Insurance requires home water leak detector and drone inspections?

[ultrarunner]

I'm responsible for a number of residential insurance policies and a new twist is insurers requiring Leak Detection Systems should insurance be offered on home older than 30 years.

Anyone have experience with home water leak systems?

I drip irrigate and wonder if my deep drip will be seen as a leak?

The push is to avoid anything rural and anything older...

So unless you happen to be in a newer upscale subdivision the options for insurance diminish...

My Agent this morning said be aware drones are now used for periodic inspection and resulting in cancelations... vegetation, outdoor storage, exterior condition... etc.

I wonder if the JD backhoe and Dozer will become a problem or my friends outdoor range...

One friend has a magnificent oak at his home... protected by ordinance but also a problem in keeping his policy...

 

[MattB4]

Not sure how they would discriminate between usage and leaks. Sounds more like an excuse to not offer coverage. Some areas of the country have had some repeated major weather events that led to massive insurance payouts. I could see why a for profit industry would not want to insure those places. It is all about risk.

 

[Tinhack]

I have a leak detector in the tray under my water heater. However, I don't recall the last time I changed the batteries.

 

[Snobdds]

I have a home in Steamboat that is a not lived in full time. Since it is a second home, a leak detector was required in the mechanical room only. This is where the hot water heater is.

I didn't mind putting it in as a water leak there could be expensive.

 

[ultrarunner]

The cabin only has water when occupied

Everything else is occupied.

What I don't understand is my agent clearly stated leaks are not covered... only sudden events like flooding from a burst pipe is.

So if leaks not covered why require leak detection?

In the summer I will deep drip water my trees... drip a couple of times for 48 hours... could this be seen as a leak?

 

[ultrarunner]

https://www.farmers.com/leak-detection/

Further reading on Flume indicates WiFi needed.

My WiFi is only as good as the phone I carry...

 

[JeepHead]

I just bought a new home in July and the insurance company sent out a guy with a drone to survey the roof condition. Thank god the roof was one year old.

 

[dodge man]

I’d be looking for another insurance agent. Checking your place with drones? I may need to install an anti aircraft battery.

 

[plowhog]

Interesting to hear drones used for insurance surveys. All of mine so far have been in person.

I recently added driveway gates to my residence. That led to cancellation of my policy at next renewal, and grew to include homeowners, multiple rentals, umbrella, and more. Ultimately I chose to cancel, although they did send a letter of future cancellation.

My (former) insurance company does not give prior notice of inspection, and requires them done in person. Their process is to call from an 800 number immediately prior to inspection. If you don't get the call, they cannot get in and therefore don't inspect. They don't leave a message. The problem is I get 20+ spam calls per day from such phone numbers so I don't answer them.

I switched companies and will be curious to see how it goes next year.

 

[2manyrocks]

Ins. companies may feel that some homeowners are using a clothes washer overflow (how old are your hoses, BTW) as an excuse for the insurance company to pay for interior remodeling and using a few blown off shingles as an excuse for the insurance company to pay for a new roof.