Chaz & AJ invite David Biller of Biller Associates Public Insurance Adjusters onto the show to discuss common issues that happen with extreme cold weather. David informs the WPLR listeners that there will be a lot of frozen pipes and radiator malfunctions due to the cold weather. Did you know? At 20 degrees outside, it only takes 6 to 8 hours for pipes to freeze and this doesn’t take into account wind chill factors.
Chaz & AJ ask David Biller all about coverage as it relates to frozen pipe insurance claims, radiator malfunction insurance claims and much more.
In most instances, when a frozen pipe bursts, the damages are covered by the insurance company. With that said, the insurance company always has their parent companies interest first and yours last. The insurance company will go to great lengths to either not cover your damages, for example, if the homeowner does not show proof of proper heat in the home, do not expect a check.
Slow faucets, noisy pipes, condensation are a true sign of pipe issues so if you catch it quickly, you can avoid burst pipes and damages. If you think you have a frozen pipe, you first need to turn off your water!! Secondly, you need to slowly thaw out the frozen pipe or pipes. It is important to note, often times as things begin to thaw, the damage can become worse, so contact Biller Associates if you suspect damages.
Chaz and AJ discuss furnace issues and ask David about insurance coverage. If the furnace just goes by normal wear and tear, your insurance company will not cover the furnace expenses and or damages. However if the furnace goes and you were maintaining proper heat and your pipes freeze causing significant damages you will likely be able to claim the damages.
Chaz and AJ ask David Biller about how the insurance company actually gets information on whether or not the homeowner provided proper heat in the home. David expressed that insurance companies go to great lengths by reviewing utility records, electric bills, oil usage/deliveries and gas usage/deliveries. David has seen insurance companies bring in engineers to track electrical usage and measure this against the required usage to operate a proper heating source.
“Anything they can do to avoid paying the homeowner, the insurance company will do it”.
This is only a summary of the first 4 minutes and 40 seconds…listen and learn more.