Right now / Plumber first or Insurer first
Call your insurer or the plumber first?
Water damage: do not call insurance first if water is still running. Close the main if you can reach it dry and smell no gas, then call the plumber. Then call your insurer the same day, before permanent repairs.
Updated . Sources are listed at the foot of this page.
Find your line
- If water is still running after you close the mainPlumber firstLimiting damage comes before paperwork. Keep the receipt and tell the insurer after.
- If you cannot find or turn the main valvePlumber firstDo not force it. The water utility's emergency line comes first, then a plumber, then the insurer.
- If the water has stopped and the damage is obviousInsurer firstAsk what they need before permanent repairs, and take photos before anything moves.
- If the leak has been slow for a whileInsurer firstTexas's guide says continuous leaks are not covered, so ask your agent before assuming.
- If the repair looks cheapPlumber firstGet the price, then decide whether to file. In Texas, claim counts can affect renewal.
What does each call get you tonight?
| Plumber first | Insurer first | |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Stop and repair the source | Open a claim, learn what is covered |
| Works at night? | Ask the office | Ask, or check the policy |
| What to have ready | Address, what you see, valve status | Policy number, photos, time you found it |
| Limits | Cannot promise coverage | Cannot stop the water |
| Repairs | Temporary until insurer sees it, per Texas | Tells you what it needs to see |
| Cost to you | Leak repair $150 to $450, 2023 survey | Your deductible; no dated figure found |
Sources for this table: Texas Department of Insurance, Bob Vila, 2023
What would change the order, or the need for a claim?
- The written price comes in under your deductible. A claim would likely pay nothing, so ask your agent.
- You live in Texas and already have nonweather claims. Three or more in three years can affect renewal there.
- The damage came from a slow, continuous leak. Texas's guide says that is not covered; ask what your policy says.
- It looks like sewage, not supply water. Backup cover may be a separate item, so read plumber or the city first.
- The water has reached anything electrical. Neither call comes first. Keep out and get the power company or 911 on the line from a dry place.
What should you save, and what will it cost?
Costs here come from a June 2023 Bob Vila page that summarizes HomeAdvisor numbers. That 2023 national summary is old, could be out of date and will not match every local market. A leak repair there costs $150 to $450; restoration after water damage, $1,000 to $5,000. This site found no dated figure for a deductible or for what any insurer would pay. Those are in your policy, so ask your agent.
Compare the written repair price with your deductible before filing, and keep what you spend. Texas's guide tells homeowners to keep receipts for repair materials and to hold to temporary repairs until the insurer has looked. Other states and policies may differ, so put the same question to your insurer. Emergency rate or next day covers the plumber's side of the bill.
Who answers for the claim and for the repair?
The insurer decides coverage, not the plumber. Do not rely on a contractor who says the job will be covered. In the Texas guide, a sudden and accidental release of water is a typical covered item, while continuous leaks are not covered and mold removal is limited. Those are Texas descriptions. In Denver, the water utility simply says to contact your insurance agent about water damage cover.
The plumber answers for the repair. After an emergency, the FTC says, your insurance check stays yours: do not sign it over. Licensing varies: California has a state license look-up, Washington has one for plumbing contractors, and Texas has a state board. Your state may differ, so see state rules. If wet materials are the urgent part, read plumber or cleanup company first.
Words to use
"Please write down what caused the leak and what you did, so the insurer can see it."
"Is what you are doing tonight a temporary repair? Please say so on the invoice."
"Please keep any failed part you remove so the insurer can see it."
"The insurer decides coverage, so please do not tell me this is covered. What is your price either way?"
Also asked
- Will insurance pay for the plumber, or only for the water damage?
- That depends on your policy, and no national rule was found. Texas's guide treats a sudden, accidental water release as typically covered but says continuous leaks are not. Ask your agent to separate the repair of the failed part from the damage it caused, since they may be treated differently.
- Does a homeowner have to wait for the adjuster before calling a plumber?
- No, not if water is still a problem. Have the plumber stop it and make the temporary repairs needed to protect the house. Texas's guide allows that, and tells homeowners to keep permanent repairs until the insurer has seen the damage. Keep receipts, and ask your insurer whether your policy differs.
- What if my sewer backup is not on my policy?
- Then the bill may be yours. The Texas insurance guide names sewer and drain backup among optional items, so it is worth checking now. Other states may differ. If you need to pay out of pocket, card, check or cash covers which payment gives you the most options.
Sources
- Texas Department of Insurance: home insurance guide Texas coverage, temporary repairs, receipts, claims, backup option
- Texas Department of Insurance: comparison worksheet Sewer and drain backup as a policy item
- Denver Water: homeowner responsibility Denver: contact your insurance agent
- Bob Vila: How Much Does a Plumber Cost? June 2023 leak repair and restoration figures
- FTC: Avoid Scams After Weather Emergencies Keeping your insurance check in your hands
- CSLB: check a license Where Californians confirm a contractor's license
- Washington Labor & Industries: verify a contractor Washington contractor and tradesperson look-up
- Texas plumbing board State license search and complaints