Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Plumbing Breaks Under Slab?

Your plumbing system is a vital part of your home, so you should be happy to know that homeowners insurance covers many instances of sudden and unexpected damage and breaks to your home’s plumbing, as well as many instances of water damage caused by your plumbing, including the slab your home sits on. This coverage extends from your slab to anything that makes up your plumbing, including the pipes and faucets.

However, while unexpected damage is covered in many instances, there are also many instances of damage that isn’t covered, such as general wear and tear and neglect on your behalf. Let’s dive deeper into exactly what plumbing issues should and shouldn’t be covered by a homeowners insurance.

As we mentioned previously, your plumbing system, slab and damage to your home derived from your plumbing system are covered by your homeowners insurance policy in many instances. This protection, called dwelling coverage, can help replace the pipes under your slab, inside your walls, faucets, shower heads and even toilets connected to the plumbing system in your home.

Furthermore, if a pipe springs a sudden leak and damages your slab, walls or floors, homeowners insurance will be there to help pay to repair the pipe, plus any damage it caused to the structure of your home.

If that same instance ruined a couch that was up against the wall, a stereo system or many of your other personal belongings, homeowners insurance may pay to replace it as well. This protection of your policy is called personal property coverage.

Last, but certainly not least, is the loss of use portion of your homeowners policy. If a plumbing break or leak occurs under your home’s slab, it may have dire consequential effects on the rest of your home. This type of damage needs to be immediately fixed, which may require you to temporarily move out of your home while the slab is being repaired.

If this is the case, homeowners insurance can reimburse you for many additional living expenses you incur while your home’s slab is being repaired. The costs apply to, but aren’t limited to, rent or hotel expenses, food costs and even extra gas money if your work commute is longer.

However, just because homeowners insurance protects your home in a multitude of ways, not all damage is covered in your policy. Slab or plumbing damage must’ve been caused by a covered peril and can’t be due to the instances we’ll touch on below.

Earthquakes: While earthquake damage is quite rare in many parts of the country, homeowners insurance has stipulations in its policies that will not extend to any damage caused by an earthquake. While earthquakes can be the main culprit of damage to the plumbing under your home’s slab, you’d have to purchase separate earthquake insurance to be covered.

Wear and Tear: If your plumbing is past its prime, it could more easily burst. Unfortunately, that would be called wear and tear, which is not covered by your policy. That’s why it’s important to get regular plumbing inspections conducted on your home.

Negligence: Similar to general wear and tear, negligence isn’t covered by your homeowners insurance because the issues could’ve been combated at the source when it occurred. If your pipes have been leaking for some time and you failed to spot it or do anything about it, you’re out of luck.

Sewage Backup: While a sewage backup that causes a slab break may be one of the most common forms of damage, it’s not covered by your homeowners policy unless you get a sewage backup rider added to your insurance.

Flooding: The second most common culprit of slab damage to your home is caused by flooding, which also isn’t covered as part of your homeowners insurance policy. You must purchase a separate flood insurance policy to make sure you’re covered in this instance.

While spotting a slab leak may be difficult in some instances, clear signs are the constant sound of running water coming from under your house, an increased water bill and wet or damp baseboards and carpet. If you think your plumbing may be leaking through your slab, consult a professional as soon as possible.