Underfloor heating provides comfort and warmth in the home, but like any system, it can sometimes encounter issues. Leaks are a common problem and can cause significant damage. Therefore, it is important to know how such damage is covered by insurance. This article explains how coverage typically works and which insurance is responsible for which parts of the house.
Contents vs. building insurance
To understand how damage from underfloor heating is covered, it's important to distinguish between contents and building insurance. Contents insurance covers the loose items in the house, while building insurance covers the structural components of the house.
Contents insurance
Contents insurance covers everything that is not fixed to the house. This includes furniture, electronics, and personal belongings. Floors, such as laminate or carpet, are often also considered contents. This means that damage to floors caused by an underfloor heating leak is often covered by contents insurance. However, it is wise to check the policy terms, as some insurers may have different provisions.
Building insurance
Building insurance covers everything that is fixed to the house and contributes to its structural integrity. This includes walls, roof, pipes, and installations like underfloor heating. The pipes of the underfloor heating therefore fall under building insurance. If a leak occurs in these pipes, the building insurance covers the costs for repairing the pipes and the structural damage to the house.
Damage from leakage
An underfloor heating leak can cause various types of damage, such as water damage to walls, floors, and furniture. Here is an overview of how this damage is typically covered:
- Pipes and installations: Damage to the pipes themselves and the underfloor heating installation falls under building insurance.
- Floors: Damage to the floors can be covered by either contents or building insurance, depending on the policy and the type of floor. Fixed flooring like parquet may fall under building insurance, while loose flooring like carpet falls under contents insurance.
- Contents: Damage to furniture, electronics, and other loose belongings due to the leak falls under contents insurance.
Importance of good insurance
An underfloor heating leak can lead to substantial costs. Therefore, it is important to have both good contents and building insurance. Always check the policy terms and ensure that the coverage matches the specific situation in your home. Some insurers offer additional coverage specifically for water damage from leaks, which can provide extra assurance.
