Loft insulation and damage - insurance claims

[broken biscuit]

A week ago we had extra loft insualtion fitted. A leaflet came with the post a month ago, I phoned up and they came to inspect and then booked an appointment.

The installer duly came, installed the loft insulation and left. We went up and put some battens up the same night and then boarded a small area of the attic before putting all our belongings back up.

36hrs later I noticed a funny smell in the upstairs but put it down to the heating just kicking in. The following day (48hrs after installation) I went into the bedroom and saw water running down the walls. I went straight up in the attic and found that the overflow pipe from the water tank in the attic had come apart on the joint. This hasn't just 'happened', the installer must have caught the pipe while fitting insulation as theres no-one else been in that part of the attic.

As a result of the overflow releasing into the attic rather than outside, it has wrecked one part of the ceiling - bowing and sagging - and marked two other ceilings with damp patches. Also I have wet walls and carpets in a bedroom.

I phoned the installer who asked me to hire a dehumidifier. I did this, and phoned them back as the room is out of used due to sagging ceiling. They have referred this to their insurers who sent an assessor today. He has looked and said its not straight forward, and wont guarantee the insurers will pay, as there was gaffer tape around the pipe. I have no idea where this came from, as I have only been in the attic where the tank is once, and that was in 2009 to install CCTV.

The assessor basically said they werent going to rush, it may take weeks to get any work commenced or liability agreed. I have since phoned my home insurer and commenced a claim with them. How can I get this pushed on quickly - I live in a 2 bed house with 2 kids, and one bedroom is out of action due to damp and sagging ceilings.

How long / how big a job is it to rip down a couple of ceiling boards, fit new, artex and decorate a room?

[Rosscow]

It isn't a massive job to be honest.

It doesn't help that its covered in insulation now though!

While you're at it, rip the whole ceiling down, replace, tape and joint and leave the artex in the 80's

[Grandad Gaz]

Rosscow said:

While you're at it, rip the whole ceiling down, replace, tape and joint and leave the artex in the 80's

and don't forget to change the ballvalve while you are at it!

[Flanders.]

Did you find out why the Tank was overflowing? Was it the Header Tank or Large Tank? The issue is the installers may try and get out of paying for it as alot Overflow pipes aren't fitted right in the first place, what company installed your Loft as I work in the industry and might be able to find they're T's and C's.

[broken biscuit]

Tank had overflowed due to us not being there to use the water. IUt only ever overflows if we dont use the shower / bath for a day or more. We bathed the kids saturday morning, had showers etc. It appears the ballcock is a bit corroded but does shut off. It's not something i've ever bothered about, not having been in the attic other than to store crap.

The joint didn't fail. It was a push-fit 22mm plastic pipe joint. When the loss adjuster looked at it, it wasnt easy to pull apart, but if you pushed the pipe as if you had say, caught it with a foot or a roll of insulation, it popped apart. I don't care who pays, as long at it gets sorted asap and I grt my house back.

As for the artex, it's there, it was in 1992 when the house was built, and one room without it will look stupid, so it will be going back up.

[dirkgently]

So you had a known problem but left it to the secondary line of defence to sort out. I cant see that playing out well with the insurance.

[Martyn D]

With virtually all the insurance work we do they state if the customer has not made reasonable effort to prevent damage occurring they won't fund the repair.

[897sma]

The tank shouldn't overflow in the first place. Your ball valve should shut off when it reaches the top!! You knew it was faulty and did nothing. Had this happened in the winter the pipe would likely have frozen anyway from the constant trickle of water.

Whoever installed the plastic overflow pipe should also have used PVC adhesive when bonding together to stop the joints coming apart easily. Natural expansion of the pipe and whatever it is fixed to could work the joints apart over time.

[broken biscuit]

dirkgently said:

So you had a known problem but left it to the secondary line of defence to sort out. I cant see that playing out well with the insurance.

i knew my overflow worked as intended ie it drained outside. the ballcock functions correctly. it wouldnt have been a problem had the fitter not knocked the pipe apart ie had i not had the contractor in then it would never have been disturbed. i doubt im going to pursue a claim against builders who may not have fitted some pipe glue 20yrs ago. im waiting for our contents insurers assessor to visit. will see what they say.

[Engineer1]

dirkgently said:

So you had a known problem but left it to the secondary line of defence to sort out. I cant see that playing out well with the insurance.

Precisely - You say it was working correctly it wasn't the overflow is there INCASE the tank overflows. The ball valve is there to stop the water overflowing. Now if you are RELYING on the back up you can't complain if the back up fails, as it is the back up. Finally if you were relying on a back up it would have been a good idea to warn the loft insulation guy as normally the pipe isn't really used.

[Flanders.]

Martyn D said:

With virtually all the insurance work we do they state if the customer has not made reasonable effort to prevent damage occurring they won't fund the repair.

Same with our insurance company, if one of our guys had done the loft I doubt they would pay out. Sorry op but if you need the room back in use ASAP get your house insurance on it.