Ohio’s winters are notoriously harsh, with long periods of subzero weather that can cause pipes inside your home to burst. A broken pipe can dump gallons of water into your walls and foundation before it’s discovered, potentially causing thousands of dollars in damage to the house and your personal belongings. Fortunately, in most cases, home insurance will cover the damage, although there are some exceptions you should be aware of.

Home Insurance & Burst Pipes

While floodwaters are excluded from most home insurance policies, disasters like burst pipes are usually covered. Depending on the circumstances, your insurer will likely pay for any water damage and replace any personal possessions destroyed as a result. To file a successful claim, you may have to prove that the water damage was caused by a burst pipe, which is fairly straightforward. However, because home insurance usually doesn’t cover normal wear-and-tear, it may not pay to actually replace the pipe itself.

Understanding the Exceptions

As a general rule, home insurance won’t cover damage caused by neglect or poor maintenance. If your insurer concludes that a failure to heat your home in freezing weather or other mistakes caused your pipe to burst, they may refuse to pay for repairs altogether. Taking steps to protect your pipes will also increase your chances of a successful claim if a disaster does occur.

Protecting Your Pipes

When the temperature drops, opening up cabinet doors underneath your sinks will allow warm air to circulate around the pipes. Turning on every faucet in the house, even just a little, will keep water moving, reducing the chances that the pipe will freeze. Finally, applying foam insulation to any pipes in any unheated area of the home is a low-cost way to prevent expensive plumbing emergencies.

Since 1898, Somers Agency LLC has helped homeowners throughout Ohio’s Lorain County protect the things that matter most. As one of the area’s top independent agencies, they offer policies from several of the nation’s best carriers, so you can be sure you’ll get coverage tailored to your needs. For updates and news, follow their Facebook today, and call (440) 324-3447 or visit them online to speak with an agent and get a free home insurance quote.