"Bosonova Lady" wrote in
message roups.com...
replying to orangetrader, Bosonova Lady wrote:
orangetrader wrote:

I have a single story home with a monolithic concrete slab and my sewer
line
below the slab is in need of repair due to a crack, sand piles in as
laundry
water is discharged through the line at a rapid rate and caused partial
blockage. The problem has been confirmed by a video of the line.
The drain service company recommended to trench a tunnel from the outside
to
get to the pipe and repair it. Their estimate is:
$200 of digging per feet + $1000 actual pipe repair
They figured they will need to dig 7 feet from ground (a few feet to
clear
the footing, four more for a person to crawl through), then five feet
over,
then whatever length to expose the broken pipe section etc...could add up
to
18 or 20 feet. That puts the total cost at $3000.
Another utility contractor looked at it and gave another estimate. He
suggested to break a hole in my kitchen above the broken section. Open
up
a
hole 48" x 36" through the 8" concrete slab. His charge will be $1800 to
break the slab, plus $1000 for the repair of the pipe, then he will
leave.
It is then up to me to find someone to repour the slab, redo the tile (I
have no replacement tiles) and redo the kitchen cabinets (the spot is
below
the cabinet). This is more expensive.
Regardless of the approach I take, they both told me my home owner policy
(Florida) should cover it. It does not cover the actual repair, but it
should cover the "access" to the repair. So may be the $1000 of repair
is
not covered, but the $2000 of tunneling will be. But I was told it
depends
on how you describe the problem to the adjuster.
I called the insurance company and the adajuster called back. I
explained
the problem to them and was told nothing is covered unless there is
actual
damage to the property. For example, if the pipe burst caused the carpet
to
be ruined, they will cover it. If it caused walls to be moist they will
cover it. I told the adjuster over the phone that I know the pipe is
seeping water and that could be flooding the slab from below and
eventually
popping my tiles out it's just a matter of time. I also told them the
sand
is being drawn in through the crack and is piling up downstream, this
could
cause an erosion of soil below my slab and my house can sink because of
it
(may be a little exaggerated). They said they will send someone out to
see.
Does anyone has experience on this that can advise whether there is any
way
this can be covered? Is it really how you technically state the problem?
Any comments will be appreciated.
O




I Own a Home in Florida and the pipe was broken under my cement slab,
Water filled two bedrooms, two bathrooms and part of the living room.
Insurance will cover most damage to the home. They will cover Accessing
the pipes and putting the cement back in. What they do not cover: The
work in the yard, the actual pipe cost, etc. (So on a plumbing note, no
they don't cover much. )

If you are saying you have floor, tile damage, get the Adjustor out there
to inspect the floor, Anything damaged by water should be covered.
Contact your Insurance Agent, go over your policy. If you find you don't
have the coverage you wanted then talk to them about updating your policy.


You don't explain exactly where the break is, but is it not possible to use
one of the trenchless technologies to make its repair?