Burst or leaking pipes can cause serious water damage to your home (or small business) and whether your home insurance policy covers the damage depends on several factors.
Here’s what you need to know:
WHEN DOES HOME INSURANCE COVER BURST OR LEAKING PIPES?
Most homeowners insurance policies cover sudden and accidental water damage caused by burst or leaking pipes which includes:
- Pipes bursting due to freezing (if proper precautions were taken)
- A sudden pipe break that causes flooding inside your home
- Water damage to floors, walls, furniture, and personal belongings caused by a named peril including water that entered through an opening created suddenly and accidentally.
If the damage is covered, your policy may help pay for repairs to the home and replacement of damaged items.
Some policies may also cover temporary living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable.
WHEN WILL HOME INSURANCE NOT COVER BURST OR LEAKING PIPES?
Your home insurance company may deny a claim if the water damage is due to:
- Neglect or lack of maintenance (e.g., ignoring a slow leak until it worsens)
- Gradual wear and tear (e.g., corroded pipes that should have been replaced)
- Freezing pipes without proper precautions (e.g., failing to keep your home heated in winter while away for several consecutive days – and not arranging for someone to check on your home)
- Sewage backups or overflows (unless you have special coverage)
WHAT ABOUT REPAIRING THE PIPES THEMSELVES?
While your home insurance may cover the damage caused by the leak, it typically does not pay for the actual pipe repair or replacement, only the resulting water damage.
HOW TO PREVENT BURST OR LEAKING PIPES
Like many cases of damage to your home, worrying about whether or not your home insurance company will cover you in the event of a burst or leaking pipe can be skipped with proper prevention.
The best ways to avoid pipe issues are:
1. Protect Pipes from Freezing
Insulate exposed pipes in cold areas such as basements, attics and crawl spaces with insulation products offered by companies like Grainger Canada.
Keep the heat on! Even while you’re away from the home the temperature in your home should be AT LEAST above 55°F/13°C.
Let faucets drip in extreme cold to keep water flowing. This is pretty much essential in the event of a power outage during a Canadian winter.
And another lesser-known way to help prevent your pipes from freezing is to open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air to circulate.
2. Maintain Your Plumbing System
Noticing and fixing a small leak before it turns into a much larger problem is the goal here.
Check for leaks regularly under sinks, around appliances and in the basement. Anywhere you can find exposed pipes.
Since prevention is far less expensive and time-consuming than repairs and recovery, make sure to replace old or corroded pipes before they fail.
Tighten loose fittings and connections to prevent small leaks from worsening. This can be something you put on an annual home maintenance checklist.
3. Control Water Pressure
Since high water pressure can stress pipes and cause leaks, we suggest installing a pressure regulator to keep water pressure in a safe range (40-60 psi).
Home Depot Canada has various options to choose from.
4. Prevent Drain Clogs
This is not only smart to avoid clogs in your building or messing with the larger city systems, but it also helps avoid bursting or leaking pipes.
- Don’t pour grease, oil, or food scraps down the drain.
- Use drain strainers to catch hair and other debris.
- Flush only toilet paper—no wipes, tissues, or feminine products.
5. Install Leak Detection Devices
There are companies like Canadian Leak Detection that offer leak detection services, however, there are also devices you can install and use yourself at home.
Smart water sensors can alert you to leaks before they become major issues. Check out this Moen product as an example.
Automatic shut-off valves can stop water flow if a leak is detected. Check out AbsoluteAutomation.ca for options.
6. Know How to Shut Off Your Water
Locate your main water shutoff valve and make sure access to it is unobstructed so you can turn off water quickly in an emergency.
Preventing bursts or leaking pipes at home can save you from expensive repairs and water damage while offering an abundance of peace of mind, especially during the winter months here in Ontario.
Erie Mutual Insurance proudly serves the commercial insurance, farm insurance, home insurance and auto insurance needs of members throughout Southern Ontario including Haldimand, Niagara and Hamilton.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have about this or any other topic related to your insurance.
