Our Best Burst Pipe Insurance Claim Tips For Water Damage Claims

We’re here to help. Keep reading for our best burst pipe insurance claim tips.

7 Signs You Have a Burst Pipe

A burst pipe isn’t always obvious. In fact, most burst pipes aren’t noticed immediately.

The longer you ignore a burst pipe, the less insurance will cover.

Here are 7 signs you may have a burst pipe:

1. Weird Noises: Do you hear a bubbling, whistling, banging, or clanking sound when turning on the water in your home? Do your pipes make a funny noise when flushing the toilet or turning on the sink? These are signs of a burst pipe.
2. Strange Odors: A burst pipe can often cause strange odors in your home. Do a sniff test when using your pipes. Is there a strange odor coming from your sink or toilet when you flush it? Does your washing machine have an odd smell when it fills with water? All of these could be signs of a burst pipe.
3. Water Damage and Discoloration: Water damage can be found on ceilings and walls. It might appear as a small discoloration mark at first before turning into a bigger, more noticeable mess.
4. Bulging: Your walls and ceilings could start to bulge after being affected by water damage. Watch for unusual bulges in your walls, as they could be the first signs of a serious burst pipe problem.
5. Unusually High Water Bill: One of the most obvious signs of a serious burst pipe problem is a higher-than-usual water bill. If your water bill has suddenly skyrocketed, then it could mean you have a burst pipe.
6. Low Water Pressure: A burst pipe can lower water pressure throughout your house. If you suddenly notice lower pressure when showering, bathing, or using other plumbing, then you could have a burst pipe.
7. Recent Sub-Freezing Weather: If you notice all of the symptoms above and recently experienced sub-freezing weather, then there’s an increased risk of a burst pipe. The primary cause of burst pipes is below-freezing weather, which causes cracks and leaks in your plumbing – especially if your home isn’t properly heated or insulated, or if you lost power or heating during the sub-freezing water.

How to Make a Leaky Pipe Insurance Claim

Homeowners insurance typically covers a burst pipe.

However, homeowners insurance does not cover damage to the leaky pipes themselves or damage caused by poor maintenance or wear and tear.

If you had a leaky pipe behind your walls for months, for example, before noticing the damage, then homeowners insurance may not cover it. Identifying and fixing leaky pipes is an important part of maintaining your home and an expected part of homeownership. Homeowners insurance covers unexpected events – not expected events. A recent trend in homeowners policies is to not cover a leak from a burst pipe if the leak has been going on for longer than 14 days. This is often hard to determine, especially if you have had a leak in this area before.

In any case, it’s important to call your insurance company as soon as you notice a leaky pipe. Here are the steps to take:

Step 1) Call your Insurance Company
Your first step is to call your insurer. Explain the situation, and your insurer recommends the next steps. Typically, your insurer recommends one or more water damage remediation and restoration companies, including 24/7 emergency services that can arrive on-site ASAP to begin fixing your water damage problem before it gets worse.

Step 2) Get the Situation Under Control
The water damage remediation company should arrive on-site quickly to tackle the problem. Typically, the water damage remediation company will take over damage control from here. They can turn off your water (if you haven’t already done so). They can set up fans and other equipment to dry out your home and prevent mold.

Step 3) Contact a Public Adjuster or Independent Contractor
A licensed public adjuster can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, fighting for every penny owed to you under the terms of your insurance contract. If your insurer is pushing back against your burst pipe insurance claim or denying certain compensation, then it may be in your best interest to hire a public adjuster at this step.

Find a Public Adjuster

Step 4) Begin the Remediation Process
At this point, the restoration company can begin restoring your property to its pre-loss condition, cutting out mold-damaged walls and fixing your burst plumbing. Their goal is to restore your property to pre-loss condition.

Step 5) Finalize your Insurance Claim
Your insurance company is required to compensate you for the cost of restoring your home to pre-loss condition. Your insurance company will send a claims adjuster to assess the damage, identify the root cause of the damage, and type up a claim.

In some cases, the insurance company will approve some repairs, but not others. The insurance company will cover whatever damage was legitimately caused by your burst pipe, but they might dispute other damage – like pre-existing problems with your home, which they are not required to cover.

Step 6) Maximize your Insurance Claim
Remember: insurance companies often offer a low initial settlement hoping that the homeowner will avoid disputes or negotiations. The insurance company often assumes that the policyholder is not going to ask for additional coverage or negotiate the claim.

This is where a public adjuster can be worth his or her weight in gold. A public adjuster evaluates your claim and negotiates with the insurance company on your behalf to ensure everything is covered. The goal is to maximize your insurance company payout and secure the highest possible settlement for the client. Public adjusters know the industry better than anyone, and most have handled hundreds of burst pipe claims in the past.

Burst Pipe Insurance Claim Tips

Burst pipe insurance claims can be complicated and messy.

Don’t let your insurance company push you around. Even if you have little experience with insurance claims, you can use the tips below to maximize your payout:

• Document Everything: The more photos you take, the better. Make a list of all damaged inventory and the approximate values. Take photos of all water-damaged furniture, items, possessions, and other materials. If you don’t have proof an item was damaged by the burst pipe, then your insurance company may refuse to cover it. Don’t throw anything away until your insurance company has approved it to be replaced.
• Negotiate the Claim: Before you accept the quote from your insurance company, consider hiring a public adjuster to analyze your claim. Make sure you are receiving fair value for your burst pipe damage repairs. Even after you accept a quote and receive a check from the insurance company, you can still go back and re-negotiate – say, if you find repairs or fees that were overlooked in the recovery process, or if you forgot to include certain damaged items.
• Don’t Accept Your Insurer’s First Offer If You’re Unhappy: You’re under no obligation to accept the first offer from your insurance company. If you’re unhappy with that offer, then push back. Ask them to justify the low payout. Get quotes from contractors to justify your higher valuation. If needed, hire a public adjuster to negotiate with your insurer on your behalf.
• Understand Your Coverage & Exclusions: Insurance should cover damage caused by a burst pipe. However, you need to be aware of coverage limits and exclusions. All of this information is outlined in your policy. Read your policy to understand your coverage and exclusions, giving you an advantage when negotiating with your insurance company.
• Use All of Your Coverage: Homeowners insurance doesn’t just cover the cost of repairing your home to pre-loss condition. It can also cover things like meals, transportation, and lodging reimbursement when your home is in unlivable condition. In the insurance industry these are called additional living expenses. A burst pipe problem may force you to move to a hotel for a week. You may need to dine out for meals. Keep track of all expenses. Make sure you use all of your home insurance coverage. After all, you’re paying for it.

Final Word: Consider Hiring a Public Adjuster for Your Burst Pipe Insurance Claim

At ClaimsMate, we have public adjusters who specialize in handling burst pipe insurance claims.

Our experts have helped speed up claims and increase payouts for hundreds of clients with burst pipes. We know the tactics insurers use to reduce your claim – and we know how to get around those tactics.

Sign up for a free consultation today from ClaimsMate to discover the best path forward for your burst pipe insurance claim.

Stephanie Corona

Stephanie is a property insurance claim expert with over 20 years of experience working as an insurance adjuster, expert witness, appraiser and umpire. She is passionate about sharing her expertise, knowledge, tips and training to help both property owners and Public Adjusters in their pursuit of effectively managing claims and recovering the claim settlement they deserve after a loss.