Does Home Insurance Cover Frozen Pipes and Sudden Accidents?

Frozen pipes can be a nightmare, especially if you're not prepared. Most standard home insurance policies cover damage caused by frozen pipes, but it's essential to check your policy specifics.

Typically, policies that cover frozen pipes also cover sudden accidents, such as burst pipes. This is because both are considered sudden and unforeseen events.

Homeowners often underestimate the risk of frozen pipes, but they can happen to anyone. According to our article, in 2019, there were over 200,000 reported cases of frozen pipes in the US alone.

It's crucial to review your policy to understand what's covered and what's not. Some policies might have specific requirements or exclusions for frozen pipe coverage.

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Most home insurance policies cover damage from burst pipes, but there's a catch. If you're away from your home for more than a few consecutive days during the winter, you need to either shut off your water supply and drain the pipes or have a competent person checking your home daily to make sure heat is being maintained.

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This restriction varies from one company to the next, but you can be pretty sure there will be a strict requirement to safeguard your home while you're away.

If you fail to meet this requirement, your home insurance company will deny any claims for water damage that result from frozen pipes. This can potentially mean entire homes flooded with water, and thousands of dollars in repair costs – all coming out of your own pocket.

According to Square One, the average cost of damage from a burst pipe is $16,000. This is a huge financial burden, and it's essential to take steps to prevent it.

To avoid this, consider investing in a smart thermostat or a water leak detection system. These devices can help you stay on top of your home's temperature and water supply, even when you're not there.

Here's a summary of the key points:

Most home insurance policies cover damage from burst pipes, but there are conditions that need to be met. If you're away from your home for more than a few consecutive days during winter, you need to either shut off your water supply and drain the pipes or have a competent person checking your home daily to ensure heat is being maintained.

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Insurance companies will deny claims for water damage that result from frozen pipes if you fail to meet this requirement. This can be a costly mistake, as the average cost of each claim is $10,182, and the damage can be extensive, affecting drywall, flooring, paint, trim, doors, windows, furniture, and more.

Homeowners insurance policies typically cover water damage caused by frozen pipes bursting, but may not include the actual repair of the pipe itself, only the damage caused by the water from the pipe.

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Homeowners insurance should cover any sudden and accidental water damage from a plumbing failure, such as a burst pipe or ruptured water heater.

Your policy's dwelling coverage clause insures the structure of your home, including its roof, walls, and floorboards, and will reimburse you for any damage caused by a covered leak.

If you're temporarily displaced from your home due to water damage, your insurance will cover additional living expenses, such as hotel, travel, and food costs.

In some cases, your policy may cover luxury items, such as jewelry, but only up to a certain limit, which can be increased with an optional rider.

Frozen pipe bursts are typically insurable if they happen "suddenly and by accident", but claims may be denied if the leak was happening over a long period of time.

According to Verisk Analytics ISO, property damage claims in general made up 98.1% of all homeowners insurance losses, and "water damage and freezing" accounted for almost 1/5th of those property damage claims.

One in 50 homeowners filed a water damage claim between 2013 and 2017, with an average cost of $10,182 per claim.

To prevent freezing pipes and water damage, you can manage air temperature by insulating water pipes with products like GreatStuff insulating foam sealant or heat tape.

Most home insurance policies cover damage from burst pipes, but may require you to shut off your water supply and drain the pipes if you're away from home for more than a few consecutive days during the winter.

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If you fail to meet this requirement, your home insurance company will deny any claims for water damage that result from frozen pipes.

It's essential to have a professional public adjuster handle your water damage claim to ensure you get the full amount of money you're entitled to, and to avoid using the wrong terminology, such as "flood", which may lead to a denied claim.

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Preparing for winter is crucial to prevent water damage from frozen pipes. According to Verisk Analytics ISO, property damage claims in general made up 98.1% of all homeowners insurance losses, and "water damage and freezing" accounted for almost 1/5th of those property damage claims.

You can start by finding your main stopcock and making sure you can turn it on and off. This is a simple step that can save you from a lot of trouble in case you need to shut off the water supply quickly.

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It's also essential to repair any dripping taps, as this will help prevent water from freezing and causing damage. One in 50 homeowners filed a water damage claim in a 5-year period, and the average cost of each claim was $10,182.

Checking your lagging is another crucial step. All pipes and tanks in loft spaces, and anywhere else which could be liable to freezing, should be fully lagged. This will help keep your pipes warm and prevent them from freezing.

To make it easy to find the necessary information, keep contact details for your insurance company helpline near your phone. This way, you can quickly get in touch with them in case you need to file a claim.

Here are some additional tips to help you prepare for winter:

At Square One, they've taken steps to provide broad protection for their customers. Their policy doesn't impose an arbitrary requirement for temporary time away from home, up to 7 consecutive days.

If you're a Square One customer, you don't need to take extra steps to keep your insurance in effect if you're temporarily away from home for 7 days or less during the usual heating season. This means you can travel during the winter without worrying about your insurance coverage.

If you'll be away from home for more than seven days, Square One's policy requires you to take one of two options to protect your home. You can either make arrangements to ensure heat is being maintained at an acceptable level, or shut off the water and drain the pipes and water containers.

Here are the two options in more detail:

A leaking toilet may be covered by your homeowners insurance policy, but a flooded or backed-up sewage system is not, even if it overloads your plumbing system.

Sewage backup damage can be hazardous to your family and destructive to your house and property.

If you discover a leak or burst pipe, the first thing to do is turn off the stopcock as soon as possible to limit the damage. This can help prevent further water damage and make the claims process smoother.

Most insurers' helplines are open 24 hours a day, so you can contact them at any time. If you've purchased your insurance via a broker, you may need to contact them first.

Your insurer may arrange for a loss adjuster to contact you to assess the damage in detail. They should be able to provide you with an approximate timetable outlining what needs to be done to restore your home, who will do it, and how long it will take.

Here's a breakdown of what you can expect:

If you discover a leak or burst pipe, it's essential to act quickly to limit the damage. First, turn off the stopcock as soon as possible to prevent further water damage.

Contact your insurer immediately, and if you've purchased your insurance through a broker, you may need to contact them first. Most insurers' helplines are open 24 hours a day.

Your insurer may arrange for a loss adjuster to contact you to assess the damage in detail, and in extreme cases, arrange alternative accommodation and plan the restoration process. In normal conditions, your loss adjuster will get in contact within 24 hours of you contacting your insurer, but this may take longer after a major drop in temperatures.

The loss adjuster will provide you with an initial assessment, including an approximate timetable outlining what needs to be done to restore your home, who will do it, and how long it will take.

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Sudden accidental frozen pipe bursts are insurable, but there are conditions to meet. Most home insurance policies cover damage from burst pipes, subject to a couple of conditions. If you're away from your home for more than a few consecutive days during the winter, you need to either shut off your water supply and drain the pipes or have a competent person checking your home daily to make sure heat is being maintained.

According to Square One, the average cost of each incident is $16,000. This can be prevented by taking simple steps such as insulating water pipes, sealing leaks, and using heat tape to warm pipes as needed.

Frozen pipe bursts are insurable when they happen "suddenly and by accident". If the leak is discovered to have been happening over a long period of time, the claim will be denied. This is why it's essential to have a public adjuster inspect your water damage before filing a claim.

Here are some tips to prevent freezing pipes and the water damage it causes:

By taking these steps, you can minimize the chances of an incident happening this winter and ensure that your home insurance policy covers any damage that may occur.