60-second summary
Want a bite-sized overview of plumbing and drainage cover? Here are the main need-to-knows:
A plumbing and drainage cover add-on could give you extra protection on top of your home insurance.
Check to see if you already have sufficient plumbing and drainage cover under your home insurance policy.
Home emergency cover and extended accidental damage insurance might also include cover for plumbing and drainage emergencies.
Some dedicated plumbing and drainage policies can also include cover for your boiler and central heating system.
You won’t need the extra cover if you’re a tenant, as your landlord should be responsible for plumbing and drainage issues.
What is plumbing and drainage cover?
Dedicated plumbing and drainage cover adds an extra layer of protection to your standard home insurance. A plumbing and drains bolt-on may offer more extensive and comprehensive cover than standard buildings insurance or home emergency cover.
A range of problems might arise with your home’s plumbing and drainage system, from a leaking pipe to a flood. Plumbing and drainage cover could include the following:
Plumbing in your home and outbuildings
Your water supply
Unblocking drains and waste pipes
Accidental damage.
Does home insurance cover plumbing and drains?
Whether or not your home insurance covers plumbing and drains depends on the type of policy you have and the nature of the incident.
If you have home insurance, check your policy documents to find out if you’re already covered.
If there’s a flood, contents insurance could help you replace any soft furnishings, electrical devices and other valuables that are damaged or lost.
Buildings insurance, which covers your home’s structure and any permanent fixtures and fittings, is also likely to cover some plumbing and drainage issues.
Cover varies between providers and policies, but your buildings insurance may also include:
The repair of burst water pipes – this is not the same as cover for damage caused by the leaking water.
Accidental damage to underground pipes, drains and tanks, also known as underground services.
Tracing and accessing a leak – finding and fixing a leak if it occurs in your house or underground.
Unblocking or replacing a blocked drain, toilet or sewage pipe. This may depend on the type of blockage. Flush baby wipes down the toilet, for example, and your claim is likely to be rejected.
Escape of water – water damage caused by flooding due to a burst pipe or blocked drain.
Alternative accommodation – if your home floods and you need to move out.
Your home insurance provider may also offer you access to an emergency helpline with approved tradespeople on call to do the necessary repairs.
This is valuable because the quicker and more efficiently a drainage or plumbing problem is tackled, the less damage it’s likely to cause. Look for policies that include parts, labour, and callout fees.
Always read the small print of a new or existing home insurance policy to see what is and isn’t covered. This could help you avoid paying extra for protection you already have.
What plumbing and drains work won’t be covered by home insurance?
Home insurance is unlikely to cover the following plumbing and drainage problems:
General maintenance work – including leaking pipes
Pipes or drains that you’re not legally responsible for – for example, a water supply pipe owned by water companies, the local council or your neighbours
General wear and tear
Older boilers – typically more than 10 years old
Dripping taps and limescale build-ups from hard water
Pipes or drains made of pitch fibre – a cheaper, lightweight material with a shorter lifespan than the heavy-duty plastic alternative
Damage that’s not a part of the system covered by the policy – for example, subsidence caused by flooding from a burst pipe
Cesspits or soakaways
Flooding if you live in a high-risk area – for example, near a river
Faults or damage caused by poor design, construction or maintenance
Non-urgent issues.
Some insurance providers will also refuse claims for damage caused by overflowing baths or poor seals around baths and showers. Alternatively, you might have to pay a higher ‘escape of water’ excess for this type of claim.
These types of problems are more common in homes that have been vacant for an extended period. If your home is going to be unoccupied for 30 days or more, you’ll likely need unoccupied home insurance. Without it, you may find your regular cover is invalidated.
Top tip
Always contact your insurance provider before arranging any repairs yourself. It’s likely they’ll want to inspect the damage and will ask for a detailed report and itemised invoice with the claim. So, talk to your provider first, as any repairs carried out before you make the claim could be rejected.
What other types of insurance cover plumbing and drains?
If you aren’t happy with the level of cover provided by standard buildings insurance, you could add extra cover to your policy for an additional fee. These include:
Home emergency cover
Home emergency cover typically includes blocked drains, sinks and toilets, as well as burst pipes. The insurance provider may also organise and pay for an approved tradesperson to do the emergency repairs. As a general rule, the more you pay, the more extensive the cover.
