Plumbing leaks happen all the time, but they tend to be a huge, expensive mess. Even worse, you may not know whether your home's damage will be covered under your homeowner's insurance. Maybe your dishwasher hose gave out all of a sudden, creating a huge mess that you've mopped up, but now you're seeing damage from the moisture in your floor and walls. After you call your Pittsburgh plumber, should you report it to your insurance company or will they even cover it? Here's some insight into what happens when you have water damage in your home.
What's Covered?
For most situations, when the damage is unexpected, accidental and sudden, your homeowner's policy will come into effect. Did you have a pipe break or a washer hose burst and soak your wall 
and floor that didn't show any signs of damage or decay prior to the issue? If so, it will cover the cost of cleaning up and repairing the damage.
What Isn't Covered?
But when it all comes down to it, there are other areas that are not covered. If your floor is damaged because your dishwasher has a maintenance problem that was left unresolved for a long period of time, causing constant leaks and damage. The insurance typically won't cover the repair or replacement costs of the water damage source, so you'll still need to cover the cost of repairing your washing machine when it overflows. It also doesn't cover water that comes from an outside drain or sewer that has backed up water into your home.
How to Prevent Insurance Claims
To avoid having to deal with your insurance company at all, you can always be proactive with your regular maintenance. Keep your home warm, insulate pipes and open cabinet doors to prevent frozen pipes. Drain your water heater twice a year to avoid buildup of sediment. In appliances with supply lines, be careful to avoid crimping the supply hose when moving the appliance and inspect the lines regularly and replace as needed, every five years at a minimum. Check your shut-off valves on a regular basis and replace them if they fail.
By keeping this information in mind, you can avoid unpleasant insurance surprises when calling plumbers in Pittsburgh. If you need help with your plumbing, contact Stahl Plumbing today and learn why we're the Pittsburgh plumbers everyone trusts.