Slab Leak Insurance Coverage
If you’re anything like us, keeping your home in good working order is a top priority. Of course, maintaining this comes with a good amount of careful observation and problem solving throughout the months and years. But what happens when you run into a problem you can’t solve yourself? A slab leak can prove to be the most difficult challenge you’ll encounter as a homeowner – and if you don’t catch it early, you’ll need a professional plumber to help you out.
What’s a Slab Leak?
Those of us in Texas are (unfortunately) familiar with slab leaks – they’re what happens when the pipes that are laid inside your concrete foundation start to leak. This water then backs up and pools beneath the concrete slab and can cause irreversible damage to your home.
These small leaks are typically the result of long-term damage or corrosion to copper pipes, though initial installation could also play a big role in their appearance.
Slab leaks can be especially frustrating to homeowners, and even though the leaks themselves are small, the problems they cause can lead to months of aggravation and costly repairs. In fact, the cost of detecting and repairing a slab leak can run as high as $5,000!
How Common Are Slab Leaks?
Unfortunately, slab leaks are all too common here in McKinney, Texas.
Houses in McKinney are largely built on top of floating concrete slabs that are laid over the clay soil below. Of course, soil is susceptible to changes in climate and moisture – meaning as the weather changes and the seasons come and go, the soil will expand and contract. As the foundation of your home settles the chances of those pipes springing a leak get higher and higher.
Slab leaks could also be caused by any combination of:
- Poor/Incorrect Installation
- Corrosion
- Abrasion
If pipes beneath your concrete slab sit on rocks or pebbles, the vibrations and movements during use can eventually develop a pinhole leak. While tiny, these leaks eventually widen and become worse. This is why early leak detection and repairs are vital to avoid further damage to your home.
Are Slab Leaks Covered Under Home Warranty?
A home warranty is different than homeowner insurance in that it’s described as a service contract that covers essential items in the home if they break down due to normal wear and tear.
Home warranties are usually only good for a set amount of time, and are NOT a substitute for homeowners insurance.
Every warranty will vary, and it’s impossible to know definitively whether or not yours will cover a slab leak. The best defense against slab leaks regardless of the home warranty is to regularly have your plumbing checked by the plumbing professionals. They can perform hydrostatic tests, and perform in slab leak detection early on if you suspect a problem.
Is There Such Thing as Slab Leak Insurance Coverage?
Yes and no.
There are some instances where slab leak insurance coverage may be a part of your standard homeowner’s insurance, but it’s not always a guarantee and it’s more complicated than that.
Standard homeowners insurance will often cover the cost of tearing out and replacing the actual slab in the event of repairing your foundation problems so that the plumbing can be replaced. The catch, however, is that most policies won’t pay to repair or replace the plumbing itself. What’s the point, right?
So while many homeowners insurance policies may offer some sort of slab leak insurance coverage, it’s best to read the fine print and consult with your agent about your individual policy.
Slab Leakage Solutions
So, your insurance won’t quite cover the important stuff and you’ve got a mess on your hands – now what?
Some slab leakage solutions do exist:
- Epoxy Restoration
- Re-Piping or re-routing the slab leak repairs
- Total Demolition and Reinstallation
Of course, these are solutions that can’t be completed on your own. And by the time you’ve actually noticed the problem and gotten around to attempting to fix it, it may be too late.
Luckily for you, that situation doesn’t have to exist. Hackler Plumbing is the trusted plumbing solution for McKinney, Texas and the surrounding area. We specialize in repairing slab leaks in McKinney, and other under slab leakage solutions. We’re family owned, and we know exactly what it’s like to deal with a frustrating plumbing problems – you’re in good hands.
If you think you’re in the midst of a slab leak, or need information on early detection, call us today!
