Home Insurance Companies And Professional Plumbers Work Together
Since most householders insurance programmes don't cover the price of repairs few folk think to do a check with them when plumbing issues happen.
Although they may not cover the repair, they will usually cover the value of damaged property including cleaning up after the repair. The scope of this type of project is typically not a diy plumbing repair project so you will want to find any way you can to help pay for it. A few years ago I had the misfortune of finding water seeping through a wall in my basement one spring. First this was blamed on a very wet season. Next, when dry weather came around and the leak was still there a basement waterproofing contractor was called in. It was no suprise when this contractor informed me that I had ground water and needed their expensive services. Since the company had a vested interest in me believing this they did not seem to feel the need to offer any other possible explanation. Based on the fact that the remaining 95% of the basement walls had no such problem a third opinion was in order.
Based primarily on the vicinity of the leak to the first kitchen drain pipes a 3rd contractor was called. After a short exam, the plumbing contractor was ready to decide the kitchen drain pipe was dribbling ( not where we could access it simply naturally but behind a cinder block wall under a concrete slab ).
The plumbing contractor then made a surprising proposal - call my insurance corporation before beginning the repair . That was when he explained the company would not pay for the repair but they would pay for the price of jack hammering up my living room, hall, and / or office floor to find the leak and cleaning up afterward. He was also able to suggest an alternate answer that was cleaner and far less costly and present it to the insurance corporation.
2 fix scenarios were suggested. The 1st project would involved having the plumbing contractor find the leak under the front room slab, fix the drain pipe, and then replace the concrete and flooring to wash up after the project. As would be anticipated the guesstimate for this mend was on the high side ( $4000+ when all of the cleanup work would have been finished ).
The second fix was significantly less intrusive - they'd cap off the present drain line ( kitchen only ) and re-route it through the joist's in the cellar and re-connect it to the primary line outside of the house. The sole "heavy" work in this suggestion was cutting a 6 in. hole in the exterior wall and digging a ditch to run the new pipe to be reconnected. What's left of the work amounted to a reasonably straightforward plumbing repair . The net cost for this fix was about half of the first suggestion.
With both these suggestions available, the insurance firm had no problem in justifying payment for the FULL 2nd OPTION ( less deductable naturally ). The insurance firm saved cash, the home owner saved money, and the fix was accomplished inside two days with a minimal of cleanup needed.
This whole project demonstrated the price of a good plumbing contractor. They managed to quickly identify the issue, propose multiple solutions, and help make a case for the payment by the insurer.
This repair also demonstrated the value of a insurance company. The insurance company was willing to accept and pay for an alternative solution as well as inform the home owner of all the valid expenses that should be recorded for reimbursement.
Albany Plumbing and Oakland Plumbing is guaranteed to bring you with the most efficient and reasonably priced plumbing solutions for any predicament. Available 24/7, we are widely aware of your distress during emergencies, and therefore do our very best to promptly arrive at your house or place of business.