Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Broken and Burst Pipes?
When the temperatures begin to drop in the autumn, Canadian homeowners begin their annual prep work for winter. This includes stocking up on sidewalk salt, maintaining their heaters and, of course, checking on their plumbing.
As you likely know, cold weather can negatively affect your pipes and (if not taken care of promptly) can lead to costly issues down the line.
If you've recently purchased your first home, you may not be familiar with the ins and outs of winter pipe maintenance. Furthermore, you likely have some questions, like "does homeowners insurance cover burst pipes during winter?" or "how can I safeguard my plumbing for the future?".
START A QUOTEHow do pipes freeze in the first place?
It doesn't take much for your pipes to freeze, especially if they aren't properly maintained. A residential pipe will potentially freeze after approximately six hours of -6º C (or 21º F) weather.
Pipes freeze when cold air seeps into the home through cracks or small openings. This causes the metal pipes to condense, which can lead to cracking. If a crack isn't dealt with promptly, it will eventually expand, causing it to burst.
What types of residential pipes are prone to temperature damage?
There are two primary types of pipes that are prone to temperature and weather-related damage:
Exterior pipes
We commonly hear about exterior pipes bursting during the winter months. Some examples of external pipes include sprinkler systems and swimming pool supply lines.
To prevent this from happening, remember to turn off your external water source in the fall. Doing this will ensure no water is left in the pipes when the temperatures drop; thus, minimizing the chances of cracking or bursting from occurring.
Pipes in unheated areas
Similar to exterior pipes, water lines in unheated areas are prone to temperature damage. Be sure to double-check pipes in your basement and attic before the cold weather rolls in.
If you're particularly worried about a specific area of your home, you can purchase a miniature space heater. Running a space heater at a low temperature decreases the chances of pipe damage by a considerable amount.
Does homeowners insurance cover broken pipes during the winter?
We wish we could give you a straightforward answer; however, several factors influence your insurance provider's decision, namely the context of the event and your level of coverage.
Context of the broken pipe
Firstly, after a pipe bursts in your home, your insurance provider will need to gather information on the incident. This allows them to determine who or what is at fault.
Why do insurance companies do this? Simply put, if the damage was unavoidable, then we, as insurance providers, are responsible for covering our clients.
However, if the damage results from the homeowner's actions or choices, we aren't responsible for covering the damage. We refer to this as “negligence" in the insurance industry.
Here are some common examples:
Unavoidable damage - You've recently had your plumbing installed by a professional service; however, they made a small mistake. Their oversight eventually causes a crack to form in one of the pipes, which ultimately bursts. This causes thousands of dollars worth of damage to your hardwood flooring and baseboards.
Because the homeowner was not at fault, they can expect coverage.
Negligence - You notice a pipe adjacent to your shower is leaking but choose not to get it repaired immediately. After a few months, you realize that a severe mold infestation has formed in your bathroom, rendering it useless. You eventually get the leak fixed and the mold removed, which costs tens of thousands of dollars.
Unfortunately, because you failed to deal with the issue swiftly, you're likely not eligible for coverage. In turn, you have to pay for the repairs by yourself.
Level of coverage
Additionally, homeowners should note that they need to have the correct type of home insurance to be eligible for coverage.
There are several different types of home insurance that you can choose from, all of which offer varying levels of coverage. If you live in a particularly frigid part of of the country or simply want to safeguard your property, you should consider the following types of coverage:
All-risk home insurance - As the name implies, all-risk home insurance protects your home from a long list of risks and perils (insurance lingo for unforeseeable events and accidents), including frozen pipe damage. You should invest in all-risk home insurance if you're worried about several different types of risks and perils damaging your property.
Sewer back-up coverage - For those of you wondering, "does homeowners insurance cover broken sewer pipes?", the answer is often yes, especially if you have sewer back-up coverage. You can add this type of coverage onto your policy in addition to the existing risks and perils.
Overland water coverage - Although overland water coverage may not be plumbing-related, it is essential for homeowners that want to protect their property from water. During the tail end of winter, it's not uncommon for the water levels in streams and ponds to rise. Rising water levels can lead to flooding, which, if the water reaches your home, can end up causing a sizable amount of damage. In this situation, it’s extremely beneficial to have overland water coverage.
How can you prevent pipe cracks and bursts in the winter?
There are lots of techniques you can use to protect your plumbing.
One of the easiest things that anyone can do is keep their home at the right temperature. If you foresee a stretch of cold weather, be sure to double-check your thermostat. As a rule of thumb, you should keep the temperature in your home no lower than 13º C (or 55º F) and no higher than 20º C (68º F).
Additionally, if you know that temperatures will drop in the near future, you can leave your faucet running. Although this may seem like a waste of water, it can save you from dealing with thousands of dollars of damage. By keeping a faucet running, you're creating a constant flow of water, which is much less prone to freezing than stagnant liquids.
Lastly, as mentioned earlier, if you're concerned about one of the pipes in your home, you can warm it up with a space heater. If you don't have a space heater, you can also make do with a hairdryer, electric heating pad, or face cloths soaked in hot water.
