Does My Homeowners Insurance Cover Plumbing in Austin?

”Does Homeowners insurance cover plumbing costs?” It’s a question we get asked often. And one that you should consider before you call your insurance agent about your Austin plumbing woes. Here’s why: While homeowners insurance will cover some parts of your plumbing fix, they often won’t cover all of them. In this short blog, learn more about what your homeowners insurance will cover—and what they probably won’t—when it comes to paying for Austin plumbing services.

What Homeowners Insurance Will Cover

Most insurance providers will cover any damage caused by water that “just happened,” and wasn’t caused by a lack of maintenance. Whether it’s a washing machine hose break, a sewer system backup, or an emergency flood, chances are your homeowners insurance provider will cover the damages your Austin plumbing incident caused. This can include damages to your floors, walls, baseboards or sheetrock, paint and even furniture.Keep in mind that while a standard homeowners insurance policy will generally cover the damages caused by a plumbing incident, the actual plumbing repair is another story. Whether your plumbing repair is covered by your homeowners insurance or not all depends on two factors: a) If the plumbing issue happened because of neglect or a lack of maintenance, and b) your specific policy details.You can find out if your homeowners insurance plan covers Austin plumbing services by contacting your insurance agent prior to scheduling your service. Simply ask your agent if you’re covered for a specific fix to find out what you're covered for and what you aren’t. Just remember to do so without telling them you have water damage, *as your agent may open a claim based on your phone call, which can then appear on your C.L.U.E. report.

What Homeowners Insurance Won’t Cover

Generally speaking, homeowners insurance usually doesn’t cover plumbing issues that were the result of a lack of plumbing maintenance. This includes both damages caused by general maintenance issues like leaky pipes, and from old plumbing systems that weren’t properly replaced or repaired, despite showing signs of wear, rust, or age.Homeowners insurance won’t cover plumbing damages caused by negligence either. As the homeowner, it’s your responsibility to care for your home and prevent some mishaps from occurring. This means that if a pipe bursts suddenly, causing a leak, your home insurance provider will likely cover the cost to repair it because it wasn’t your fault. On the other hand, if a frozen pipe bursts because you failed to properly insulate your pipes in winter, your provider likely won’t cover the damages.

Work With A Reputable Austin Plumber!

When you have a major plumbing problem—such as a leak —it’s important to work with a plumber who understands insurance. Working with a plumber who can reliably talk to your homeowners insurance company about the damages, so that they understand the problem, can ensure you don’t end up paying for things that are covered by your insurance plan.If you need a reputable plumber in Austin who understands and speaks insurance, contact Stan’s today! We’ll send over a professional Austin plumber who can properly inspect your plumbing system inside and out, and work with your insurance provider to ensure you never overpay out of pocket.

Contact us today to schedule your Austin plumbing inspection and get a free quote for a fair and honest price!*A C.L.U.E. (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) report is a seven year history of your home and auto insurance claims - and potential claims - which is regulated by the FCRA and shared between insurance providers.