What do I do when my pipe bursts?

4/13/2020 (Permalink)

When you experience a pipe leak or burst in your bathroom, chances are that your mind doesn’t immediately jump to calling your insurance company. After all, the stress of dealing with a pipe burst doesn’t leave a lot of mental real estate for such things. However, your insurance company should be the very first thing on your mind. After all, this is why you have homeowner’s insurance in the first place, right? SERVPRO of Chino / Chino Hills has some useful tips to help you navigate these treacherous waters.

Step 1 - Damage Control

Think of this step as you gathering evidence for a court case. Document everything, take pictures, even save weather reports. If the problem is internal (from a pipe), try to mitigate further damage by turning your homes water off. Think of it as a four-step process:

• Turn off your water
• Turn off the electricity
• Ventilate the space
• Remove what you can

Step 2 - Call It In

Before you do anything else, call your insurance company. Clarify and understand what your policy covers. Having an All-Perils policy typically covers pipe bursts. Floods, unfortunately, are typically added separately. Aside from the obvious damage that water causes structurally, mold may also begin to grow within 24 – 48 hours. For this reason, your company may recommend a restoration company.

Step 3 - Gather Evidence

Insurance companies will at this point send out an adjustor in order to see the damage, as well as check to see what your policy will cover. Being prepared for the visit will make things run a lot more smoothly and move the process along faster. At this point, hand over your gathered evidence as well as any estimates you may have received from plumbers.

You want the insurance company on your side during an event like a pipe burst or flood. Having your ducks in a row and being prepared streamlines the process and reduces stress for all parties involved.