Extended accidental damage
Extended accidental damage provides more comprehensive cover for damage caused by an unforeseen or unintentional event. For example, drilling through a water pipe or a tree root intrusion that blocks a drain.
Always check for policy exclusions. If you’re trying to repair the problem yourself and something goes wrong, any resulting claim could be rejected. It’s always best to hire a reputable, qualified tradesperson.
Dedicated plumbing and drains cover
A specialist plumbing and drainage policy could be useful not only in emergencies, but also for minor issues and breakdowns such as a dripping tap.
Please note, we don’t currently offer a price comparison service for standalone plumbing and drains insurance.
Is plumbing and drainage cover worth it?
You might be wondering if plumbing and drainage cover is worth the extra cost.
Here’s why you might want to consider additional plumbing and drains cover:
As well as boosting your existing home insurance cover, a plumbing and drains policy might have other products bundled with it. For example, cover for your boiler, central heating system or electrics.
Plumbing problems can be complex, especially in an old house. Adding a plumbing and drainage bolt-on could potentially save you from expensive repair bills.
The extra cover could be useful if you don’t have a network of trusted contractors to rely on. With plumbing and drainage cover, professional help is there whenever you need it.
It always pays to shop around and compare prices. Ultimately, the cost and your specific requirements will help you decide if it’s a sensible investment.
How much does plumbing and drainage cover cost?
Factors that could affect the cost of your plumbing and drainage cover include:
Where you live
Property type
Age of property
Water hardness.
Adding plumbing and drainage cover to your existing home insurance policy is normally cheaper than taking out standalone cover. It’s a good idea to compare both to find the best plumbing and drainage cover quote for you.
The cost of fixing a leaky pipe in the UK can range from £220 to £440, averaging around £330. But it depends on the extent of the damage and how easy it is to access.
What can I do to reduce the risk of burst or leaking pipes and blocked drains?
There’s a lot you can do to make sure your water pipes and drains stay in good condition. Regular maintenance is top of the list.
Here are a few tips:
Don’t put oils, fats and sanitary products down the drains as they can clog up the system. Even baby wipes and toilet wipes that claim to be flushable could cause problems.
Get your drains looked at quickly if you become aware of any bad smells.
Make sure you know where the stopcock is and how to use it – this turns off the main water supply.
Protect your pipes by lagging them and insulate your tanks so they’re protected in a cold spell.
Keep the heating on low if you’re away for any length of time – this reduces the risk of pipes freezing and then bursting when temperatures rise.
Find more advice on our burst pipes and water leak insurance page.
Where can you compare plumbing and drains cover?
We don’t currently offer a standalone plumbing and drainage cover comparison. But we do compare home insurance and home emergency cover.
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FAQs
Do I need to get plumbing and drainage cover if I’m a tenant?
No, if you’re not the homeowner, your landlord is responsible for the plumbing and drainage of the property. It’s up to them to take out the necessary buildings insurance and any additional policies needed to cover drains and pipes.
As a tenant, however, it’s important that you report any problems as soon as possible – particularly in an emergency.
You should also note that your landlord’s buildings insurance won’t cover your possessions in the event of water damage. For that you’ll need to arrange your own contents insurance.
Should I try to fix a drainage or plumbing problem myself?
You might be able to fix minor problems yourself. For example, a blocked sink or toilet can often be easily fixed with a drainage rod or a chemical unblocking product.
However, underground drainage and plumbing problems should be left to the professionals. Try to fix the problem yourself and you might find that you not only make matters worse but invalidate your policy, too.
Will a claim on plumbing and drains cover affect my home insurance no claims discount?
If you have a plumbing and drains or home emergency add on, making a claim shouldn’t affect your home insurance no claims discount (NCD).
But a claim on your standard home insurance policy for an emergency plumbing or drainage issue will likely count against your NCD.
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As well as writing for Churchill and Privilege insurance websites, Karen’s CV includes working with M&S, Debenhams, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and John Lewis. With over 20 years of editorial experience for big household names she leads a talented content team with a focus on simplifying personal finance for everybody.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
Helen’s our resident home insurance expert, as the former Head of Home Insurance at Compare the Market. She's also experienced with car insurance and pet insurance from her previous roles across commercial, partnerships and as a freelance consultant, working with more than 100 insurers across a variety of insurance products.
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