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Polybutylene Pipes Insurance – Homeowners Insurance

Polybutylene Pipes Insurance

By Raymond Sanchez

When buying a home, many homeowners today run into polybutylene pipes that are in the home that they are purchasing.  These pipes have been around from the late 70’s to as far as the mid 90’s.  It has been estimated that these pipes have been installed in as many 6,000,000 homes during that time.  So what is the big issue with polybutylene pipes?  Polybutylene pipes have a high failure rate due to chlorine additives that break down the pipes over time. pipes could be grey (mostly Interior), black, or blue (mostly exterior).  Pipe connectors can be copper, brass, or plastic and are barbed with a crimp ring or compression with a plastic or metal ferrule. Some people will tell you that only the pipes with the plastic fittings cause problems. WRONG!  Most problems are caused by bad installation. WRONG!  You can make a claim for the class action lawsuitfor the replacement? WRONG!  The time period to file a claim has now passed.

Polybutylene Pipes Insurance

Different Types of Polybutylene Pipes Insurance

Polybutylene Pipes Insurance

Polybutylene Pipes Insurance

The pipes should be disclosed from the sellers and their agent when asked. This is very important to know. A homeowners Insurance  is very difficult and can possibly be very costly. Most of the time buyers will get an estimate on the cost of replacing the pipes and then will negotiate with the seller on a lower price. The cost of replacing them should not be too expensive. Make sure that you get a few quotes from a few reputable plumbing companies before committing. I always tell everyone that it is not a matter of if the pipes will fail, but a matter of when. This still leaves the buyer in a predicament to see if they could get Polybutylene Pipes Insurance and also if they could have coverage should a pipe fail before the pipes get replaced. Insurers must read their HO3 Homeowners Insurance Policy. You must disclose the polybutylene pipes to your agent first before quoting. If you read a HO3 policy,  it does not contain an exclusion for pipes. The application is where the insurance company asks you if the house has polybutylene pipes in the house. The insurance company usually denies the claim for misrepresentation on the application. This is very important for people to know. People feel that if they didn’t know then the insurance company would be responsible. ALSO WRONG! Citizens Property Insurance does not cover claims that pertain to these pipes. Make sure you call Florida Statewide Insurance today so you can get all of the Polybutylene Pipes Insurance coverage options available.  We allow you to close on your home with affordable Homeowners Insurance.  Call today at 954-734-7429 or 1-888-8-Insurance.

 

Is Cloth Wiring insurable for Homeowners Insurance?

by Raymond J. Sanchez

Cloth Wiring Insurance

Insuring a home today in Florida is becoming an increasing hard objective especially when it comes to older homes.  Broward and Dade county adopted (FBC) Florida Building Code standards in 1994 while the rest of the counties followed suit in 2002.  Most older homes built in Florida were built by (SBC) Standard building code  and do not meet the standards of most insurance companies.   A 4 point inspection qualifies older homes for homeowners insurance.  Today we are going to discuss “Cloth Wiring” and how most inspectors misclassify this common problem especially in South Florida.  So the question is Cloth Wiring insurable for Homeowners Insurance?

Cloth Wiring is considered a fire hazard for most insurance companies due to the  the wiring overheating the cloth and starting a fire. The cloth wiring that most electricians consider dangerous is where the cloth is the only outside barrier to the metal conductor. Cloth wiring considered extremely dangerous and replaced immediately. Most cloth wiring found in houses may not be dangerous. They usually have Romex wrapped around the wire and it would be covered by cloth sheathing.  Below is an example of what is found in most 4 point inspections.

 

Cloth wiring insurance

Cloth wiring Insurance

Cloth wiring insurance

Cloth wiring Insurance

If you have a 4 point inspection and it comes back with cloth wiring. You will need an electrician to inspect the wiring and determine if it is necessary to replace. Most electricians will not see the need to replace the wiring as long as the wiring is covered in romex.

So to answer the question about is cloth wiring insurance for home-owners, the answer is yes by most accounts.  Most insurance companies still will not accept a letter from the electrician deeming the wiring safe,  their is still a limited market that would be able to write the insurance with great coverage.  Always make sure that you call your agent to discuss the requirements and price quotes before proceeding.  If you have any further questions about Cloth wiring insurance please call Florida Statewide Insurance, Inc. at 954-734-7429 for cloth wiring questions or any other insurance you may be interested in.