Slightly OT: water supply pipe insurance cover
Professor Strabismus
has leaked it was repaired free of charge by the water company, but any
further repairs have to be paid for by me or by a water supply pipe
insurance policy. It is a steel pipe feeding a Victorian semi-detached house
which rusted through and is likely to do so again. The pipe is about 50 feet
long and buried under a concrete path and a paved patio so DIY repairs are
NOT an option for me. HomeServe is recommended by the water company (they
get a kick-back for each policy) and HomeServe seems to be the main player
in this market, apart from British Gas which has a HomeCare policy which
provides water supply pipe cover.
Does anyone know of any other insurers that provide water supply pipe cover?
I have checked with my house insurance provider and they confirm that
buildings cover only covers repairs to leaks from underground pipes that are
caused by accidental damage, tree roots and subsidence, NOT corrosion.
A happy New Year to everyone!
--
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
jgharston
> I have checked with my house insurance provider and they confirm that
> buildings cover only covers repairs to leaks from underground pipes that are
> caused by accidental damage, tree roots and subsidence, NOT corrosion.
Insurance will cover damage and accidents, not wear and tear.
In almost all circumstances the water supply co is responsible up to
the property boundary. I assume the pipe you're talking about is on
your side of the boundary. Most reputable insurance companies will
provide water supply cover, but as I said, for accident and damage,
not wear and tear. Wear and tear is something you pay for as part
of your property occupation running costs. You don't expect an
insurance company to buy you new lightbulbs or toilet paper.
JGH
Peter Crosland
news:iflfvf$upn$1...@news.albasani.net...
Since you know it is a problem you will have to declare the risk to any new
insurer so the real solution is to get is replaced. I am surprised the water
company did not offer you the option whilst they had a hole dug. The have
equipment called mole that can, as the name suggests, burrow under all the
obstructions to allow a new plastic pipe to be inserted. That really would
be you best option.
Peter Crosland
harry
wrote:
Your responsibily. As someone said a mole could be used but it there
are other buried services they don't like to use it as it might hit
them. It can be replaced with the blue plastic pipe. There is
usually a stoptap on or near the boundary, you are respomsible for the
bit from there to your house.
The project could be complicated if the stop tap is corroded too.
This would then involve the water company, the pipe on their side
might need to be changed too.
Matty F
> equipment called mole that can, as the name suggests, burrow under all the
> obstructions to allow a new plastic pipe to be inserted. That really would
> be you best option.
I laid my own plastic pipe. That was a piece of cake. The fittings
screwed togther without tools. All I needed was a hacksaw to cut the
pipe.
Professor Strabismus
> Since you know it is a problem you will have to declare the risk to any
> new insurer so the real solution is to get is replaced. I am surprised the
> water company did not offer you the option whilst they had a hole dug. The
> have equipment called mole that can, as the name suggests, burrow under
> all the obstructions to allow a new plastic pipe to be inserted. That
> really would be you best option.
>
> Peter Crosland
I don't think declaration is the issue - buildings insurance doesn't cover
this type of rusting pipe wear and tear risk, and HomeServe insurance is
specifically for this type of risk. We are considering refurbishing the
kitchen bathroom area this year, which will involve moving the water supply
pipe that is inside the property, so complete renewal of the outside pipe at
the same time seems the best way to go. In the meantime, HomeServe insurance
(£30 for the year) will give me cover against a bill of several hundred
pounds should the pipe leak again.
Peter Crosland
news:ifmp62$oqf$1...@four.albasani.net...
> "Peter Crosland" wrote:
>+> Since you know it is a problem you will have to declare the risk to any
>> + new insurer so the real solution is to get is replaced. I am
If you have not, or do not, declare the potential problem or previous claim
to the insurer that will enable them to refuse any subsequent claim. It is
also a criminal offence.
Peter Crosland
Invisible Man
For water supplies the owner (unless it is varied by a lease or other
contract) is responsible up to the water company stop cock.
For sewers proved to be built pre 1937 they are the responsibility of
the drainage company. After 1937 subject to covenants etc. they are the
responsibility of the property owner up to the public main which can be
some way away.
Generally speaking household insurance policies cover damage resulting
from external causes. They usually exclude corrosion, wear and tear,
vermin, most gradually operating causes and the like.
The contracts offered by or through water companies are really
maintenance contracts.
This has set me thinking. We now have a very expensive block paved drive
across the whole of our frontage with both foul drainage and water
supply running underneath. I will need to check the costs of policies
and exactly what reinstatement they cover. (CARE!)
Anyone know of the best policies?
Water supply here is Essex Water and drainage is Anglian Water.
sweetheart
To answer your question rather than debate your responsibilities. I am only
aware of one company that covers water pipes. Mine is covered by Homeserve
too.
