Time and time again, a Homeowner informs us upon attempting to file an insurance claim for water damage that their insurance company insists or suggests their Contractor must perform the leak repair work for the claim to be covered.
DO NOT BELIEVE THIS. DON’T BE FOOLED BY INSURANCE COMPANIES OR THE INEXPERIENCED CONTRACTOR WHEN IT INVOLVES RADIANT PANEL AND DOMESTIC WATER LEAKS IN OR UNDER THE CONCRETE SLAB.
As a consumer, you have the right to choose ANY Contractor to perform the work. The insurance company may have one of their investigative agencies verify the water damage and the leaking condition, but they should never insist on any specific Contractor to perform the work. They may require you receive more than one bid for the work. We agree completely with this practice and highly recommend you do so. We have seen many instances where the Contractor involved in the investigative process was totally incompetent and inexperienced with radiant panel and domestic water leaks in the Eichler and custom slab home.
Choose a Contractor wisely!
Your insurance company may insist their investigative agency perform a leak location to determine the total number of leaks at the home before commencing work or agreeing the claim for water damage is covered by the insurance policy. They always want a bid prior to the work commencing.
THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE IN MOST CASES. WHY?
There is a difference between leak detection, leak location and leak repair. Leak detection, using the proper leak detection equipment, i.e., a Helium Spectrograph, is the determination if there are one or more leaks in the system which is being evaluated. It has nothing to do with determining the total number leaks at the residence. This is why the Contractor cannot perform just a detection at the home. To do so, is a total waste of time and money. The detection equipment works by “sniffing a gas concentration”. Several leaks located in close proximity will be identified as “one” leak. Only by repairing a leaking tube at the area of greatest concentration can a second or third leak in the same general area be identified.
THE CONTRACTOR CANNOT MAKE A DETERMINATION OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF LEAKS WITHOUT MAKING A REPAIR TO THE LARGEST LEAK IN THE SYSTEM.
Simply, it is a process of elimination. This is true with more than one leak in the same room. Of course, if there are leaks in several different rooms of the home, a general determination can be made if there is more than one area of the home containing leaks. Again, the total number of leaks will not be determined.
IT SERVES NO PURPOSE TO HAVE THE INSURANCE COMPANY’S INVESTIGATIVE AGENCY DETERMINE HOW MANY LEAKS THERE ARE AT ANY RESIDENCE BEFORE REPAIR WORK HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
Therefore, leak location, the determination of the actual point of leakage, and leak repair, the replacement of the leaking tube, can only be completed in conjunction with the detection process.
IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DETERMINE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF LEAKS AT ANY RESIDENCE WITHOUT PERFORMING REPAIRS TO THE SYSTEM. THE ACTUAL COST OF THE WORK CANNOT BE BID AND IS INVOICED ON A “TIME AND MATERIALS” BASIS.
The experienced Contractor can only provide a professional opinion on what the repair might cost.
When considering a claim for water damage to your Eichler or Custom home from a radiant panel or domestic water leak, should you consult your Homeowners Insurance Company, Home Warranty Company or both for assistance?
Homes purchased often have home warranty policies provided by Home Warranty Companies, i.e., Blue Shield, Old Republic, Continental, etc., which generally limit their liability coverage to $1,500.00. These insurance companies will hire the least expensive Contractors, who because of their inexperience, may not perform the repairs in a competent, professional and code approved manner. It is our suggestion, you have an experienced independent Hydronic Contractor evaluate and repair this type of problem. Since the repair will, in most cases, cost more than $1,500.00, the warranty company’s reimbursement may help cover your homeowners policy deductable and a portion of the work. We know Homeowner Insurance Companies have a better reputation and track record for covering this type of damage to your home. Any claim for water damage from a leak should be presented for consideration to both your Homeowner Insurance and Home Warranty Companies. Major insurance companies are required to let you choose any Contractor to perform the work.
Be wary of home warranty companies recommendations if you want the job done by a properly experienced radiant heating contractor!!