Why the Best Water Claim is the One You Never Have to File
If you’ve lived in Grand Rapids for more than a few winters, you know the sound: the drip, drip, drip of a pipe that just couldn’t handle the freeze.
The good news? Most sudden and accidental water damage—like a burst pipe or a washing machine hose failure—is covered by your standard homeowners insurance. The bad news? Even a “covered” claim can be a total nightmare for your daily life.
At Brouwers Agency, we’re in the business of protection, but we’re also in the business of advice. And our best advice is that avoidance is always better than reimbursement. When a pipe bursts in an upstairs bathroom, your insurance company will write the check to fix the drywall, replace the floors, and dry out the house. But they can’t write a check for the “hassle factor.”
- The Deductible: You’re immediately out $1,000, $2,500, or more before the insurance company even starts paying.
- The “Relocation” Headache: Did you know a major water claim can displace a family for an average of 100 days? Living in a hotel or a rental while your kitchen is a construction zone is exhausting.
- The Inconvenience: You’ll be managing contractors, picking out new flooring, and living out of suitcases for months.
- The Premium Impact: Even if a claim is “not your fault,” a $20,000 water loss on your record can affect your rates or your eligibility for certain discounts for years to come.
Enter the Hero: Automatic Water Shut-Off Devices
Imagine if, the second that pipe cracked, your house was smart enough to simply turn off the water at the main valve. That is exactly what devices like the Moen Flo, Phyn, or Leak Defense do.
These devices sit on your main water line and “listen” to your home’s water usage. If they detect a sudden spike or a constant drip that shouldn’t be there, they automatically shut off the water and send an alert to your phone.
Instead of coming home to two inches of standing water and a $30,000 repair bill, you come home to a dry house and a notification that you need to call a plumber for a $150 repair.
Why We Love These Devices
- They turn a crisis into a chore: A burst pipe goes from being a 3-month renovation to a Saturday afternoon repair.
- Peace of Mind: You can go on vacation or head to the cottage for the weekend without worrying about “what if.”
- Insurance Incentives: Some of our carriers offer significant policy discounts or even credits toward the purchase of these devices. They would much rather help you buy a shut-off valve today than pay for a new basement tomorrow.
The Bottom Line
Insurance is your safety net, but a smart shut-off device is your guardrail. We highly recommend looking into these systems—not just to save money on your premium, but to save yourself from the massive headache that follows a water claim.
Thinking about installing one? Give us a call first. We can check with your specific carrier to see if they offer a discount that could help offset the cost of the device!