Water damage in kitchen - insurance?

8 replies

Hopscotch88 · 04/12/2022 08:03

I noticed a small pool of water in the middle of my kitchen floor (large tiles) I felt all around and the grouting was wet. This led me to removing the kick boards and finding everything behind the boards is soaking wet. Up to the height of the tiles so 1.5cm ish. I think I’ve identified the pipe and water is pouring out filling a large tub in minutes. I’ve managed to turn the water off now but the pipe that seems to be leaking is behind a cabinet and I’m not sure it can be accessed without removing the cabinet.

I’ve no idea how long the water has been sitting there, my floor is large tiles on concrete, how much damage would water do to that? Obviously if it had been laminate the whole floor would have been ruined but does water damage tiles?

Is this something to contact my insurers over or do I just get a plumber in and try to patch up best I can?

OP posts:

notdaddycool · 04/12/2022 08:17

You probably have an excess, I’d be tempted to get a quote for sorting it and see if it’s less / similar. A previous policy I had only traced leaks, didn’t fund their repairs either, so also read your policy detail.

tanstaafl · 04/12/2022 08:24

at least as an interim measure they should be able to cut a panel out of the back of the units to access the leak.
are the pipes plastic or copper?

concrete floor and tiles should be fine, but if the grout is wet and soft, the grout would need reapplying after everything has had time to dry.

Original poster

Hopscotch88 · 04/12/2022 08:37

Ok, I’ll get a plumber around and see what he thinks. I’m hoping to move soon(next year or so) so tearing up the kitchen right now would be less than ideal.

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HandbagsnGladrags · 04/12/2022 08:44

You'll be covered for escape of water but there'll definitely be an excess. Have a look at your policy schedule.

PoinsettiaPosturing · 04/12/2022 08:47

Escape of water is usually £1000 but at least they'll do a proper job and dry everything out & check for further damage

Waterunderfloor · 16/02/2023 22:39

@Hopscotch88 can I ask if you went through insurers and what happened with that? I've got water coming up through my tikes but I'm sure it's coming from the outside in.

Original poster

Hopscotch88 · 16/02/2023 23:29

Sorry I didn’t end up going through insurance. I managed to find the issue (washing machine pipe had undone) and got the water dry pretty quickly. As it’s tiles and concrete I don’t think it caused too much damage.

hope yours gets sorted soon

OP posts:

Waterunderfloor · 16/02/2023 23:35

That's a relief. Thanks, I'm trying not to panic

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