Does homeowners insurance cover cast iron pipes?

Sudden damage vs. slow leaks

The Insurance Information Institute says the HO-3 policy covers accidental discharge of water from a plumbing system (Insurance Information Institute). Washington's insurance commissioner says most policies don't cover gradual leaks that continued for a while, even if you had no way of knowing they started, and that insurers generally treat these as maintenance problems (Washington OIC).

Cast iron drain pipe tends to fail slowly, through cracks and corrosion. That puts many cast iron claims on the gradual side of the line, which is why the cause matters.

The pipe vs. the damage

Before you file, ask your agent two separate questions: does the policy pay for the water damage, and does it pay to repair or replace the pipe itself? They are often answered differently, so get both in writing.

Sewer backups

A cracked or root-filled cast iron line can cause sewage to back up into the house. The Insurance Information Institute says some policies cover sewer and drain backups but many do not, and that a sewer backup rider can be added (Insurance Information Institute). If sewage has already come up a drain, see sewage cleanup in Atlanta.

The line outside the house

ATL311 says maintenance and repair of the entire sewer service lateral is the property owner's responsibility (ATL311). The Georgia Attorney General's consumer office notes that many homeowner policies do not cover the water line from the street to the house (Georgia Consumer Ed). Some utilities point owners to riders as well: Gwinnett County suggests considering an upper lateral rider on your homeowners policy (Gwinnett County).

Common questions

Should I replace cast iron before it fails?

That's a call to make with a plumber after a camera inspection. Gwinnett County suggests adding a lateral inspection to a home inspection when buying a house (Gwinnett County). See cast iron sewer pipe in Atlanta for what to ask.

Will insurance pay for mold from a cast iron leak?

Washington's insurance commissioner says many policies offer limited mold coverage, and only when the mold results from a covered loss (Washington OIC).