Are Slab Leaks Covered By Home Insurance?
We know how important it is to homeowners to protect their property from damage. Regarding slab leaks, the threat can often go undetected and lead to disastrous consequences! Today, we’ll cover everything you need to know about slab leaks and what you can expect in terms of coverage from your home insurance if you’re experiencing a slab leak on your property. You’re in good hands with All Dry USA.
Table of Contents
What Is a Slab Leak?
Many homes are built on a concrete foundation, which is also referred to as a slab. It is common for sewer and water lines to run below this concrete foundation. If plumbing water or groundwater permeates this concrete, the result is a slab leak.
Many things can cause a slab leak. Some factors include older water lines, pipe corrosion, torrential rain, etc.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Leaks Under the Slab?
The answer to this question is, of course: it depends.
If a plumbing leak under your concrete slab results in a slab leak, whether or not your homeowner’s insurance policy will cover it often comes down to whether or not what caused the leak to develop in the first place is covered. The covered causes usually include wind, fire, falling objects, or explosions. For this reason, we highly encourage any homeowner dealing with this issue to consult their insurance policy to familiarize themselves with what risks they are protected from.
In this type of situation, the following two types of coverage offered under homeowners insurance policies will likely be relevant:
Dwelling Coverage
This type of coverage refers to insurance that assists homeowners with the costs of repairing structural damage to their homes. In the case of a slab leak, this type of coverage may help with costs associated with removing and replacing the slab after plumbing repairs have taken place – but likely won’t assist in costs involved with the actual plumbing repair.
Personal Property Coverage
This covers belongings within your home and helps with the costs associated with repairing them. If a slab leak results in water damage to your personal property (think: furniture), then this type of coverage may assist you in replacing or repairing it.
Don’t forget to factor in your deductible when considering how your insurance will pitch in to help with these costs! You’ll likely need to pay that amount before your insurance steps in to alleviate the financial burden. Keep in mind that your policy may state a limit.
To reiterate, your homeowner’s insurance policy will only assist you with costs associated with the covered risks detailed in your policy. Generally, this won’t include normal wear and tear or maintenance issues. If the slab leak results from something that falls under that category, you may be on your own. However, it’s possible in some cases to add separate service line coverage to your policy which may assist in the event of a service line becoming damaged.
When Are Slab Leaks Not Covered by Homeowners Insurance?
As detailed above, whether or not your insurance will cover your slab leak often comes down to the underlying cause of the problem. Below are some examples of slab leak causes that likely won’t be covered by your homeowner’s insurance:
- Wear and tear
- Deterioration
- Flooding
- Earthquakes
- Tree root pressure
- Natural settling, bulging, shrinking, expansion, or foundation cracking
- Sinkholes
- Vermin, insects, or rodents
- Faulty construction or design
What will and won’t be covered will likely depend on your homeowner’s insurance policy, but the above are examples of things that are typically not covered in most cases.
How To Tell If You Have a Slab Leak
A slab leak can sometimes be challenging to detect. However, if you know what you’re looking for, once signs start appearing, you should be able to recognize them and react accordingly.
Here are some red flags that should tip you off that something is afoot in your home and might be a sign that you have a slab leak:
- Damp areas on the floor
- Mold on the floor
- Increased water bills
- Decreased water pressure
- Running water noises continue after the water is turned off
- Cracked slab
If you are experiencing any of the above and suspect your home may face a slab leak, don’t wait to pick up the phone! Getting a professional to investigate the problem promptly can help minimize the damage to your home. Not acting quickly could damage your foundation, cause soil erosion, or worse! For this reason, we strongly encourage you to contact a professional if you suspect a slab leak in your home – before the damage worsens.
Need Water Damage Restoration? Call Us!
At All Dry USA, we understand the importance of keeping your home in tip-top shape, and no one grasps how much havoc water damage can wreak on a home better than us! That’s why we’re available 24/7 in the event of an emergency and offer options for an immediate local response. If you need water damage restoration, contact us today so we can help!
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With Ben’s knowledge, and visionary leadership, All Dry USA has expanded into a national, full-service property damage restoration company with multiple locations across the United States. Ben holds numerous specialty licenses and certifications in restoration and construction.