Are Blocked Drains Covered By Home Insurance?

CONTENTS

• How do drains get blocked?
• What are the risks of a blocked drain?
• Who is responsible for blocked drains?
• Does home insurance cover blocked drains?
• What to do if your drain is blocked
• Get in touch

When a drain blocks inside your home or commercial property, unforeseen damages can come with it. Blockages could escalate into something worse, potentially resulting in a sewage backup if not remediated immediately.

Our team of professionals at ICE Drainage offers indoor drain cleaning services for your commercial or domestic property. We use modern equipment and industrial-grade solutions for thorough cleaning of your drain, ensuring a high level of cleanliness upon completion.

Read on to learn more about who is responsible for a blocked drain and if home insurance covers it.

How do drains get blocked?

Most indoor drain blockages occur due to foreign or heavy waste disposed of in the drain. In your kitchen, your drain may block because of grease and oils or an accumulation of food waste.

Any appliances such as your dishwasher or washing machine linked to your kitchen drains could also be the culprit of a blocked drain.

To prevent blocking your kitchen drain, you should not scrape food waste into the sink and instead dispose of it in the bin. Instead of pouring grease or oil down the drain, you must wait for it to cool and throw it away in the general waste.

However, you can prevent oil from clinging to the pipes by pouring it down the drain and following it with cold water. However, there is still a risk of blockage.

What are the risks of a blocked drain?

Not only are blocked drains a nuisance, but they also pose a health risk. If your drains and pipes are experiencing problems with waste build-up, you might experience a sewage backup or overflow. You may be able to detect an issue with your drains if you:

• Detect the smell of foul water
• Notice your electrics or wiring are faulty
• See water leaking from the ceiling, roof, or walls

Exposure to sewage contamination due to stagnated water in your blocked drain could put you at risk of encountering viruses and bacteria. When bacteria breeds and spreads in your pipes, you might contract:

• E. coli
• Salmonella
• Campylobacter

Who is responsible for blocked drains?

Depending on where the blocked drain is, liability lies with the property owner or a local sewerage and water company. If the drain is in a road or public area, the responsibility falls to the company that owns that pipeline.

However, the homeowner or landlord is responsible if the drain has occurred in an indoor property. If you are unsure what to do if a blocked drain has resulted in a sewage backup or overflowing water, you should contact your local water provider for advice.

You can also contact a professional industrial drain cleaning company that will identify the source of the blockage and clear it for you safely.

Does home insurance cover blocked drains?

Every insurance company differs in terms of what it does and does not cover in plumbing and drainage insurance. You must always check the policy or contact the company if you are uncertain.

In the event of a blocked drain, you may be covered if this has led to damage in your home, such as contaminated belongings or broken electricals. You might not be covered if the pipe blockage was due to negligence, such as grease or food waste.

Landlords will be responsible for any blockages on a tenant’s property, but occupants may have to pay if this was due to their misuse.

What to do if your drain is blocked

It is possible to clear most indoor drain blockages with boiling water or store-bought cleaning products — however, these must be used cautiously due to the corrosive chemicals. If this issue persists after these solutions, this could indicate there is a deeper issue.

If this happens, you must contact your local water company to find out if there are any issues with the public pipelines. They can advise you on what to do in the meantime, and you may need to distance yourself from the drain if there is a sewage backup.

An expert drain cleaning company will be able to attend to the property and inspect the pipes more thoroughly, identifying the cause of the issue and effectively cleaning it to ensure you can begin using your kitchen immediately.

Get in touch

Whether a drain is blocked on your commercial property or at home, our team can be on-site in a matter of hours in an emergency to tackle the issue.

If you would like to learn more about our indoor drain cleaning services, contact our friendly support team at 020 3376 4801 or [email protected]. We will provide a free, no-obligation quote and site survey at your convenience. We are available nationwide, 24/7, 365 days a year.