Kearns Emergency PlumbingEscape of water
Leaks and your insurance
What insurers ask for after a leak, what "trace and access" means, and the report we give you.
Leaks and your insurance
Most home insurance covers the damage a leak does, and often the cost of finding it. What insurers ask for is evidence: when it happened, where it came from, what it damaged and what was done. We write it down as we go.
Your leak report
- When you called, when we arrived and when it was made safe
- Where the water came from, and what failed
- Dated photos of the damage before anything was moved
- What we did to stop it, and what the repair was
- Moisture readings, where we took them
- Our name, the address and the date on every page
Before anything is moved
Take photos and a short video of the damage and of where the water is coming from.
Stop it getting worse
Turn the water off, mop up and move what you can. Insurers expect you to limit the damage where you safely can.
Ring your insurer early
Tell them it's an escape of water and that a plumber is coming. Ask whether your policy covers trace and access.
Keep everything together
Your leak report, our invoice and the photos are kept on your page, to send your insurer in one go.
What "trace and access" means
When a leak is hidden in a wall or under a floor, finding it can mean lifting boards or opening a wall. Many policies pay for that finding and opening up, as trace and access, even where they don't pay to repair the pipe itself. Check your policy, or ask your insurer before we start.
We don't deal with your insurer for you, and we can't tell you what your policy covers. We give you the evidence they ask for.
Questions
Insurance
Will my insurance cover a leak?
Most home insurance covers the damage a leak does, and many policies cover finding it. The leaking pipe or appliance itself usually isn't covered. Check your policy.
What is trace and access?
The cost of finding a hidden leak and opening up a wall or floor to reach it. Many policies cover it even when they don't cover the repair.
What's in your leak report?
When it happened and when it was made safe, where the water came from, dated photos of the damage, what we did and any moisture readings, on one document.
Water where it shouldn't be? Call now.
A plumber answers, day or night, and tells you the price for the hour before we set off.
On call now. A plumber answers, day or night.