If you live in Florida and your home or commercial property was built before 1975, there’s a good chance that it contains a cast iron plumbing system that has failed or is nearing failure.

Cast iron pipes corrode and deteriorate over time. Pipe deterioration can lead to water damage, water back-ups in the house, clogged or slow drains, leaking sewage, pest infestation, and possible health risks to building occupants. Water damage might take one or more of the following forms:

• Back-ups into the house
• Warped or separated wood floors
• Tinted (raised) floor tiles
• Loose or broken floor tiles
• Water-stained floor tiles (grout)
• Water-stained or discolored carpet, rug, or mat
• Foul smells from sewer gases
• Roach infestation

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Failure of cast iron pipes may cause property damage, but your insurance company could deny coverage, claiming a “water damage” exclusion. Or it might accept your claim, but try to pay you a lowball settlement.

Most homeowners and business owners insurance policies require the insurance company to not only repair the visible water damage, but to also pull up and replace the cast iron plumbing with brand new modern plumbing.

If your home or business was built before 1975, and you have interior water damage, your insurance policy might require your insurance company to replace your old plumbing.

Often, insurance denials are written in a way that makes you think there is nothing that can be done. But even if your insurance company hired an engineer or some other professional to inspect your home, you should still consult an expert to see if you have a case.

Almost every successful cast iron pipe case started with the insurance company saying, “No.” But “No” is not the end of the inquiry, it is just the beginning.

If you live in Florida and think you may have a claim, please contact us for a free case review. If the insurance company is doing the right thing, we will tell you. If not, we will explain what we can do to help. Either way, you are entitled to peace of mind.

There are never any costs unless we win a jury award or settlement. Even then, your insurance company could be responsible for paying the legal fees for both parties.

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