Home insurance claim question

[edin16]

6 months ago we had a leak in our shower. We called insurance but decided to fix it privately as it was going to be more effort to go through insurance when it was a small issue. However now it looks like there's another leak that has happened at a close but different location that looks like we will have to go through home insurance to fix. Will there be any issues because we didn't claim initially?
I have fears that someone will come to investigate and they'll tell us that the issue was caused by the previous fix and because of this they won't cover it.

No. Don’t tell them! They won’t investigate that deeply! How would anyone ever know? It’s a leaking shower. If it’s covered by your insurance then claim.

If the leak is caused by a sealant or grout failure,they won’t pay out, as this falls under general maintenance. If it’s a new issue, and the cause of the leak is traced, you should be fine to claim, just check the excess for escape of water.

What damage has the leak done? Depends what your excess is? Assuming it hasn't flooded the room below I wouldn't bother claiming on the insurance?

When I had a shower leak, (and the whole tray needed to be replaced) it was only covered because it was caused by accidental damage, (our policy didn’t cover wear and tear). Check the small print of your policy.

Hey how did you get on with your claim?

This might be redundant now but i am a home claims advisor for a major insurer. If it helps even if they find it is relating to the initial leak the resulting water damage should be covered. Any resulting water damage caused by a leak from a fixed pipe tank or fitting should really be covered. They could only really decline that if they can show that there has been significant increase in damage due to you knowing there was water damage (first leak) and not fixing it and so the damage has worsened.

As mentioned if it's a perished seal it's a bit trickier, no home insurance policy will cover west and tear, however most major ones will still consider the resultant water damage IF there were no visually obvious signs the seal needed replaced ie it's all black and rotted away for example. In that case they may say it was obviously needing replaced and that is your responsibility as home owner and so it could have been prevented. If it's not really obvious most insurers will give you benefit of the doubt and cover the resulting water damage.

Poster who got it under A/D that is pretty unusual was the try cracked rather than a perishes seal, not that is matters just interested cause I am sad that way haha