Dealing with a drainage problem is not only a huge headache, but it can also be a major unexpected expense that you likely haven’t budgeted for, so it’s important to know whether or not your home insurance policy covers you for drainage repairs.
Are you responsible for the repair?
The first thing you’ll want to know for sure, is who is responsible for the repair of the damaged drain. We won’t go into too much detail here, as we have another blog post that covers the ins and outs of who is responsible for a blocked drain.
But, in most cases if the drainage problem is within the boundaries of your property, you will be responsible for the repair.
If this is the case, you will want to dig out your home insurance policy and get on the horn to your insurer to see what level of cover you have and whether or not repairs to damaged drains are covered by your policy.
More often than not, many home insurance policies cover accidental damage to your drains. Again, you’ll want to get on the blower to your home insurance provider to clarify what exactly constitutes “accidental damage”. But things such as tree root intrusion or damage caused by excavation will more than likely be covered.
Damage caused by age related wear and tear, or misuse however, most likely won’t be covered by your policy.
Can I Claim for a Blocked Drain on My Home Insurance?
Possibly. It will depend on the cause of the issue. As we mentioned above, if the drain is blocked due to tree root ingress or other accidental damage, then there is a good chance you’re covered. If it’s blocked because you have been disposing of baby wipes and last nights leftovers down your sink, then it’s unlikely your home insurance will cover the cost of the repair.
My Drainpipe Has Burst. Does My Homeowners Insurance Cover Me?
More than likely a burst drainpipe will be covered on your home insurance policy. If the burst pipe was caused because of age-related deterioration of your drain however, then this likely won’t covered.
Are Pitch-Fibre Pipes Covered by my House Insurance?
Whilst pitch-fibre pipes are still common in a variety of households and businesses, the outdated technology has been improved upon, with heavy-duty plastic drainpipes taking their place. Because pitch-fibre pipes are deemed to be of inferior quality and more susceptible to damage, they may not be covered by your policy.
My Drainpipes Are Leaking. Can I Claim on My Home Insurance?
It’s unlikely that a leaking drainpipe will be covered by your home insurance policy. A leaking drainpipe is often deemed a maintenance issue rather than a problem caused by accidental damage.
Remember, Prevention is Better Than Cure
The most common causes of drainage problems are simply due to misuse. Flushing items that are not meant to be flushed and disposing of fats and food leftovers is the number one cause of a drain blockage.
By disposing of food leftovers in the bin, and only flushing things down the toilet, that are meant to be flushed, can help alleviate any drainage issues from even happening in the first place.
If in doubt, call us out!
If you’re suffering from a blocked London drain, or have a drainage question and need assistance, please don’t hesitate to call. We have professional drainage engineers available 24/7 to answer any of your questions or attend to a drainage emergency. We cover the entire South East region and in many cases can be on-site dealing with your drainage issue in as little as two hours.