Homeowners’ insurance companies will often offer limited coverage for water damage caused by a broken pipe. This means that if your home is damaged due to a broken pipe, you may only be able to receive reimbursement for a portion of the damages. It’s important to understand these circumstances before you purchase homeowners insurance to know what is covered and what is not.
- If the homeowner fails to winterize their home properly, they may be liable for damages caused by a broken pipe. Winterizing your home is important to ensure that water pipes do not freeze and burst. Suppose a homeowner does not take the necessary precautions to winterize their home, a pipe breaks. As a result, the insurance company may not provide coverage.
- If freezing weather conditions cause a broken pipe, the homeowner’s insurance company may not provide coverage. Freezing weather can cause water pipes to burst, and if this happens and the damage is not due to negligence on the part of the homeowner, the insurance company may not provide coverage.
- If a broken pipe results from negligence on the homeowner’s part, the homeowner’s insurance company may not provide coverage. If a homeowner is aware that their pipes are susceptible to freezing and does not take measures to protect them, a pipe breaks. As a result, the insurance company may not provide coverage.
- If a broken pipe is due to accidental damage, the homeowner’s insurance company may provide coverage. Accidental damage can include a child accidentally knocking over a vase that causes a water pipe to break.
- If a broken pipe results from an act of God or natural disaster, the homeowner’s insurance company may provide coverage. Acts of God or natural disasters can include hurricanes, flash flooding, or wildfires.
- When the broken pipe is due to the homeowner taking part in illegal activity. If a criminal breaks into a home and damages the property, the insurance company will not be responsible for damages resulting from the break-in.
- When a neighbour’s negligence caused the damage. A homeowners insurance company may not cover damages resulting from a neighbour’s negligence or actions. In these cases, if your policy does not provide coverage for broken water pipes, the company will often only offer you limited coverage money to make repairs.
- When the water pipe was not properly installed. If the water pipe is not properly installed, homeowners insurance companies may offer limited coverage for broken water pipes. This is because it is often seen as the homeowner’s responsibility to ensure that all facets of their home are properly installed and in working order.
- When the water pipe is aged and corroded. Homeowners insurance companies may offer limited coverage for broken water pipes when the pipe is aged and rusted, or sewer line replacement is needed. This is because the company may deem the repair a costly and unnecessary expense.
- If the home has been abandoned by its owners for more than 30 days before being damaged by a burst pipe. If a homeowner abandons their home without notifying their insurer beforehand and if there is no evidence found inside showing they still occupy it, it can be classed as unoccupied. If broken water pipes cause severe damage to a home that has been left unoccupied for more than 30 days, a homeowners insurance company may only offer you limited coverage money.
- When the policyholder has not paid their premiums on time. In the unfortunate event of a burst pipe or a need for sewer line replacement, homeowners insurance companies can refuse to offer you a full reimbursement if you have failed to pay your premiums on time. They will often only offer you limited coverage money as compensation in these cases.
- The final circumstance under which homeowners insurance companies may offer limited coverage for water damage caused by broken pipes is when other living things cause the pipe to break. When animals such as rodents or insects crawl into the home’s plumbing system and cause a leak, for example, the insurance company may deny responsibility.
In conclusion, broken water pipes can cause a lot of damage, but homeowners insurance companies may offer limited coverage in certain circumstances. These circumstances include when the pipes are old, when the break is caused by freezing weather, and when the homeowner fails to properly care for the pipes. Homeowners should be aware of these limitations and take steps to protect their property in case of a broken pipe.
