Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Frozen Pipes?

If you live in an area with cold winters, you may end up dealing with frozen and burst pipes at some point. In addition to the initial mess and hassle, there are burst pipes that must be replaced. And in the meantime, you’re left with limited working plumbing in your home.

Amid the chaos, you may find yourself wondering, does homeowners insurance cover frozen pipes? What about the resulting water damage? Mr. Rooter® Plumbing has compiled helpful tips to get you through the process of getting your home back to normal after this unfortunate event.

Does Insurance Cover Water Damage from Frozen Pipes?

While it depends on the policy, the good news is that most homeowners insurance covers damage from burst pipes. Check with your insurance agent to confirm your coverage. You’ll want to make your claim as soon as possible after the incident, and make sure you follow all the steps outlined by your insurance provider.

If you rent, hopefully you have renter’s insurance, because that also generally covers possessions damaged due to burst pipes. Keep in mind, however, that damage to the pipes or plumbing itself will have to be covered by the property owner’s policy, not yours as the renter.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Pipes That Burst?

Most policies cover water damage from burst pipes, but the good news is that homeowners insurance covers burst pipe repairs as well. However, if you turned the heat off and left the property unattended and the pipes burst as a result, your policy might not cover the damages. Contact your insurance agent for details.

The cost to replace burst pipes depends on three primary factors:

1. The type of pipe material (PVC, PEX, copper, etc.).
2. The length of pipe that needs to be replaced.
3. The amount of time it will take the plumber to replace the affected pipe(s).

Related Topic: How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

Burst Pipe Insurance Claim Tips

Dealing with a burst pipe can be stressful and chaotic. Communication with your insurance agent (and with your landlord, if you rent) is a key part of this process. Before you know it, everything will be as good as new.

Here are a few burst pipe insurance claim tips to help the process go a little more smoothly.

• Call your insurance company as soon as possible to get the process underway. They might even recommend local plumbers or cleaning companies to help you through the recovery process.
• Contact the plumber or cleaning company, depending on what needs to be done. Many companies have crews available 24/7 for just this kind of plumbing emergency.
• Get an estimate from any companies you’ll be working with.
• Let the professionals get your home back into shape.
• Submit your final claim. Often, the insurance company will send out an adjuster to look everything over before the claim is finalized.

Contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing for Burst Pipe Repairs

Frozen or burst pipes are a hassle to deal with for homeowners. A busted pipe can cause extensive damage to your home and property. If you need help thawing frozen pipes or repairing burst ones, contact your local Mr. Rooter Plumbing. You can contact us or request an estimate online.