Article posted on 20 February 2015
Water leaks are a pain, they are a nuisance, they can cause a lot of damage and cost a lot of money. But where do you stand with your insurer when you’ve fallen victim to a water leak? It is not as simple as you may think. In this article we look at the early signs you have a leak, what you must do (and quickly) and common problems you may face when dealing with your insurance company.
This may sound very obvious, but at National Home Repairs we speak with many individuals who left it late finding and fixing their water leak. You may think if it is a small leak, a drip here and there that it can wait until tomorrow, next week or the week after. The reality is that you must deal with it quickly not only from a damage point of view, but an insurance point of view also.
Some of the signs that you have a leak are obvious. A damp patch on the ceiling, the discolouration of a wall, a low hissing noise coming from pipes, or constant air in your water pipes or tank. But what about some of the less obvious tell tale signs of a water leak?
This is perhaps the most under-considered sign of a water leak, probably because few of us ever think to look at our water boiler, let’s face it - they’re not very exciting! It is not unusual for water boiler pressure to drop very occasionally, but if you are noticing low boiler pressure on a consistent basis then there is a high probability that you have a water leak.
Another hidden tell-tale sign is that your water meter continues to tick over even when you’re not using any water. Try not using any water (including turning off your central heating) for three hours and see if your water meter changes.
If there are unexplained warm or cold patches on your floor or on walls you need to investigate. If the surrounding area is cold but with a warm patch, or the surrounding area warm with a cold patch then this can be a sign of a water leak.
This is where is can get a bit tricky. The symptoms of a water leak may not be in the same location as the source of the leak. A good place to start is examining the fixtures and fittings within your home. Check for joints around radiators, pipes and your boiler. Also check fixtures on washing machines, dishwashers, sinks and toilets. Wrapping kitchen roll around a joint is an easy way to identify if that joint is leaking.
But what if you can’t find the source of the water leak? One option is to call a water leak detection company. They have hi-tech gadgets that work by measuring differences in temperature between your walls and floors. Their thermal imaging cameras can detect many leaks that are impossible to find without removing parts of walls and flooring.
People generally make two mistakes when it comes to filing water damage insurance claims:
Not all policies are created equal, so it is vital to check yours carefully. In general an insurance policy will cover the cost of repairing the damage caused by the leak but not the cost of repairing the leak. In reality this means your insurance company will cover the cost to repair the damage to your home caused by the leak (a collapsed roof for example), but will not cover the plumbing fees to stop the offending leak.
Most insurance policies will also not cover the cost of finding a leak. In many cases the homeowner will need to pay for a company to find a leak where the source is not obvious. There are some exceptions to this rule, most notably policies which include a “trace and access” clause, will generally cover the cost of locating a leak. Some may have exceptions though, so check your policy carefully.
It is vital that you find a leak quickly. In many policies you must demonstrate to your insurance company that you have acted as quickly as possible after suspecting that you have a water leak. The longer you leave it, the more damage is done to your home. Your insurance company probably isn’t willing to pay out for damage that could have been avoided.
If your insurance company suspects that you have delayed your actions in locating a water leak they may argue against paying you the full amount of your claim. Some may argue against paying anything towards your claim at all, although this is unusual.
Water leaks are not the most interesting topic in the world, but they do happen. When they happen you need to be proactive and address the issue quickly. Even before a water leak happens it is worth checking your insurance policy carefully - you need to know and understand what you are covered for!
If you have suffered a water leak or any water damage to your home, National Home Repairs can help.
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