Home insurance will cover some leaky plumbing joints and seals, but it depends on the reason behind the leak.
Encountering a leak in your bathtub's sealing or from a pipe under your sink is never fun. However, depending on the reason for the leak, you may not have to pay completely out of pocket for the repairs. After you turn off the water supply to prevent further damage, check your home insurance policy
—general homeowner policies often cover leaks, as long as they meet specific criteria. Here's how to know what type of leaks your home insurance policy covers, how to prevent leaky sealing and plumbing joints in the future, and more.
What leaky seals and joints does your homeowners insurance cover?
Most home insurance
policies cover plumbing leaks and the resulting damage as long as they result from sudden or accidental mishaps, as opposed to wear and tear. For example, say that your hot water tank suddenly erupts in a cascade of near-boiling water and sediment from the tank. It’s definitely unexpected, so a comprehensive
home insurance policy will likely cover the water damage
up to your coverage limit. But since the water heater is old and due for replacement, you’ll likely be responsible for that cost. On the other hand, if you have a pipe
that has been leaking for years, resulting in damage to the floor and walls below it, your insurance will likely not cover it. Since it's a leak you were aware of and should have repaired, they will consider it your responsibility, and the result of years of wear and tear. Plumbing doesn't last forever, and seals and joints are expected to deteriorate. However, your insurance considers it your responsibility as a homeowner to notice when your plumbing deteriorates, and to fix it before it causes lasting damage.
How to prevent leaky plumbing
Luckily, there are several ways that you as a homeowner can help prevent leaks from plumbing joints and seals. Here are a few good ones:
Keep your home above freezing temperature. If you go away in winter, keep your thermostat set well above freezing to prevent water lines from freezing and bursting.
Hire a professional plumber. If you aren’t confident performing DIY plumbing projects, hiring a professional plumber can ensure higher odds of lasting success.
Prevent corrosion. Areas with hard water can experience higher frequency of plumbing fixture and joint failure as iron and calcium corrode the joins. Install a water softener if required.
Inspect your plumbing lines annually. Check for drips or leaks wherever you can. and repair even the smallest issue.
Keeping all this in mind, you should be able to prevent joint and sealing leakage, as well as know your options when it comes to insurance!
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FAQs
Does home insurance cover all plumbing leaks?
Although leaking joints and seals can be a little tricky to navigate, most other water leaks have a more defined answer. Largely, all water leaks that originate inside your home and are accidental or sudden are covered. That includes burst pipes, faulty fire-mitigation sprinklers, and roof leaks, but not damage from events like floods. (If you live in a flood-prone area, it may be a good idea to add flood insurance to your plan to make sure that you're protected against any eventuality.)
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