If you can’t file a homeowner’s insurance claim for plumbing repairs, what is it good for? It helps to understand what homeowner’s insurance is meant to do versus what you are expected to do as a homeowner. Then you can file claims when you need help most and plumbing issues actually apply.

Homeowner’s Insurance Is for Emergencies

Homeowner’s insurance exists for emergency purposes only. If it didn’t, homeowners would be filing claims every single time something needed to be fixed. Insurance companies would go bankrupt trying to keep up with all those repair claims. Instead, your insurance is for the purpose of fixing something that was damaged out of your control and was quite unexpected. An example would be pipes bursting in extreme cold. That would be a valid claim for insurance to pay out if your insurance company sold you a policy that covers such an issue.

Everything Else Isn’t Covered

Some insurance companies offer coverage for backed-up sewer drains and clogged sewer pipes, but that isn’t every company. Standard repairs like a clogged toilet, a faucet that won’t turn on, or a shower that doesn’t seem to have any water pressure or water coming out of the shower head is not something covered by insurance. Those are your typical out-of-pocket costs of owning and maintaining your home. 

Attempts to File Claims for Things Not Covered Could Be Disastrous

Attempting to file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance for plumbing repairs not covered by insurance could be disastrous. The insurance agent may not even take your claim or acknowledge it. Worst case scenario, you have insurance that will be revoked for improper use of claims filing. Then you would not be covered for anything really serious that happens during your lapse of coverage on your home. Stick to filing claims that your insurance policy specifically covers and nothing else.