Does House Insurance Cover Burst Pipes?

As a homeowner, you control some of the reasons why pipes burst, while other factors outside of your control can do considerable damage to your house. A pipe that is properly installed should last for decades if you maintain it according to the manufacturer's recommended schedule. Nonetheless, some factors can turn a perfectly constructed pipe into one that bursts without any warning.

Frozen

Water that freezes within a pipe prevents an even flow of water throughout the entire plumbing system. The result of the buildup is extraordinary pressure on pipes that eventually cause the pipes to burst. Your insurance policy might include a clause that requires you to take steps to prevent the pipes from freezing, such as covering every pipe with an insurer-approved grade of insulation. A frozen pipe that bursts releases a substantial amount of water at a rapid rate because of the incredible buildup of pressure.

Age

The pipes forming the plumbing system inside a home have a lifespan that ranges from as low as 25 years for PVC to around 100 years for galvanized steel. If your plumbing system consists of several older pipes and you have neglected to perform standard maintenance on the pipes, the pipes can become highly vulnerable to bursting. Some insurance companies require homeowners to replace old pipes to prevent bursting and if a homeowner fails to follow the pipe replacement requirement, the homeowner is most likely responsible for funding the replacement of the burst pipes.

Excessive Pressure

High water pressure can develop, without the presence of ice or materials that clog several pipes. The source of the high pressure might be the municipal water supply, which if that is the case, places the legal burden of paying for repairs on your local government. Ideal water pressure is between 45 and 55 psi, which you can monitor by attaching a pressure gauge to a sink spout.

Murphy’s law is an especially relevant saying for homeowners. You take every preventive measure to protect your home, and an unexpected event can cause considerable damage that runs into tens of thousands of dollars. Although you never want to file a homeowner’s insurance claim, you should prepare for the following three most common types of claims.

Water Damage

Burst pipes represent one of the most common types of homeowner’s insurance claims. We covered three common causes of burst pipes, but there are many more causes such as corrosion and ground movements. Water damage includes the development of mold, which is extremely costly to remove. The average water damage insurance claim is more than $10,000, and this type of house insurance claim accounts for 20 percent of all claims each year.

One important note: Homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover water damage caused by flooding. You have to purchase a separate policy that protects you financially against the damages caused by a flood.

Severe Storm

Homes must comply with strict codes that include structural strength standards that withstand most types of severe weather. However, some weather events, such as the Midwest derecho of 2020, cause extensive damage to homes. From hurricanes along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts to raging blizzards in the Iron Range of Minnesota, severe weather is one of the most common types of homeowner’s insurance claims.

Fire Damage

Fires produce the costliest type of damage than any other type of event. Around 35 percent of all homeowner’s insurance claims involve a fire, such as a fire started by a lightning strike or a fire that starts with the ignition of a flammable material in the garage. It is not just the heat from a fire that causes property damage. Smoke quickly diminishes the value of a home as it lingers for a long time after a fire is extinguished.

The experienced team of homeowner’s insurance attorneys at Morgan and Morgan understands the reason why insurance companies deny valid claims. Knowing why insurers deny claims helps our team of litigators to devise a compelling strategy to prevent your insurer from denying you the money that you rightfully deserve.

Underinsured

Your insurance company might send you a letter claiming you do not have the type of coverage that warrants the approval of your claim. For example, your insurance company might have included language in your policy that makes you responsible for maintaining the quality of the pipes that constitute your home’s plumbing system. Failing to complete standard maintenance tasks can lead to the denial of a homeowner’s insurance claim.

Fail to Meet the Filing Deadline

Every insurance policy contains a section that clearly explains how long a policyholder has to file a homeowner’s insurance claim. The standard deadline is 180 days after an incident that causes damage to your home. By working with one of the highly-rated homeowner’s insurance lawyers at Morgan and Morgan, you submit a persuasive homeowner’s insurance claim long before the deadline.

Missed Premium Payments

If you do not pay your monthly premiums on time, your policy can terminate and you are left as the sole party that is responsible for paying for the repairs to the damage caused by burst pipes. You might encounter an issue with your insurer that involves the company keeping inaccurate accounting records, and if this is the case, your homeowner’s insurance attorney conducts a thorough review of your financial records to verify you have kept up with your monthly premium payments.

A 2020 Property Claims Satisfaction Study released by J.D. Power concluded that "satisfaction for property claims has reached a record high." Although customer satisfaction is high, it does not mean insurance companies have become altruistic when reviewing homeowner’s insurance claims. Of all the possible types of insurance claims to file, homeowner’s insurance claims often are the most expensive. This means many insurance companies scrutinize claims to find a way not to compensate policyholders.

You might face one of three scenarios that require the legal support of an experienced homeowner’s insurance attorney from Morgan and Morgan.

Denial

The most common reason for hiring a state-licensed insurance lawyer is to contest a denied claim. For many claims, a denial is issued because the insurance company misinterpreted an exclusion, such as an exclusion for repairing the damage caused by burst pipes. An experienced litigator meticulously reviews your homeowner’s insurance policy to determine whether your insurer made a mistake of interpretation when reviewing your policy.

Some insurers try to claim damage done to a home happened before the event in question. For example, if a severe storm cracked the siding on your house, your insurer might insist the damages were pre-existing because another type of event caused the damage.

Lowball Payment

Your insurance company might approve your claim, but for a value that is much lower than the cost to repair the damage done to your home. Referred to as a lowball payment, a much lower than expected payment means you pay more in out-of-pocket expenses. If your insurance company refuses to pay for repairs that are covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy, one of the accomplished litigators from Morgan and Morgan will apply enough pressure to convince your insurer to do the right thing.

No Response/Delayed Response

Your insurance company might have a valid reason for not reviewing your claim in a timely manner. Insurance companies are overwhelmed with claims in the aftermath of a natural disaster such as a devastating hurricane. This means there might be a legitimate reason for your insurer to take more time than normal to process your homeowner’s insurance claim.

However, some insurance companies delay responses to avoid interacting with policyholders. This is when a skilled litigator from Morgan and Morgan is particularly helpful. The lawyer assigned to your case acts as an intermediary to ensure your insurance company processes your claim in a timely manner. Unless your insurance company goes out of business, there is never a valid reason for the company not to respond to your homeowner’s insurance claim.

Does house insurance cover burst pipes? For most claims requiring compensation for burst pipes, insurance companies must pay out for repairing water damage. However, there are a few cases when an insurer does not have to cover burst pipes. Hiring an experienced attorney from Morgan and Morgan can confirm whether your insurance company must compensate you for burst pipes.

Schedule a free case evaluation today to determine whether you should be compensated for the damage caused by burst pipes.