What are my options after two pipes burst? (homeowners insurance, house)

[sjinnj]

Hey folks,

I am trying to find out my what are my options after two pipes in my house burst yesterday. We had a plumber come over and he fixed them both. They were previously the hot and cold water for a slop sink which was removed by a contractor four years ago when we had our lower bathroom expanded. When the plumber opened the wall there was no insulation around the broken pipes. The pipes were right next to each other, the hot and cold. The plumber said that the insulation must of fallen causing the pipes to freeze. We had the contractor who installed the bathroom and come over and he said the pipes burst, soaked the inuslation causing it to fall down. I just can't fathom that both pipes burst at the same time if the insulation was properly installed. There are no staples or anything indicating that the insulation was secured inside the wall, but I'm not a builder so I don't really know what I should be looking for.

What are my options if the contractor refuses to do anything to rectify the situation? Can I take him to small claims court? What would be thr process? Anything else?

Thanks!

[donald cherry]

that would be hard to show poor workmanship, I don't think you have a case??

[rscalzo]

The plumber removed the sink. He did not install the water lines inside the wall so he's not going to do anything unless paid to do so. Nor should he as it's not his problem. Insulate them properly and reseal the wall.

Why do you find it odd both would freeze? The insulted area with low temps lately. Hot water pipes will freeze before cold water pipes. Whoever installed those lines did a poor job.

[Hal Jalikeakick]

If the amount of damage warrants, submit the claim to your Homeowners Insurance. If the adjuster thinks that the contractor's negligence lead to the pipe freezing, your insurance company can pursue subrogation against him.

If they are are successful, you'll even get your deductible back.

[Marc Paolella]

Originally Posted by Hal Jalikeakick

If the amount of damage warrants, submit the claim to your Homeowners Insurance. If the adjuster thinks that the contractor's negligence lead to the pipe freezing, your insurance company can pursue subrogation against him.

If they are are successful, you'll even get your deductible back.

Submitting a claim for something like this is the quickest path to having your homeowners insurance cancelled. This type of insurance should only be used for cataclysms.

[sjinnj]

The contractor called and stated that they were going to reinsulate the wall and patch the hole. I am happy with that as I don't think I could proove negligence.

[nybbler]

If these pipes are unused and on an external wall, your best bet would be to remove them entirely, all the way back to where they branch off or at least to where they enter the external wall.