By Matthew Chandler, Master Plumber

In plumbing service work, much of what we do is help people who are facing a bad day – whether due to a sewage backup, flooded basement, or pipe that is leaking through the ceiling. Such days can bring a lot of anxiety with them: folks ask themselves, “What do I do?” or “Where will I get the money for this repair?” They wonder, “Can I trust a stranger to care for my personal space? Will they actually fix this?”

This is where our team comes in. We understand that your home is your safe space away from the world. When we enter the home, we do so with care and respect for your property. We aim to advise you as a homeowner, help you manage the situation, and get the emergency under control by properly diagnosing the cause behind whatever plumbing issue is disrupting your routine. We offer solutions to remedy the issue and ideas on how we can prevent this in the future. Getting people back to normal is a top priority.

To accomplish this, we have a pretty extensive network of contractors that we work with, whether the situation calls for water mitigation, flooring, drywall, carpentry, hardscaping, landscaping, public adjusters, and more. We can absolutely help get you to a resolution.

As we enter the rainy season, you can protect yourself from an unexpected plumbing situation. These preventative steps may prove helpful, and here’s a few tips just incase you do find yourself with a problem…

1. Get yourself a Service Partner Plan. With a Service Partner Plan, we offer heating and air conditioning check-ups, & preventative maintenance inspections for plumbing and sewers. Like annual doctor appointments, these appointments serve as preventative care for your plumbing and HVAC systems. Just like in healthcare, preventative care prevents disasters. For example, if your water pressure is 100psi+, an issue with your plumbing is imminent. As your doctor would concur, things subject to high pressure fail sooner. Replacing a shut-off valve, a sump pump, or a 20-year-old water heater proactively is far cheaper than a flooded basement. Plus, during preventative maintenance inspections, we offer discounts at the time of service, so you will save money. This way, you can proactively plan repairs, rather than being forced to act unexpectedly.
2. Next, BEFORE facing an emergency situation, get yourself an insurance agent that will be your advocate. Only do business with someone who has your best interests at heart and takes the time to help make sure you are sufficiently covered. Establish that you want riders on your homeowner’s insurance that provide you with a “SUMP PUMP ENDORSEMENT” and “BACK UP OF DRAINS AND WATER LINES”. When we had the tornado in Ambler a few years back we saw a vast number of large homes with $100,000 finished basements get destroyed. Those homeowners were
   quickly downcast when they found out their homeowners policies didn’t have a storm water rider – limiting their coverage to $5-10k maximum. Another important endorsement is called “SERVICE LINE COVERAGE”. This coverage will help you if your sewer or water service fails or breaks outside. With this, you can have the contractor you trust do the job right, on your terms. Service line coverage is also important because insurance companies are changing their definitions. You may think that a broken sewer pipe under your living room slab would qualify as “in the building” and be covered. However, within the last year, a few of these companies redefined their terms so that it is not covered without service line coverage. Consequently, adding these riders to your homeowner’s insurance is paramount for protecting your home in the long run.
3. If you are experiencing an incident, do your best to contain it. For example, if turning valves to the off position on the water line that is leaking and placing towels around the floor to slow any seepage. Once contained, get a trusted professional to evaluate the issue as soon as possible. (If facing a backup and it seems never-ending, call a plumber, then call your sewer authority. It is a rare occurrence, but I have seen city sewers flood homes.
4. Be sure to talk to your contractor BEFORE you call your insurance. Homeowners often say the wrong thing to their insurance company, resulting in a denied claim. For claims, there is a huge difference between “I have water in my basement” and “I have a waste pipe leaking sewage water into my basement.” Learn what to say and what not to say. Your insurance may ask you things like “Do you see any signs of mold?” Mold takes time and implies duration. Most claims are dependent on an incident being sudden and accidental. (Happening with the last two weeks.) Do not speculate. “I am not an expert. We had a leak, this is what my plumber said.”
5. Document everything. If it’s a leak, get pictures or video of the pipe spraying. A small puddle of toilet water on your floor may look like nothing special. Taking pictures proves contamination and what we refer to as “An actionable event”. Most claims will be denied without an actionable event. Contamination, wetness, staining, etc. IS considered damage. This is important information that will help you in the long run. If a pipe is cut out, SAVE the failed piece until your insurance says it’s ok to
   dispose of it.
6. Lastly, understand your coverage and know what you’re entitled to. In most cases, the thing that caused the damage isn’t covered. For example, you have acopper pipe leak into the wall. That pipe repair itself isn’t usually covered, but the access may be. Opening the wall, cleaning up, restoring the wall, the couch that was damaged, etc. usually has some coverage. Personally, the only time I’ve ever seen the actual pipe repair itself covered by a claim is in the event of ice damage. I had a customer
   early on who had a frozen pipe burst and cause $40,000 in basement damage, only receive insurance offer $5,000 in compensation. Their reasoning was that the carpet, walls, and paint were 6 years old so they were depreciating its value by 90%. It is so important to build a relationship with an adjuster that’s got your back, and sometimes we even have to bring in a Public Adjuster, who will fight on your behalf.

This is an awful lot to remember when you’re in a panic. It’s amazing how much of this information will come back to you, though, when it becomes relevant. Thank you for reading and following along. For those who haven’t met us yet, we are called PlumbPRO Services. We’re family-owned in Ambler, PA, and we believe that good health starts at home with the water you drink, the air that you breathe, and sanitary drainage. Whether it’s fixing a pipe leak, tuning up your air conditioner, or helping you navigate a sewer problem, we’re here for you.

Call or text: 484-222-0689
Book Online: http://www.PlumbPROServices.com