Consult homeowner’s insurance policy when basement issues arise

Consult your homeowner’s insurance policy when basement plumbing issues arise.

How many people think to consult their homeowner’s insurance policy when plumbing issues arise? Most people assume that since it does not cover repairs it can not help them at all. The truth is that it can help deal with all the clean up and damage that often exists after plumbing issues arises. The types of plumbing problems we are talking about are usually way beyond the scope of a typical weekend warrior, which means hiring a professional to come in and do the work. After that hefty expense it makes sense to get all the help you can to pay for any additional costs.

Think about looking forward to enjoying a pleasant spring day only to discover you have water seeping into your basement. While it may be possible to blame the problem initially on those heavy spring showers, if the problem continues throughout the dry summer it is time to call in the basement waterproofing contractor. If the contractor finds ground water you really have no choice but to get the work done, which is not cheap affair. That said, it is always a good idea to get a second opinion from another source, one that can be more objective since they will not make money off the fact that they will complete the costly repair.

Look at the area where the water leakage is located and see if you can hire a plumber or other professional to tell if you the problem may be related to something other than ground water. Leaking pipes from your kitchen or bathroom are often to blame for basement leaks. While they are not easy to fix, they are usually less expensive than waterproofing your entire basement.

Say, for instance, that you discover that the real source of your leak is your kitchen pipes which are located under the concrete slab and behind the cinder block. While your insurance company will not pay to actually repair the pipe, they may pay for all the jack hammering that will need to take place to find the source, as well as the clean up that will need to happen afterward. Ask your plumber or contractor if there are alternatives when it comes to repair strategies that you can present to your insurance company for their consideration.

Two possible repair strategies for the scenario presented above are:
The first strategies is rather expensive, involving finding the leak under the concrete slab, repairing the pipe, and then reaping the concrete and flooring material. By the time all this work has been completed the total cost could reach well up to $4,000.

A less expensive option would be to cap off the existing leaking pipe and then re-route the line through the basement joists to the main line outside the house where it can be reconnected. The work for this job is much less extensive, with the only major construction being to cut a small hole in the side of the house and dig a trench for the pipe. The cost for this simple plumbing repair job will come in at about half the cost of the first estimate, around $2,000.

When you give your insurance company the choices, most will be happy to pay the full amount of the second option, minus your deductible of course. By offering them a choice you are able to show how everyone can save money, both the homeowner and the insurance company. Using the second option also allows you to have the work completed quickly and with a minimum of chaos around your home.

Having a good plumbing contractor who is willing to look for lower cost alternatives is a key part in making this strategy work. A good contractor will help you to identify the real problem, come up with estimates for different legitimate repair options, and make it easy for the insurance company to justify paying the bill.

It also helps to have a good homeowner’s insurance company. You want a company that is willing to look at your proposals and quickly let you know which items they are willing to reimburse. It helps if they are willing to look at less costly alternatives and rule in your favor.

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