SPOKANE, Wash — Across the Inland Northwest, broken pipes have caused a lot of damage this winter. Repairs and cleanup from the water damage can be very costly.
Several viewers reached out to our Verify team to ask if their insurance would cover the costly breaks. Here is what homeowners need to know:
THE QUESTION
Will homeowners insurance cover the cost of water damage from a burst pipe?
THE SOURCE
David Forte, Senior Policy Advisor, Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner
THE ANSWER
“Residential and commercial insurance policies cover sudden and accidental discharge of water from a plumbing source,” Forte said. "So, damage caused by frozen pipes qualifies as sudden and accidental. If it is detected, immediately, that's the sudden part. And if one took reasonable care to maintain the heat in their home and business that qualifies the accidental part."
According to Forte, coverage from a sudden burst pipe could include:
- Pipe repairs
- Fixing any damage to your walls
- Drying out your carpets
- Temporary housing
“As soon as the water is stopped and it's stabilized, call the insurance company," Forte said. "Don't begin any repairs yet until you've notified the insurance company and allowed them the opportunity to look at the damage themselves.”
The Office of the Insurance Commissioner recommends homeowners begin a log or claim diary where they can take notes, collect receipts, and make notes of every interaction they have with the plumber.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE DAMAGE IS NOT CAUGHT RIGHT AWAY?
"What the insurance commissioner really wants folks to know, is that if you have any suspicions or beliefs that your pipes might have been damaged by the cold, have them inspected,” Forte said.
If you wait too long to stop the water damage, you might be on the hook for the bill.
“If you uncovered damage, weeks, months, years later, and that damage, that small leak... is causing mold or dry rot, it is not going to be covered under your property policy," Forte explained. "Property policies don't cover this type of slow, over time, damage.”
WHAT RENTERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BURST PIPES
If you are a renter who encounters a sudden and accidental burst pipe, it will be up to the owner of the property and their insurance to cover the cost of repairs.
"A renter's policy would help the renter if their personal property was damaged by the water or if they have additional living expenses on that policy, meaning if their housing couldn't be lived in during the repairs," Forte said. "If their coverage allows then they could also seek temporary housing and the policy would cover that."
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