A phenomenal North Texas realtor once told me that there were two types of homes in Dallas-Ft Worth. Those that have had foundation issues and those that will. It's not uncommon to get a phone call from someone like Jorge who owns a home built by a mega-builder in the last 25 years and is suddenly dealing with this issue. When Jorge called us, he was trying to determine how he was going to get piers installed underneath his concrete foundation and if his homeowners insurance would provide any coverage for the cost of foundation issues that he was now experiencing. But like we said, it's not uncommon to get this phone call about needing foundation repairs and what to do about it. And that leads to one of the most frequently asked questions about optional coverage on Texas homeowners insurance policies. Do Texas home insurance providers cover foundation cracks and the slab leak repairs that almost always come with them?
The infamous slab leak in homes around North Texas are generally a result of the shifting or settling of a slab foundation due to the movement of our soil. The harsh reality is that the ground we build a lot of our homes on in Texas is predominantly clay soil which is different from many other areas in the US. That means that we have a ratio of heavy amounts of clay in our soil. This allows for the soil to expand and contract with an amount of exaggeration that is equalto the weather extremes that are found in our area.
Our winters can have some very cold days. Remember the great deep freeze of 2021? And our summers are essentially the surface of the sun where we can go weeks on end without a drop of rain. When you intertwine that with periods of heavy moisture and none at all, you have a recipe for the expansion and contraction of the clay. This expansion and contraction can cause tilt and create movement in the concrete slab that is the foundation of your Texas home.
But how do I get those leaks? Since most Texans' plumbing is routed through your home's foundation, this shifting movement can cause cracking and breaking of the PVC pipes that run through that same foundation. A slab leak occurring can have a devastating effect on your home. Water that is hitting the concrete foundation out of sight, can do immense water damage to that foundation over time that you may be unaware of. That's not only a problem for your water lines, but also for the slab that is holding up your home. And the repair cost for this issue can run several thousands of dollars that no Texas homeowner wants to pay out of their pocket.
A basic home insurance policy for a Fort Worth family is going to cover water damage to your home. And while that insurance coverage is going to cover a basic plumbing leak where a pipe bursts in your wall or the water heater exploding, a leak in your foundation may not be quite so obvious without a professional plumber doing a thorough investigation. Most Texas homeowners do not recognize that they have that leak in their foundation until the piers are going in under the foundation. As a result, the slow process of the water pressure causing damage over time can produce very harsh results to your home's foundation. The other problem is that because it is a slow process, some home insurance carriers are going to wind up classifying it as normal wear and subsequently deny the claim. You will need to secure specific coverage from your homeowners insurance coverage that includes a slab leak insurance claim. This is done through an optional coverage typically called "Slow Leak" or "Seepage & Leakage" coverage.
Whether you live in Amarillo or Austin, it's important to work with an independent insurance agent who can help you with a slab leak insurance claim. The agents at Insurance For Texans always provide TRUE Texas Home Insurance to every Texan that we consult. This guarantee makes sure that you have the most robust water coverage available to protect your home from these kinds of setbacks.