With temperatures forecasted to dip into the single digits once again this week, AAA Insurance cautions homeowners to beware of the risk of pipes bursting and causing costly damage.
“Water damage is among the most common causes of homeowners’ insurance claims,” said David McMullen, vice president of insurance for AAA Ohio Auto Club. “During the ‘Polar Vortex’ earlier this month, AAA Insurance saw a significant increase in the number of water damage claims due to frozen pipes bursting.”
What’s Covered:
Many homeowners do not fully understand what their insurance policy covers regarding burst pipes. Standard homeowners’ insurance policies do cover damage caused by burst pipes, but homeowners must be able to prove that the damage came from the burst pipe in order to receive coverage. In addition, homeowners should be aware of the following limitations:
Policies typically do not cover the replacement cost of the pipe. This is because insurance doesn’t cover normal wear and tear on a home, and the insurer may determine the pipe burst because it was old or corroded, or attached to an appliance that malfunctioned.
Claims may be denied if the homeowner is responsible for the pipe bursting. For example, if a pipe burst in an unheated home, the insurer may deem this negligence.
AAA Insurance encourages those who are unsure about what their insurance policy covers to speak with their insurance agent.
Reporting Damage:
When reporting damage from a burst pipe, AAA Insurance cautions homeowners to avoid the word “flood.” This is because floods are not covered under standard homeowners’ insurance policies. Even using the word “flood” casually can cause difficulty in processing the claim.
Prevention:
Pipes on exterior walls are especially susceptible, but people can take certain precautions to protect their pipes.
- Open cabinets to let the heat from the home circulate around the pipes
- Let the water drip from the faucet
- Keep thermostat at 55 degrees or higher
AAA provides more than 54 million members with travel-, insurance-, financial- and automotive-related services. AAA clubs can be visited online at AAA.com.
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