April showers may seem a lovely way of watering the tulips, but, when water is dripping through your ceiling, it’s a type of water shower that’s likely to lead to an insurance claim.
It’s amazing how much damage water leaks caused by a continuous drip from a pipe or other part of your internal water system can do and, often, your first knowledge of it is some time after it’s started. It’s what you can’t see that is often a real issue and not just the final manifestation – burst plasterwork, damp patches on walls, or mustiness under the floorboards.
If April Showers are Raining Down in Your Home, Here’s What You Should do:
1) Take Immediate Action
You have a duty to minimise damage within your insurance claim, so try to stop the water leak. This usually means turning off your stopcock, or isolating a radiator, if that is clearly causing the issue.
2) Try to Remove or Mop up as Much Water as you can
Do this to make things as dry as possible. If the amount of water is significant, you may need professional drying out services.
3) Try to Identify the Source of the Problem
You probably need a plumber to quickly make a temporary or permanent repair. However, if the leak’s source cannot easily be identified, be aware there are probably only two options.
The first is that of ripping up flooring or cutting into plasterwork, which will typically cause significant damage. The second is to bring in the services of professional leak detection specialists, who can pinpoint things more accurately.
Before taking either option, contact your insurer and, at the same time, call a loss assessor, who will be on your side in your claim. Property Claim Assist works with leak detection specialists, who can help where necessary. We will need to check your insurance policy very quickly, to see whether or not you would be covered for the damage caused whilst tracing a water leak, rather than just the damage caused by the leak. This depends on whether your policy includes ‘trace and access’ cover.
4) You May Not be Able to Make a Claim
Should the water leak be down to old bathroom sealant failing around a plumbed-in fixture or shower tray, you are unlikely to be able to successfully claim on your home insurance policy. The same is true if a leak is caused by any other instance of lack of maintenance. An insurance policy is not a maintenance contract.
Having said that, you can’t always know something was failing and, sometimes, an allegation of poor maintenance is unjustified. If a loss adjuster alleges this, and you feel it unfair, please contact the team at Property Claim Assist, for our view.
5) Stay on top of Maintenance
Water leaks do not just strike once in a lifetime, so stay on top of maintenance. Replace sealant, check visible pipework, lag pipes in cold spaces and check hoses and sealants on appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines. Be careful not to leave taps running, if you leave the room. Monitor plug holes for blockages caused by oil or hair build-up. Check window frames do not leak and that flashing on roofs is not damaged. Finally, try to buy an insurance policy that includes trace and access cover.
Be careful not to leave taps running, if you leave the room. Monitor plug holes for blockages caused by oil or hair build-up. Check window frames do not leak and that flashing on roofs is not damaged. Finally, try to buy an insurance policy that includes trace and access cover.
The Value of a Loss Assessor
The cost of repairing damage after a water leak can be significant and water leaks are the number one cause of property insurance claims. If April Showers rain down in your home or commercial premises, call in an expert to negotiate your claim and ensure all damage is addressed. Property Claim Assist will strive to gain your rightful entitlement from the insurance cover you purchased, rather than leaving you short-changed, as many policyholders are.
For help with your water leak insurance claim, please call us on 0333 577 2720.
