pipe is on your property line and you share a joint ownership agreement with your neighbor, it could be covered by their homeowner's policy. Alternatively, if the pipe is in front of or behind your house and on city property, it may be covered by municipal insurance.

The first thing to consider is whether or not your pipe was broken due to neglect. If it was, you won't be covered. If you let your pipes freeze and then burst, for example, your insurance company will not help.

The second thing to consider is whether or not the broken pipe was caused by a natural disaster like an earthquake or flood that wasn't under your control. If you have homeowner's insurance and someone else's tree falls on your house during a storm, this would fall under their policy rather than yours because it was an act of nature and not one committed by anyone in particular.

The best way to figure out if your broken pipe is covered is to call your insurance agent. 

Steps to take after a pipe bursts

After a pipe burst, it's important to take the following steps:

• Call a plumber. You'll want to make sure that any damage is repaired and you have an accurate estimate on how much it will cost.
• Get your home inventory and insurance policy ready. After the repair is finished, document all repairs made on your house's interior with photos and receipts so that you can submit them to your insurer as soon as possible after filing a claim. It might seem like overkill at first glance (especially if there's no other damage), but having these documents ready will help speed up the process when dealing with both your plumber and insurance provider later down the line!

Preventing Broken Pipes

As a homeowner, you can help prevent this situation by doing the following:

• Properly maintain your plumbing system. The pipes in your house need to be cleaned regularly, and any leaks should be fixed immediately.
• Use the right tools for the job. If you're replacing a pipe, use an appropriate wrench or pliers rather than a screwdriver; if you're cutting through old lead pipes, use sealed shears instead of a hacksaw (unless you have an industrial-strength one).
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions when installing new fixtures or appliances like toilets and faucets; these will tell you how much water pressure is recommended for each fixture type. For example, there are low-flow shower heads available that have been designed specifically for homes with low water pressure issues such as ours; they'll save money on both water usage and heating bills since they don't require as much water flow to produce steamy showers!
• Hire licensed plumbers with experience working on older houses like yours if possible—they'll know exactly what kind of repairs need fixing before moving forward with any actual work so none gets overlooked later down line!

When you have a broken pipe and need to get it fixed, your first step is to call your insurance company to find out if the damage will be covered. With proper coverage and a little bit of luck, you should be able to get your broken pipes covered by insurance. If not, then it’s time to take action. Contact your insurance provider and let them know as soon as possible so that they can begin filing a claim on your behalf. 

When you need the water that has flooded your home or business mitigated and restoration work done, give SERVPRO of Norman a call! We will help get your Norman business or home back to normal.