Can I claim on my insurance

k1rkyc

Hi Everyone,
We have recently had a leak in a hot water pipe that runs from upstairs, then goes under the floor from the corner of our kitchen, all along the length of our house to the downstairs wash hand basin.
We noticed wet-looking bricks under our front door and realised our water meter readings were high. We had a plumber investigate and he confirmed it was a leak in the pipe. He has now capped the pipe off, so the leak has obviously stopped but we now need to replace/reroute a hot water pipe. 
The same plumber has given us a few options and quotes for the work but he has also suggested we try our insurance company.
Has anyone had a similar problem and successfully claimed on their insurance?
There is no obvious damage, other than the wet-looking bricks that now seem to be slowly drying out but we are looking at £600 to £1000 for new pipework.
We are insured by Policy Expert, which seems to be mainly an online-only company. They do have a phoneline that we called for advice, but they say we would have to submit a claim online with no clear indication of if we could claim for the new pipework as the leaking pipe has caused no other obvious damage, other than the wet-looking bricks......

Are we right in thinking that insurance companies will only pay for investigation work or replacement of carpets etc. where the damage is obvious?

Any advice would be hugely appreciated as we don't know the best way to proceed. 

Thanks in advance for any replies

MorningcoffeeIV

k1rkyc said:

Has anyone had a similar problem and successfully claimed on their insurance?

Possibly, but that's not important.

What does your policy say re the cover they offer?

Smithcom

k1rkyc said:

Hi Everyone,
We have recently had a leak in a hot water pipe that runs from upstairs, then goes under the floor from the corner of our kitchen, all along the length of our house to the downstairs wash hand basin.
We noticed wet-looking bricks under our front door and realised our water meter readings were high. We had a plumber investigate and he confirmed it was a leak in the pipe. He has now capped the pipe off, so the leak has obviously stopped but we now need to replace/reroute a hot water pipe. 
The same plumber has given us a few options and quotes for the work but he has also suggested we try our insurance company.
Has anyone had a similar problem and successfully claimed on their insurance?
There is no obvious damage, other than the wet-looking bricks that now seem to be slowly drying out but we are looking at £600 to £1000 for new pipework.
We are insured by Policy Expert, which seems to be mainly an online-only company. They do have a phoneline that we called for advice, but they say we would have to submit a claim online with no clear indication of if we could claim for the new pipework as the leaking pipe has caused no other obvious damage, other than the wet-looking bricks......

Are we right in thinking that insurance companies will only pay for investigation work or replacement of carpets etc. where the damage is obvious?

Any advice would be hugely appreciated as we don't know the best way to proceed. 

Thanks in advance for any replies

It is unlikely that your policy will cover the damage caused by the leaking pipe.

However, if the claim is simply for re-routing the pipework, I could not see how that would be covered.  The policy will not cover maintenance/wear and tear claims, except for resultant damage.

Many policies will also cover 'trace and access', however, the problem has stopped (ie the leaking pipe).  Any resultant work to reroute would not normally be covered under that extension in any event.

Is summary, unlikely to be covered.

SC

k1rkyc

Smithcom said:

k1rkyc said:

Hi Everyone,
We have recently had a leak in a hot water pipe that runs from upstairs, then goes under the floor from the corner of our kitchen, all along the length of our house to the downstairs wash hand basin.
We noticed wet-looking bricks under our front door and realised our water meter readings were high. We had a plumber investigate and he confirmed it was a leak in the pipe. He has now capped the pipe off, so the leak has obviously stopped but we now need to replace/reroute a hot water pipe. 
The same plumber has given us a few options and quotes for the work but he has also suggested we try our insurance company.
Has anyone had a similar problem and successfully claimed on their insurance?
There is no obvious damage, other than the wet-looking bricks that now seem to be slowly drying out but we are looking at £600 to £1000 for new pipework.
We are insured by Policy Expert, which seems to be mainly an online-only company. They do have a phoneline that we called for advice, but they say we would have to submit a claim online with no clear indication of if we could claim for the new pipework as the leaking pipe has caused no other obvious damage, other than the wet-looking bricks......

Are we right in thinking that insurance companies will only pay for investigation work or replacement of carpets etc. where the damage is obvious?

Any advice would be hugely appreciated as we don't know the best way to proceed. 

Thanks in advance for any replies

It is unlikely that your policy will cover the damage caused by the leaking pipe.

However, if the claim is simply for re-routing the pipework, I could not see how that would be covered.  The policy will not cover maintenance/wear and tear claims, except for resultant damage.

Many policies will also cover 'trace and access', however, the problem has stopped (ie the leaking pipe).  Any resultant work to reroute would not normally be covered under that extension in any event.

Is summary, unlikely to be covered.

SC

Thanks SC. That's pretty much what we thought but wanted to ask people in the know as we are unable to really ask for advice from Policy Expert on the phone.
Better get another quote!

SaverRate

I would get another 2 quotes and see where you stand 

Smithcom

k1rkyc said:

Smithcom said:

k1rkyc said:

Hi Everyone,
We have recently had a leak in a hot water pipe that runs from upstairs, then goes under the floor from the corner of our kitchen, all along the length of our house to the downstairs wash hand basin.
We noticed wet-looking bricks under our front door and realised our water meter readings were high. We had a plumber investigate and he confirmed it was a leak in the pipe. He has now capped the pipe off, so the leak has obviously stopped but we now need to replace/reroute a hot water pipe. 
The same plumber has given us a few options and quotes for the work but he has also suggested we try our insurance company.
Has anyone had a similar problem and successfully claimed on their insurance?
There is no obvious damage, other than the wet-looking bricks that now seem to be slowly drying out but we are looking at £600 to £1000 for new pipework.
We are insured by Policy Expert, which seems to be mainly an online-only company. They do have a phoneline that we called for advice, but they say we would have to submit a claim online with no clear indication of if we could claim for the new pipework as the leaking pipe has caused no other obvious damage, other than the wet-looking bricks......

Are we right in thinking that insurance companies will only pay for investigation work or replacement of carpets etc. where the damage is obvious?

Any advice would be hugely appreciated as we don't know the best way to proceed. 

Thanks in advance for any replies

It is unlikely that your policy will cover the damage caused by the leaking pipe.

However, if the claim is simply for re-routing the pipework, I could not see how that would be covered.  The policy will not cover maintenance/wear and tear claims, except for resultant damage.

Many policies will also cover 'trace and access', however, the problem has stopped (ie the leaking pipe).  Any resultant work to reroute would not normally be covered under that extension in any event.

Is summary, unlikely to be covered.

SC

Thanks SC. That's pretty much what we thought but wanted to ask people in the know as we are unable to really ask for advice from Policy Expert on the phone.
Better get another quote!

I must apologise.   I just spotted a typo in my post.  It should, of course, have read:

It is likely that your policy will cover the damage caused by the leaking pipe.

It's the non-damage that is unlikely to be covered (i.e the re-routing of the pipe)

Apologies 

Hope you get it sorted

SC

DullGreyGuy

Unless you can show the leak is as a result of accidental damage (eg you drilled into it) and you have AD cover on your Buildings then there is no cover for the leak itself. If you have Trace and Access then insurer will cover the cost of finding the leak and putting the wall back (subject to any Matching Set clause) but not the cost of actually fixing the leak itself.

Escape of Water is the main coverage in this scenario but again it covers the resultant damage caused by the water not the mechanism that allowed it to escape the pipe