Settling Due to Leaking vs. Natural Causes

May 5, 2010

The policyholder submitted a claim for a broken water pipe hidden behind the walls of his home. The carrier has agreed to pay to access the pipe and restore the walls. During the repair process, the contractor noticed significant settling of the slab which the contractor attributes to escaped water from the broken pipe. The contractor drilled sample holes in the garage contiguous to the slab in the area of the water damage and found settlement due to the water damage along the footers closest to the water leak and as he moved 5 feet away he found very little or no settlement. He also noted the drain pipe ran in the direction of the garage and stated that it was natural for water to follow the slope of the pipe and impacted the space under the slab along one side of the garage.