Houston Frozen Pipe Claims

Frozen Pipes Insurance Claim Houston Texas

Winter weather can make the homeowner's worst nightmare—frozen pipes

When water freezes, it increases by about 9%. This causes increased pressure in your home's pipes, which can lead to cracking or bursting of the pipes. A 1/8-inch crack in a pipe can spew up to 250 gallons of water a day, causing considerable damage.

Does homeowners' insurance cover frozen pipes?

Most home insurance policies cover "sudden and accidental" discharges of water from a plumbing source. Damage caused by frozen pipes is usually described as 'sudden and accidental.' This assumes that you use reasonable care to maintain heat in your home and to shut down your home's water supply during a period when your home is unoccupied. Don't let your home insurance try to claim that they are not responsible for repairing the busted pipe.

The insurance coverage provided by most Texas homeowners includes:

• The cost of accessing the blown pipe, such as tearing out the wall
• Necessary repairs to your damaged property, including the drying of wet carpets.
• The cost of repairing and restoring the wall once the pipe has been fixed
• Additional living expenses if you are unable to live in your home due to damages.
• Homeowner's insurance policies do not cover the cost of repairing the broken pipe section.

Ways to Prevent Frozen Pipe

Preventing frozen pipes is more comfortable – and cheaper – than correcting the damage they cause. Protect your pipes from the cold weather with these five easy tips:

Claim for Frozen Pipe Insurance Houston TX

Protect sources of outdoor water

Remove the garden hoses from the outdoor water sockets. Faucets cannot drain properly when the hose is attached, which can cause the faucets to freeze and break. After the hoses have been removed, cover all the exterior faucets. Faucet covers are cheap, easy to install, and can be reused year after year.

Some homes also have water shut-off values that allow you to turn off the water from outside the taps. If your home has an outer valve shut off, turn off the water and drain pipes before installing the faucet covers.

Isolate pipes

Isolate pipes near your rampart, attic, and the outer walls of your home. This is where the best chance of freezing is. Pipes can be insulated in several ways, including the use of snap-on foam insulation or UL-approved heat tape. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's installation instructions.

Turn the thermostat up.

Keep your home heated to 55°F or higher, even when you're sleeping or out of town. Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate underwater plumbing.

Leave the running of water.

Turn on hot and cold faucets near your home's outer walls and allow a small stream of water to run overnight. This keeps the water moving through your pipes and relieves the pressure if it freezes. Stagnant water freezes more easily than running water.

Turn the water supply and drain system off.

If you're going to be away from home for a longer period of time, turn off the main water supply to your house and drain the pipes. This is recommended for those with secondary or holiday homes in cold areas. Eric Dick has personal experience representing homeowner with frozen pipes in Houston, Texas. For instance, one consumer's pipes once froze someone had forgotten to drain them.

Frozen pipe insurance claims

What am I Supposed to Do if My Pipes Freeze?

Before trying to thaw the frozen pipe, open the tube to which the pipe is running. This will allow the water to flow through the pipe and to relieve any built-up pressure.

Apply heat to the frozen pipe using a heat gun or a hairdryer. Start by heating the pipe as close to the faucet as possible, then work your way to the coldest section of the pipe. Never try to thaw a frozen pipe with an open flame.

If you are unable to locate or access the frozen pipe section, call the plumber for assistance.

What Am I Supposed to do if the Frozen Pipe Bursts?

This is the worst-case scenario. If frozen pipe bursts, immediately turn off your water supply to prevent additional damage. Then call a company to restore water. Professional water restoration companies have the equipment necessary to dry your home and minimize further damage.

Don't be afraid to contact an experienced home insurance attorney early in the process to document your loss properly. Don't forget that everything you say to the insurance company can and will be used against you.

YOU CAN OBTAIN A HIGHLY SKILLED INSURANCE LAWYER

If your insurance company has refused to honor your policy despite having a valid claim, you can recover damages based on "bad faith." At Dick Law Firm, PLLC, we are committed to fighting for the total compensation you deserve. When you retain our services, we fight to protect your rights as a policyholder.

Hiring a highly-skilled property insurance attorney will help by:

• Significantly increases the value of your claim
• Learning all of the ins and outs of your policy
• Helping you navigate the claims process and negotiations
• Validating the cause and extent of the damage
• Informing you if a claim denial is valid
• Notifying you of all relevant insurance laws

If you have been mistreated or wronged by your insurance company, you can count on us to do everything possible to rectify the situation. We aim to resolve a claim as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Please speak with our team at 833-7RIGHTS today! Consultations are FREE.