Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Slab Leak Repair?

Yes, most homeowners insurance policies will cover slab leak repair in the majority of instances. If you’re interested in finding out more about slab leak repair and your home insurance, read on.

With more than 20 years of helping consumers develop a better understanding of their homeowners insurance, I can help you gain knowledge about your coverage.

For instance, if an event named as a covered peril in your homeowners insurance policy causes damage to the slab of your home, it will usually be covered.

Here is a list of covered perils that are probably covered by your homeowners and specifically, your slab leak repair:

• Fire
• Sudden cracking of a hot water heating system, such as a water heater
• Tornadoes
• Fallen trees
• Vandalism
• Collapse due to the weight of, ice, snow, rain, or sleet
• Frozen plumbing but only if you maintained heat in your home
• Burst pipes

If an incident is covered by your home insurance, there’s a better than average chance that a slab leak repair will be covered, as well.

What Types Of Slab Leak Repair Are Covered By Your Home Insurance?

Your home insurance policy will usually offer coverage for this type of slab leak repair:

• Covered Perils: If a peril named in your homeowners insurance policy as covered results in a plumbing leak under your slab and creates a slab leak, your policy may help cover the cost of tearing out and replacing the slab, along with repairing any water damage to your home. For example, if a tornado damages your home and the slab, causing a slab leak, your home insurance policy that covers wind damage is likely to help pay for repair or replacement costs.

Please note that if a slab leak is the result of a broken water pipe, it’s doubtful that your home insurance will cover the cost of repairing or replacing the plumbing.

What Damage That Leads To Slab Leak Repair Is Covered By Insurance?

Here are the types of damages that leads to slab leak repair and are usually covered by homeowners insurance:

Fallen Trees: If a tree falls on your house and damages your concrete slab, it will probably be covered by your home insurance, provided the tree falling was caused by a covered peril and not because it was rotted or dead. Your insurer would consider this to be preventable and due to negligence, and not cover the incident.

Fire: If your slab is damaged by a covered fire, your insurer will cover its repairs or replacement.

Sudden and Accidental: Almost any cause for slab leak repair will be covered by your homeowners insurance if it was sudden and accidental. This might be from any number of things. For instance, a sudden burst pipe, a tornado, or an explosion might be covered by your insurance.

To summarize, just remember that whatever is a named covered peril in your homeowners insurance policy is probably also covered in slab leak repair.

When Is Slab Leak Repair Not Covered By Home Insurance?

Here are some events when your homeowners insurance might not provide coverage for slab leak repair:

• Earthquake damage that damages your slab is almost never covered as this event is usually excluded from home insurance.
• Flooding: Floods are typically not covered by your home insurance policy, so damage to your slab probably won’t be, either.
• If your insurer determines that damage to your slab could have been prevented with proper maintenance, a slab leak repair won’t be covered.
• Routine wear and tear resulting from long-term use is not ordinarily covered by home insurance.
• If a fire that damaged your slab leading to a leak was started by you, or by another person with your knowledge, your homeowners insurance won’t cover it.
• A slow leak that causes gradual damage might be seen as negligence by your insurance provider, excluding slab leak repair from coverage.

What Events Are Covered By Homeowners Insurance For Slab Leak Repair?

A home insurance policy will cover sudden, unexpected and accidental causes of damage or destruction necessitating slab leak repair, including:

• Lightning strikes
• Storms
• Fire
• Other covered perils

Are There Ways You Can  Avoid Damage That Leads To Slab Leak Repair?

Yes, there are ways to be proactive about avoiding damage that leads to slab leak repair.

Check Landscaping: If your yard’s landscaping directs water toward your home’s foundation, fix the downward grade right away. Water will weaken the concrete slab and increase the chance of leaks. While you’re at it, check that no large trees are growing in close proximity to the slab of your home as the roots can intrude into the concrete and weaken or break the slab and plumbing pipes.

Regular Inspections: Hire a plumber to inspect your plumbing system once a year or more often if you suspect a leak. Make sure the plumber checks for pressure issues, signs of corrosion, and general wear and tear.

Monitor Your Water Pressure: Your home’s water pressure should be kept within safe limits, which are usually 40 – 60 PSI, to prevent stress on plumbing lines that can cause Fix Leaks: Repair any and all leaks, no matter how small, as soon as they’re discovered. Prompt attention to repairs can help avoid major issues.

Leak Detection System: Leak detection systems can alert you to the presence of moisture where it shouldn’t be, meaning you can detect and conduct slab leak repair before it does major damage.

Seismic Retrofitting: If you live in an area that is subject to earthquakes, you should consider seismic retrofitting to aid in the prevention of foundation shifts that might break pipes and cause leaks.

Water Softener: If you live in an area with hard water, install a water softener. This might help lessen mineral build-up in your pipes, which accelerates corrosion.

When Should You File A Home Insurance Claim For Slab Leak Repair?

This can sometimes be a tough question with no answer set in stone. Your decision as to whether to file or not will rest on two key points:

1. The amount of your deductible
2. Whether or not you mind a premium increase

For example, let’s say that you have a $1500 deductible with your homeowners insurance and your slab leak repair is estimated to cost around $1400. Should you file a claim? Probably not.

It would cost you $100 more to file a claim and pay the $1500 deductible, so there’s no benefit in it for you at all. In fact, since almost all home insurance will increase your premium by as much as 21% following your first claim, you’d be wise not to go there.

The increase in your premium might last for years or permanently as long as the policy is in effect. This could be quite expensive after just a few years. Statistically, a standard home insurance policy in the United States costs about $1300per year, with no claims.

After a claim, the average premium increases 21% annually—a considerable amount.

How To File A Home Insurance Claim For Slab Leak Repair?

If you need to file a claim with your home insurer, the process is basically the same as filing any type of claim. There are a few steps to follow:

Contact your home insurance provider about the situation.

Take clear photos and possibly videos of your slab leak repair that needs to be made. Make detailed notes about anything pertaining to the leak, as well as any damage due to the slab leak.

Your insurer will send a claims adjuster to appraise and assess the damage to your home and/or property because of the slab leak. This adjuster will recommend for or against slab leak repair. You should be present for this assessment if you can.

When you have received approval from your insurance provider, get estimates for your slab leak repair from contractors and then submit these estimates to your insurer.

Once the estimates along with contractors have been approved by your home insurance carrier, the repair work can get started. Keep all estimates and receipts. Be sure to make copies for your own records and give the originals to your insurance company.

Please note that your deductible will have to be paid before your claim is paid.

Are There Additional Types Of Coverage Available For Slab Leak Repair?

Yes, there are additional coverage options available for slab leak repair:

• Equipment Breakdown: Sometimes called appliance coverage, equipment breakdown coverage extends beyond basic home insurance. It also covers repair of essential home systems which includes plumbing. If your slab leak repair is due to mechanical breakdown of your plumbing, for instance, the extra coverage could help you cover the cost to repair the slab and any subsequent damage it caused.
• Service Line: Many home insurers offer a “Service Line Endorsement” as an add-on to a standard policy. This extra coverage offers protection for underground service lines including water supply lines, electrical lines and sewer lines. If your slab has been damaged from external causes like shifting soil  or tree roots, service line coverage could help cover your costs of slab leak repair.
• Water Backup: This extra coverage can help with damage caused by backing up of water through drains, sump pumps, sewers,or  pipes. This also applies to slab leak repair. If your slab leak repair causes a water backup, this coverage can help cover the cost of repairs.