Cast Iron Pipe Claims: What Homeowners Insurance Covers in Florida

Many Florida homes built before the mid-1970s still drain through cast iron pipes, much of it buried under a concrete slab. Cast iron corrodes from the inside over decades, and when it fails it can cause sewage backups, leaks under the floor and widespread water damage. Cast iron claims are also among the most disputed claims in Florida, because they sit right on the line between what policies cover and what they exclude.

Signs your cast iron drain pipes are failing

• Slow drains or recurring backups in more than one fixture.
• Sewer odor inside the house.
• Water or dampness coming up through floors, cracked or lifting tiles, warped wood floors or baseboards.
• Mold or musty smells near bathrooms and the kitchen.
• Unexplained increases in your water bill.

A licensed plumber can confirm the problem with a camera (video) inspection of the drain lines. Keep the video: it is often the most important piece of evidence in the claim.

What homeowners insurance usually does and doesn't cover

Policies differ, and your own policy decides. But most Florida homeowners policies follow a similar pattern:

• The pipe itself usually isn't covered. Wear and tear, corrosion and deterioration are standard exclusions, so the cost of replacing the corroded pipe is typically the homeowner's.
• The resulting water damage often is. Sudden and accidental discharge of water from a plumbing system is a common covered cause of loss, and damage to floors, walls, cabinets and contents caused by the leak can be covered even when the pipe isn't.
• Tear-out is the key coverage. Many policies pay to tear out and replace part of the building — including breaking and repairing a slab — to reach the failed pipe. On a slab-on-grade home this can be the largest part of the claim.
• Long-term leakage may be excluded. Many policies exclude damage from water that leaked continuously or repeatedly over a period of time (often 14 days or more). Insurers frequently argue a cast iron leak falls into this exclusion, so evidence about when the damage became apparent matters.
• Some policies add sublimits. Some Florida policies cap non-weather water damage or tear-out at a fixed amount. Check your declarations page and endorsements.

How to document a cast iron pipe claim

• Report the claim promptly once you discover the damage, and write down when and how you discovered it.
• Keep the plumber's camera inspection video and written report, including where the failures are and what caused them.
• Photograph and video all visible damage before any repair or tear-out begins.
• Keep removed sections of pipe if the plumber can save them. Insurers sometimes ask to inspect them.
• Get a full estimate that includes access (tear-out), the plumbing repair, restoration of the floors and finishes, and any contents and additional living expenses if you have to move out.
• Do not let the insurer's engineer be the only expert opinion on the cause and timing of the leak.

If your cast iron claim is denied

Denials usually rely on the wear-and-tear or long-term leakage exclusions. Ask the insurer for the denial in writing, citing the policy language it relies on, and for any engineering report it used. A denial of the pipe replacement is not a denial of the resulting damage or the tear-out, and those are often where the money is. A public adjuster can review the policy against the evidence and pursue the parts of the claim that are covered.

Five Star Claims Adjusting's licensed public adjusters review claims at no upfront cost, and we are paid a percentage of the settlement only if we recover money for you. If your claim has been underpaid, delayed or denied, ask us for a free claim review.