What is plumbing and drainage insurance?

Key takeaways

• Plumbing and drainage cover gives you financial protection for emergencies involving baths, sinks, toilets and more

• Not all plumbing and drainage issues are covered by standard home insurance, so a specialist policy can help fill any gaps

• You may be able to claim on plumbing and drainage policies without affecting your main home insurance no-claims bonus

What is plumbing and drainage cover?

Plumbing and drainage cover is a specialist type of home insurance policy that offers more extensive protection against issues with your home’s plumbing and drainage.

It’s usually an add-on to your standard home insurance policy and can help in situations ranging from leaking or burst pipes, blocked drains, damage to your central heating or even flash floods.

Recent MoneySuperMarket claim data shows that escape of water is the second most common home insurance claim, with 29.02% of claims being related to it.

Is plumbing and drainage covered by home insurance?

Your standard home insurance policy might offer cover for instances such as a burst pipe, but it could fall short for other issues such as clogged drains or water supply issues. As such, a specialist policy can offer more comprehensive protection for homeowners, albeit at a price.

Generally speaking, a standard buildings insurance policy should cover:

• Repairing burst water pipes, including underground drains, pipes and tanks

• Trace and access to find the source of a leak

• Damage caused by the escape of water

• Alternative accommodation if you need somewhere to stay

But it’s always important to check your policy documents to ensure you know what you’re covered for.

What plumbing and drainage work isn’t covered by home insurance?

Unfortunately, your home buildings insurance policy isn’t likely to cover things like general maintenance work, wear and tear, or boilers over a certain age. That’s because home insurance is designed to protect you against unexpected events rather than natural deterioration.

Home insurance policies will often also exclude things like:

• Limescale build-up

• Pipes and drains constructed using pitch fibre due to their lifespan

• Cesspits

• Soakaways

What’s included in plumbing and drainage insurance?

The benefit of taking out specialist plumbing and drainage cover means you’ll usually have extra protection and peace of mind against:

• Leaking pipes or dripping taps

• Blocked drains or waste pipes

• Sink or toilet blockages

• Water supply issues

• Radiator leaks or blockages

• Emergency call-outs for repairs

What’s excluded from plumbing and drainage cover?

As with any insurance policy, there are exclusions to keep in mind. Common ones include:

• Routine maintenance

• Showers and related parts

• Damage from limescale

• Poor workmanship by non-approved plumbers

• Shared pipes or drains

Remember, cover typically requires the issue to be an emergency, and there may be limits on how much the insurer will pay out for a claim or a cap on the number of emergency call-outs you can make during the policy term.

How much does plumbing and drainage cover cost?

You’ll generally find it’s cheaper to take out plumbing and drainage cover as an add-on to your existing home insurance rather than taking it out separately.

While it might add to your premiums, compared to the cost of plumbing and repairs, especially for serious damage it could be a potentially worthwhile investment.

Without plumbing and drainage cover, it could cost you £40 to £60 per hour to call out a plumber to your home, or between £100 to £120 for an emergency call-out, according to Checkatrade.

Is it worth buying plumbing and drainage cover?

Determining the value of plumbing and drainage cover depends on your individual circumstances:

• If you live in a newer home or your boiler is still under warranty, you might not see the need for additional insurance

• If you have an older property and you don’t know any tradespeople you can rely on, it might be worth considering

• Whether or not you have sufficient savings to cover emergency call-outs

• How comfortable and experienced you are dealing with minor plumbing problems yourself

It's always wise to evaluate your existing policies and the age and condition of your plumbing systems before deciding to add extra cover.

💡 Top tip: If you do take out plumbing and drainage cover, bear in mind that there might be a waiting period before your cover becomes active

Does home emergency cover affect my no claims bonus?

Fortunately, many insurers allow claims on home emergency cover without affecting the no claims bonus on the main policy. However, it's essential to confirm this with your insurer before making a claim.

Do landlords or tenants pay for plumbing and drainage cover?

Landlords are responsible for maintaining the property's plumbing system, not the tenant. Landlords may want to look at plumbing and drainage cover as part of their landlord insurance.

In general, the only type of home insurance tenants need is contents cover for their personal belongings.

How can I reduce the risk of plumbing and drainage issues?

Here are a few tips on keeping your plumbing and drains in good working order and helps prevent an emergency issue:

• Know the location of the stopcock so you can turn off the main water supply in an instant

• Keep your home heated in freezing weather to prevent pipes from freezing

• If you spot any bad smells, get them looked at by a plumber

• Lag your pipes and insulate your tanks for cold weather protection

• Don’t pour oils or fats down your drains as these could harden and cause a significant blockage

• Don’t flush sanitary products like baby wipes as these won’t break down and could cause a major blockage

How can I find cheaper plumbing and drainage cover?

While MoneySuperMarket does not offer quotes for specialised plumbing and drainage cover, you can use our service to compare home insurance policies and see which providers add on plumbing and drainage cover for a fee or offer a more comprehensive package at the best price.