Last January we had a burst pipe in our Ajax semi-detached. The pipe was in an exterior wall of the attached garage — an uninsulated section of the garage wall where supply pipes ran to the laundry. Here is the full account.
Discovery: We came home from a 3-day trip to a kitchen ceiling that was wet and sagging slightly. The pipe had burst while we were away — the water ran for approximately 48 hours before the pressure dropped enough to slow. The kitchen ceiling, one wall of the adjacent powder room, and the garage wall were all wet.
Immediate actions: Main shutoff in the basement — off. Called insurer immediately (this matters — they require early notification). They authorized a restoration company (ServiceMaster) on the call.
The damage:
- Kitchen ceiling: drywall replaced in full (180 sqft) plus insulation above: $3,200
- Kitchen cabinets: lower two cabinets got wet and swelled — replaced 3 cabinet boxes: $1,800
- Powder room wall: one side needed opening for drying, then patch and paint: $1,100
- Garage wall: open and dry, reinstall: $800
- Restoration company (drying, monitoring, documentation): $4,800
The pipe fix: Plumber re-routed the laundry supply away from the exterior wall, insulated the remaining run in the garage wall. $1,200.
Insurance outcome: $12,900 claim paid (minus $1,000 deductible we paid). Our adjuster confirmed coverage for the water damage and restoration — the pipe repair itself was not covered (that is considered maintenance). We paid $1,000 deductible + $1,200 plumber = $2,200 out of pocket.
Lesson: Know where your main shutoff is and test it yearly. Consider a leak detection system — SmartThings Water Sensor on the laundry floor would have alerted us within hours.