Water Leak – Plumber Or Insurance?

What do you do when Mrs Jones rings and she has a water leak?

Firstly, the owner shouldn’t ring the insurance company before the leak is investigated by the plumber as repairs may be cheaper than the insurance excess.

As the plumber, you should ask if it’s hot or cold water and if someone is able to isolate the water supply by either stop cocks inside, turning off the cold water supply to the hot water unit or shutting off the water supply at the meter. This can reduce the damage until you can attend to it.

When on-site, try not to destroy the property but trace the water source. If it’s in the walls or ceilings, cut in a clip in access panel. With cupboards, use the same skills of cutting in access panels.

If all goes well and you have found and repaired the leak, installed the access panel, and cleaned up, you are left with a reasonable tidy job and a happy customer.

Now, depending on how much time was spent investigating the leak and making good to walls, ceiling, and cupboards, it may be cheaper than having the insurance assessor coming out and paying insurance excess. But in some instances, the water damage can be major, destroying cupboards, carpets, architraves, walls, and ceilings.

So, let’s ask the right questions, assess the situation, and weigh up the pros and cons before ringing the insurance company.

Remember: most insurance companies will pay for the investigation and restitution of damage. The repair and cost to the leaking pipework is the owner’s responsibility.

Written by Matt Simpson, MPAQ Technical Officer