At a time when we’re all looking to spend less, protecting yourself against the potential cost of repairs to your home’s pipes, drains, sinks or toilets might not be top priority. However, when it comes to peace of mind, there are some huge advantages to taking out plumbing and drainage cover.
In this guide we’ll look at how plumbing and drainage cover works, what is and isn’t covered within the policy and how it can save you from a potential costly repair bill.
Go to section:
- What is plumbing and drainage cover?
- What does plumbing and drainage insurance cover?
- What’s not covered by plumbing and drainage insurance?
- Won’t my home insurance cover plumbing and drainage?
- What are the most common plumbing and drainage problems?
- How do you make a claim?
- Do landlords need plumbing and drainage cover?
- Do tenants need plumbing and drainage cover?
- Is plumbing and drainage cover worth it?
- How much is plumbing and drainage cover with HomeServe?
What is plumbing and drainage cover?
If you’re a homeowner or landlord you can take out plumbing and drainage cover to protect the plumbing at your property.
This optional cover is put in place for you when you have an emergency like a burst pipe or a repair such as a blocked drain.
One of the biggest advantages to plumbing and drainage cover is that you don’t have to spend time looking for a local, qualified tradesperson – all of that is done for you. This removes any stress of having to find a plumber at short notice and of course, the cost.
What does plumbing and drainage insurance cover?
Plumbing and drainage policies can vary. You’ll find some offer a broad range of cover and some with a number of exclusions, so it’s worth checking what it is you’re looking to include before purchasing.
Cover from companies like HomeServe will often include:
- Leaking pipes
- Blocked drains
- Sink and toilet blockages
- Water supply pipe that you’re responsible for leaks/blockages
What’s not covered by plumbing and drainage insurance?
Common exclusions include:
- Blocked guttering
- Shared drains
- Dripping taps
- Everyday maintenance
- Repairs carried out by unqualified tradespeople
Won’t my home insurance cover plumbing and drainage?
Home insurance splits into two parts – buildings and contents.
Building insurance will cover the structure of your property. In most cases, this will pay out for water damage that has been caused by faulty plumbing work – providing this work can be repaired. If you’ve allowed your plumbing to decay then this can fall into disrepair, which can cause a problem when making a claim.
The contents side of your insurance will cover damage to things like furniture or curtains, which may get damaged if you have an unexpected leak.
Obviously, there are various types of insurance policies and some are more comprehensive than others. In some cases you may find that your cover will include your underground pipes, which will also cover the cost of tracing and repairing a leak.
However, your home insurance will not cover plumbing problems within your home. So unless you take out plumbing and drainage cover alongside your home insurance, you will be unable to claim against plumbing emergencies within your home.
This means that should something go wrong at home, it will be your responsibility to find a plumber and arrange for the work to be done which can add unnecessary stress. This is why so many people have plumbing and drainage cover, because all you have to do is get in touch and we’ll do all the hard work and get one of our own engineers on their way to help you.
What are the most common plumbing and drainage problems?
There are numerous reasons that people get in touch with HomeServe when it comes to plumbing. Some are more common than others. The list below includes our top claims from 2022.
Top 7 plumbing and drainage claims 2022
- Blocked drains
- Pipe problems
- Toilet flushing mechanism faults
- Dripping taps
- Radiator/pipework issues
- Feed pipe issues
- Waste pipe issues
How do you make a plumbing and drainage insurance claim?
Our claims lines are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – so if you have cover and find yourself needing to make a claim you can call us on 0330 0247 999 and explain what the claim is for. If you prefer, It’s just as easy to make a claim online.
Once you’ve told us the problem, we’ll book one of our Home Experts, who are on hand nearby, to get things sorted.
With just a £30 excess to pay, we’ll cover the cost of the rest within the generous £4,000 claims limit. So there’s never any hidden costs to worry about. We also have no excess cover options available for complete peace of mind.
Do landlords need plumbing and drainage cover?
As a landlord or homeowner, any plumbing and drainage issues at any of your properties you own are your responsibility.
Taking out cover of this kind not only helps save you from unexpected repair costs, but it also means you don’t have to search for someone to get the job done.
We’ll even deal with your tenants directly, if you don’t live locally.
We offer a plumbing and drainage policy, just for landlords – take a look.
Do tenants need plumbing and drainage cover?
Because fixing problems with bust pipes and leaks is down to the homeowner, policies such as this aren’t needed by the tenant as it will be the responsibility of your landlord.
However, you might want to think about taking out contents insurance, if you haven’t already, in case something goes wrong and damages any of your belongings.
Is plumbing and drainage cover worth it?
Everyone has different circumstances, so it’s difficult to give a definite answer.
Essentially yes, plumbing and drainage cover is worth it when you weigh up the pros and cons. Of course, there is a monthly payment to make at a time we are all watching our outgoings.
But when you compare that to the cost of a repair bill, or the stress of finding a tradesperson, it’s worth the peace of mind knowing that you’re covered. For example, if a pipe was to burst in your home, it could cost an average of £180 to fix without cover*, but with Plumbing & Drainage Plus for £1 a month, you’d be covered with a £30 excess.
How much is plumbing and drainage cover with HomeServe?
Plumbing and drainage cover with HomeServe will vary depending on the level of cover you’re looking for.
Plumbing and drainage cover begins at £1 a month in your first year, with an unlimited number of claims. This covers:
- Leaks, blocked drains, sinks, taps and toilets.
- 12-month guarantee on most repairs
Ready to take a look at plumbing and drainage cover?
If you’re interested in taking out cover with us then take a look at our range of plumbing and drainage options.