Water and pipe-break claims: the 14-day problem

Water claims are a race against your own policy language. Most policies cover "sudden and accidental" discharge — the burst pipe, the failed supply line — but commonly exclude damage from slow leaks the carrier decides you should have noticed. The difference between covered and denied often comes down to how long the water ran.

Stop the source, save the evidence

The moment you find water damage: stop the source, photograph the water and the failed component before anyone repairs it, and keep the broken part. A plumber discarding the failed valve is a routine way claims get harder to prove.

Mitigation is your duty

Dry the structure quickly — fans, dehumidifiers, a water-mitigation company if it's beyond DIY — and keep the invoices. Carriers commonly pay for reasonable mitigation, and they commonly deny mold that grew because nobody dried the walls. Check your policy's mitigation provisions.

The scope dispute

Scope disputes dominate water losses: the carrier's estimate covers cutting out two feet of drywall, your contractor says the cabinets, flooring, and insulation are gone. Get your own itemized repair estimate before accepting any number. If the gap is large and the carrier won't move, that's the situation the sign-now tool walks you through.

What the registry can tell you

Search for licensed public adjusters who list water damage claims in your state. Every listing carries the adjuster's license number and status from the state regulator. Use the claim check to see whether your situation matches cases where a second opinion commonly changes the number.

Sources

• "Sudden and accidental" coverage language: standard homeowners policy form (HO-3); check your specific policy
• Mitigation duty: standard policy "Duties After Loss" section; varies by carrier

Related

• Commercial and business interruption claims
• Fire and smoke claims: the inventory is the claim
• Flood claims: a different policy, different rules