Insurance adjusters are often faced with a large loss caused by water leakage from plumbing systems. Investigating the cause is an integral part of the claims adjustment process since it bears on insurance coverage as well as potential subrogation. The first step is finding the source and determining the nature of the leak. Was this a result of some manipulation of valves, either intentional or unintentional, or perhaps a failure of the pipe system?
Photographing the leakage source and documenting the circumstances of the leakage is helpful for those performing a more detailed analysis of the problem. The following case study serves to illustrate a water leakage loss as a result of a failed pipe.
Figure 1 shows a water valve that became detached from a 2.5 inch pipe, causing flooding of lower floors of a high-rise building and a multi-million dollar loss. The pipe failed in the threaded section as shown in Figure 2 (arrow).
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