Things are looking dire with a leak under your slab and you need it fixed right away. The mess of breaking through the slab to repair plumbing sounds unworkable. You don’t have anywhere you can go while the repairs are underway, so it’s best that you stay in the house.
The alternative of under-slab tunneling for the plumber to reach the repairs sounds perfect . . . if only your homeowner’s insurance could help pay for this . . . is there a chance that it could???
At Anchor Foundation Repair, we know homeowners worry when faced with these kinds of expensive repair issues. We dig 1,000+ feet of tunnels annually. Based on what we’ve experienced through 40+ years of service in the Brazos Valley, we can tell you about the chances of insurance coverage with under-slab tunneling situations.
Honesty Alert: We are not insurance pros and don’t claim to be. We just collect feedback from homeowners and can share what we have seen and heard over the years.
How Often Does Insurance Cover Under-Slab Tunneling?
This is only anecdotal information on jobs we have done throughout the years. About 5% of the time, our under-slab tunneling jobs are completed under a homeowner’s insurance claim. In other words, insurance paying for tunneling doesn’t happen very often.
There’s a specific set of circumstances that all have to align for insurance to cover some of your tunneling costs. Most jobs, unfortunately, don’t meet all the requirements.
How Can You Know If Your Insurance Covers Tunneling?
So, how do you know if tunneling is covered?
The first order of business: read over your homeowner’s insurance policy. I realize this might fall under the *obvious department*, but it’s the best place to start. You’re looking for special endorsements, riders, add-ons, or addendums most likely. Coverage for under-slab tunneling isn’t typically part of a standard policy, it’s something that gets added to the policy.
If reading over your insurance policy sounds too daunting, then call your insurance agent or company. Explain to them that you have a plumbing leak under your home, and specify if it’s coming from your drain lines and any other pertinent info.
Give the insurance representative as much information as possible about where the leak is located and how it needs to be accessed according to your plumber. Give them as much information as you can about your situation.
Be prepared for them to tell you that tunneling is not covered, because the chances are low. Most people simply don’t know that this is even a thing to get coverage for, so they don’t purchase the extra endorsement. Make them give you a yes or no answer so that it’s 100% clear.
If there is *some small chance* of getting under-slab tunneling covered, be sure the circumstances are laid out to you so that you understand. If you have this coverage, consider yourself very lucky. Send your insurance agent a gift if they recommended adding on this special coverage back when you purchased your policy.
What Does Insurance Usually Cover With Tunneling?
You’ll want to hear this from your insurance company personally, but we can tell you what we usually see happen if you’re fortunate enough to get any costs covered by insurance. What typically tends to be covered is *access* to plumbing issues, and that may include tunneling, but not the plumbing work itself.
Access to the plumbing failure point can be reached in two different ways:
- Under-slab tunneling, or
- Breaking through the slab.
Whatever the cost is to reach the plumbing problem could be covered minus your deductible. The actual plumbing work (i.e. labor and materials to physically fix the pipes) is usually not covered by insurance. There are other extra costs to consider too.
There are upsides and downsides to choosing under-slab tunneling vs. breaking through the slab. In a nutshell, tunneling is more expensive and time-consuming, BUT you get to continue living in your home mess-free and your slab and flooring don’t get broken into.
On the other hand, breaking through the slab is likely faster and cheaper, but it’s a huge mess, you might have to move out temporarily (adding extra costs/stress), and your foundation gets messed with.
You may have already decided which option would be best for you, but in case you haven’t done a deep dive on this consideration, check out Under-Slab Tunneling vs. Breaking Through Your Slab (Pros and Cons).
What Info Should You Have For Tunneling Insurance Coverage?
Your insurance company doesn’t just say, “Okay!” the second you ask for coverage. They need specific information.
If access to reach an under-slab plumbing issue is covered by your homeowner’s policy, they will likely need this information in order to cover any costs:
- Location of the plumbing failure,
- Extent/description of the plumbing problem,
- Cost for the plumbing repairs,
- Cost for access to the repair point (whether by tunneling or breaking slab),
- Payment terms for the two costs above,
- Name/Contact info for the plumber making the repairs,
- Name/Contact info for the contractor or plumber creating access to the under-slab area.
The more of this above info you have prepared and on hand ahead of time to provide to the insurance company, the faster they can get rolling on your claim.
You may not have caught it, but plumbers sometimes do tunneling and/or the work to break through the slab. Depending on your plumber of choice, they might offer tunneling themselves or only prefer to remain above ground by breaking through the slab. In other words, some plumbers might offer both options while others might not give you a choice.
We’ve noticed that many plumbers don’t care for tunneling because it’s hard, unpleasant, and time-consuming work. They are often more than happy to have someone else do the tunneling process. Then, they focus on what they enjoy and are well-trained to do – the plumbing repairs.
How Do I Find the Right Plumber and Tunneling Contractor?
It’s important to choose your plumber wisely in these situations. Find one with lots of experience with under-home repairs. Under-slab plumbing work is a unique situation and not all plumbers handle things optimally for that environment.
If you’re here in the local BCS area, we’ve compiled a list of plumbing contractors we work with often and feel good about recommending for under-slab leaks.
At Anchor Foundation Repair, we love digging tunnels and have refined the process to an art form. Tunneling is important to do properly, especially on the back end when the tunnel needs to be filled in after the plumbing work is completed.
If you’re in the Brazos Valley, we’ve got your under-slab tunneling needs covered with decades of experience. Check out what makes Anchor’s tunneling work above and beyond here.