Massive Water Bill From Leak. Will Insurance Pay?

Question

The leak was caused by a hole in the water supply line.  Does anybody know if homeowners insurance will cover the massive water bill (over 10k)?

Bill B. · Answer

That’s beyond massive, that should be washing the house away. A pool of water (17,000 gallons) costs around $19 in the desert. Are they saying millions of gallons? It shouldn’t be possible for you use that much water. (A full blast hose is 6 gallons a minute, 360 gallons an hour, 8600/day. 250,000/mo.)

Anyway, talk to the insurance company (you’re going to want to look for foundation and soil damage if that much water was released under the home.) and then as mentioned talk to the water company.

Our average water bill isn’t eh desert is $30-$50. We’ve had 4 properties over the last 20 years suddenly be $200 one month, then $400 the next. You call and they say your water hasn’t been “zero flow” for 40 or 50 days. (Why they don’t call after 10 days I don’t know, they could save a lot of water that way.). I spend $3-5,000 fixing the main water line, usually under the slab. I show the the repair invoice to the water department and they waive the abnormal amounts, no questions asked.

Rod Hanks · Answer

No the insurance company will not pay for the bill. However the water company will reduce the bill if you show proof repairs were made. City will know based on historical usage there was a leak, I’ve had that happen a couple times over the years.

Theresa Harris · Answer

Talk to the water company first.  If the bill is that high, they should have noticed the massive increase in water consumption and contacted you.  The water company at one of my rentals called me when they noticed the baseline water usage was odd....because water in the toilet was constantly going and the tenant never said anything.  The water company reduced the water bill and the tenant paid the balance.

Greg M. · Answer

Every insurance policy is different, but I suspect they will not pay for it. The high bill was caused by a maintenance issue. If there were damage from the leak, I could see them paying, but this is just an added cost.

Definitely talk to the water company. I've had multiple water leaks and the water company reduced the bill to the normal monthly amount after I provided proof to them of the leak and repair.

Nathan Gesner · Answer

The utility provider will usually credit you back some of the cost, but not all of it. You can call your insurance provider to see if they'll help, but I doubt it.

Brian Liscio · Answer

@William Coet

Can’t hurt to check your policy.

It’s most likely a dwelling policy. The way it happens might help…

I had a $2k water bill that was not covered from copper theft.

You believe they didn’t shut off the main first?

Sergey A. Petrov · Answer

Insurance most likely won’t pay for it. Whether or not you get a credit from the utility company, depends on that utility company. If you are in the City of Seattle you won’t get a reduction on water. On the sewer part of the bill, you might if you can prove that that extra water really went outside / into the ground vs down the sewer lines. And yes if it went into the ground check for foundation issues / settling

Chris Seveney · Answer

Typically insurance will not cover the leak but if you contact the water department they may give you a credit for the sewer portion of the bill since the water did not go back into the system.

Donna M. · Answer

Call  public adjuster immediately. They will advise you the best.

Massive Water Bill From Leak. Will Insurance Pay?

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