Like you we had a steel pipe that ran through to the house and it rusted.
Unlike you ours was 150 ft long. It sprang leaks in two places , both
considered to be our side of the boundary ( although the one was
questionable as the land concerned has always been in dispute between me
( and my predecessors) and the Local Authority . Since I have now maintained
it for 15 years, I claim it under adverse posession but thats another
story).
Anyway, they guy came and mended the one leak under the policy. He knew
there were two but he was having difficulty locating the second ( we did
find it btw) and said he would come back BUT and here it is - he wanted to
run a new pipe in by a different route and that would have cut off my
outside workshiop and garden loo and I didnt want that. However, that was
the option he negotiated with homeserve!
Fortunately for me my OH, ( he who is often useless) realised what the
issue was with the Homeserve plan ( OH told me of several other problems I
would likely encounter with the re route as it was to come under the house
in the void!) and hopped to and dug a new route out himself ( well I did
the digging, he supervised and did the hard stuff) under the garden paralell
to the original route from where the first repair was made. and bought it
across the drive ( the really hard bit) and into the house via the
original stop tap ( where we established the second leak to be when we
took up the paving there).
Long story . Sorry. But to reiterate. I dont know of another insurance
company. I cant 100% recommend Homeserve - although they didnt quibble the
work to be done, it was the time and what they wanted to do that got to me.
I dont know if that helps or not.
>
>
stuart noble
I think there's probably room for onsite negotiation with all this. The
bloke what's repairing the pipe has a "mate" who happens to have a mole.
You know, that sort of thing....
Tim Lamb
Crosland <g6...@yahoo.co.uk> writes
Alternatively, isn't there also a system for *jacking* out the old steel
pipe and drawing in a new plastic one at the same time?
regards
--
Tim Lamb
TheOldFellow
"Professor Strabismus" <Prof_...@email.com> wrote:
<snip>
> Does anyone know of any other insurers that provide water supply pipe
> cover?
>
> I have checked with my house insurance provider and they confirm that
> buildings cover only covers repairs to leaks from underground pipes
> that are caused by accidental damage, tree roots and subsidence, NOT
> corrosion.
One thing to watch out for, as I learnt this week, is that none of
these policies cover you for loss of supply due to frozen pipes. Only
if they burst afterwards.
R.
Professor Strabismus
Thank you to everyone who took the time to reply, it is much appreciated.
geoff
<a9cb7481-d804-4540...@o23g2000prh.googlegroups.com>,
Matty F <matty...@yahoo.co.nz> writes
Drivel would have come over and done that for you
only a bit of a leak ...
--
geoff
Dave Liquorice
> For water supplies the owner (unless it is varied by a lease or other
> contract) is responsible up to the water company stop cock.
This appears to have been quietly changed in the last 10 years or so.
I looked into this as our company stopcock is 20 yards down the side
of the road and > 15 yards from our boundary. I am sure I saw several
web diagrams showing the responsibility changing at the boundary
*not* the company stop cock. I looked into it to asses the risk and
if insurance could be a good idea... With most of the (plastic)
supply pipe being outside our boundary I decided against.
How ever I've just
found:
http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/consumerissues/rightsresponsibilities/supplypi
pes
Which does place the change of responsibility at the company stop
cock.
--
Cheers
Dave.
harry
If you have a leak you can access, it can be fixed with a jubilee clip
and a bit of flat rubber. (Pond liner stuff is ideal or similar)
Rubber seals holejubilee clip holds in place. Not exactly permanent
but lasts for years.
Allan
There was a small item entitled "Supply Pipe insurance" in a Which? Aug
2010 article on Water Companies which may be of use:
http://www.which.co.uk/documents/pdf/p60-62_water_r3-221938.pdf
(it's in the side panel).
Allan
Professor Strabismus
If you have a leak you can access, it can be fixed with a jubilee clip
and a bit of flat rubber. (Pond liner stuff is ideal or similar)
Rubber seals holejubilee clip holds in place. Not exactly permanent
but lasts for years.
As stated in my original post, the pipe is about 50 feet long and buried
under a concrete path and a paved patio so DIY repairs are NOT an option for
me. My days of cutting through concrete and digging holes are unfortunately
behind me.
Professor Strabismus
> There was a small item entitled "Supply Pipe insurance" in a Which? Aug
> 2010 article on Water Companies which may be of use:
> http://www.which.co.uk/documents/pdf/p60-62_water_r3-221938.pdf
> (it's in the side panel).
>
> Allan
Thanks for the article, but I have had my 'free' repair so subsequent leaks
are my responsibility to pay for.