Escape of Water and Burst Pipe Claims
Escape of water is the most frequent household claim in Ireland and one of the most expensive. A pipe that fails in an unheated attic over a cold snap can put water through every floor of a house before anybody notices.
Where the cost really sits
The plumbing repair is trivial. The claim is everything the water touched on the way down: ceilings, plasterwork, insulation, timber floors, joinery, fitted kitchens and wardrobes, electrics and contents. Timber and chipboard swell and do not recover, which is why fitted units usually have to be replaced rather than dried. Water tracks sideways under floors, so damage frequently appears in rooms well away from the leak.
Trace and access
Most policies cover the cost of finding the leak and of making good afterwards — opening up floors, walls or ceilings to reach the failed pipe, and reinstating what was opened. This cover exists specifically because locating a leak is destructive, and it is one of the more commonly overlooked heads of claim.
Unoccupied properties
Holiday homes, rental voids and properties left empty while owners are away are where the largest escape-of-water losses happen, because nothing stops the water. They are also where insurers scrutinise policy conditions most closely: many policies require the heating to be left on or the system drained down beyond a set number of days of unoccupancy. If you are being met with a condition like that, get advice before you respond to it.
Drying and mould
A property soaked over days needs controlled drying and monitoring, not a fortnight of dehumidifiers and optimism. Reinstating over damp structure leads to mould, staining and failed decoration within months, and the second repair is rarely paid for. Settlements need to allow for a realistic drying period before any reinstatement begins.
Talk to us early
The sooner we inspect, the more of the evidence still exists. Photograph everything, keep damaged items, and call 085 268 7871. The first consultation is free.
Common questions
My insurer says the pipe failed through wear and tear.
Most policies exclude the cost of repairing the failed pipe itself but cover the resulting damage. The distinction between the excluded repair and the covered consequential damage is where these claims are won.
The house was empty when it happened. Am I covered?
It depends on the unoccupancy conditions in your policy and on how long the property was vacant. It is worth having the wording read carefully rather than assuming the answer either way.
Can the fitted kitchen be dried instead of replaced?
Rarely. Chipboard carcassing swells irreversibly once saturated. Insurers sometimes propose drying and cleaning where replacement is the only realistic outcome.
Talk to us before you agree a figure
The first consultation is free and there is no obligation. We will tell you honestly whether your claim needs an assessor.
Call 085 268 7871