homeowner safety valve company for sale
Avoid the headache, hassle and costly repair bills caused by a water or sewer emergency on your property, or an in-home plumbing problem. A single call to Safety Valve takes care of it all.
New to Safety Valve? Enter your address below to check eligibility. Already a customer? Log in to manage your account. You must register first if you haven"t done so.
To start a claim you must call Safety Valve directly at 1-800-713-1613. Work must be done by a Safety Valve referred contractor to be covered so do NOT call a contractor directly or your claim will not be covered.
The curb box allows access to the curb valve, and the curb valve is the valve located on your property that can be used to shut off the water in the event of an emergency water line leak.
Regulations require that the water line on your property is the homeowner"s responsibility. Depending upon your local water utility"s rules and regulations, you may also be responsible for the water line in the street. (To verify what specific and/or other parts of the water system you own, we suggest that you contact your local water utility for clarification.)
The Water Line Protection Plan covers from where your water service line connects to your main water valve in your basement to the curb valve located on your property. In some instances, you may also own and be responsible for the water line in the street, which runs from your curb valve on your property to the water main in the street. (We suggest you contact your local water utility for clarification.)
No, the main shut-off valve in your home is not covered under the Water Line Protection Plan. It is the point where the water service line coming into your home ends. We consider the main valve as part of your internal plumbing. If you would like coverage for the main shut-off valve, please review our In-Home Plumbing Protection Plan.
1-800-223-7019. Work must be done by a Safety Valve referred contractor to be covered sodo NOT call a contractor directly or your claim will not be covered.
To start a claim you must call Safety Valve directly at 1-800-713-1613. Work must be done by a Safety Valve referred contractor to be covered so do NOT call a contractor directly or your claim will not be covered.
We do not cover the opening or closing of walls to gain access to pipes. Opening of walls to allow access to pipes is Your responsibility. You are responsible for closing the wall after the repair is complete. Check your homeowners insurance policy; it may cover the cost of handling lead paint and/or closing the wall.
All leaking internal clean water pipes (hot or cold), fittings and valves from the point the supply enters the house up to and including the shut-off valve before each fixture
The sewer line on your property is the homeowner"s responsibility. Depending upon your local sewer department"s rules and regulations, you may also be responsible for the sewer line in the street. (To verify what specific and/or other parts of the sewer system you own, contact your local sewer department or public works department for clarification.)
The curb box allows access to the curb valve, and the curb valve is the valve located on your property that can be used to shut off the water in the event of an emergency water line leak.
Regulations require that the water line on your property is the homeowner"s responsibility. Depending upon your local water utility"s rules and regulations, you may also be responsible for the water line in the street. (To verify what specific and/or other parts of the water system you own, we suggest that you contact your local water utility for clarification.)
The Water Line Protection Plan covers from where your water service line connects to your main water valve in your basement to the curb valve located on your property. In some instances, you may also own and be responsible for the water line in the street, which runs from your curb valve on your property to the water main in the street. (We suggest you contact your local water utility for clarification.)
No, the main shut-off valve in your home is not covered under the Water Line Protection Plan. It is the point where the water service line coming into your home ends. We consider the main valve as part of your internal plumbing. If you would like coverage for the main shut-off valve, please review our In-Home Plumbing Protection Plan.
Over time, unpreventable conditions may cause it to become blocked or collapse, leaving you with the hassle of finding a reliable contractor in a hurry—and an expensive repair bill that"s not usually covered by homeowner"s insurance.
When considering complaint information, please take into account the company"s size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm"s responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.
Weeks ago, Aquarion Water Company must have come a’calling—and since I am visitor-proof, they left an urgent notice on our doorknob. By the way, nothing says *urgent* like a white luggage tag on the front door. I was instructed to contact the company immediately regarding a water leak on our property.
Aquarion refused to be ignored, sending a big white van to pay me a visit. They really stepped it up from the white door tag. This time, the dog alerted me to the vehicular presence in the driveway, and that is where I met my fate. I perp-walked out to the technician feeling rather guilty. After a boots-on-the-ground consultation, I was asked a question that no one in New Canaan is prepared to answer in the affirmative: Do you have water line safety valve insurance?
Ummm, no. You mean those silly letters that I throw away every month and say, “Ha, what sucker buys safety valve insurance?” It was made very clear why the insurance is worth the investment and it was painful. All of the sudden, I had become the New Canaan version of Diane Keaton’s character from “Baby Boom,” and was quite literally, drowning in homeownership hell.
That said, I was quoted up to $10,000 if my leak hide-and-seek project was major. This was not what I had bargained for when I threw away all of those safety valve insurance mailers.
One of the fastest-growing insurers and a company with a 50-year history of protecting families, Mercury Insurance. They offer service line protection as an add-on to its home insurance policies. $10,000 of coverage is paired with an affordable $500 deductible to provide coverage for a broad range of service lines, including sewer lines.
This all depends on your provider, but sewer line coverage is often not built into a standard homeowners policy. Some providers do include it, though, and others offer it as an add-on or standalone policy. Some insurers may offer home warranties that include sewer line damage. Check out some of our favorite homeowners insurance policies below to see if they offer sewer line coverage as part of their available products.
HAMPTON — Several hundred customers of Aquarion Water Company have signed up with Aquarion Services Company, a water company subsidiary, in an insurance program that would pay for repairs to individual water lines on homeowners? property.
The brochure encouraged people to contact their own insurance company, and McNerney noted that his homeowner"s insurance policy covers only part of any such repair work that might need to be addressed.
Michael McNerney"s wife, Lisa, said the issue is about education. "A lot of people don"t realize that the water company"s responsibility goes only to the property line. We didn"t know that," Mrs. McNerney said.
Under the program, all work done must be completed by a company referred contractor. Roberts said that is because the company wants to monitor the work carefully in order to keep insurance premiums down, and so the company has some control over the process.
Roberts said the insurance program "fills the gap between the curb valve where the water company"s responsibility ends and the property owner"s responsibility begins."
Brian Goetz, operations manager at Aquarion Water Company of New Hampshire, based in North Hampton, said he is aware of the program, but it is not run by the local company. "It provides some coverage over pipes that might be cracked by a deep freeze, settling, age, wear and tear ... it"s voluntary insurance," Goetz said.
A spokesperson at the state Public Utilities Commission said she was not aware of any complaints received at the PUC about the water company. PUC Executive Director Deborah Howland said that Aquarion Services Company does not fall under the PUC"s authority.
Aquarion Services Company is a division of Aquarion Water Company of Bridgeport, Conn. , which owns the local water distributor. ASC is based in Bridgeport, Conn.
Until we’re jolted to take notice, most of us forget that the water that flows through our homes and the wastewater that flows out spends time in the area between the street and the front of the house. If something goes wrong with those subterranean pipe systems, the homeowner, not the utility, is responsible. And unlike with leaks inside your home, your homeowners insurance won’t cover the expensive – on average, $2,500 per incident – repairs to water or sewer lines, plus the ensuing landscaping refresh, according to Myles Meehan, senior vice president of public relations at HomeServe USA, a service plan provider.
Every homeowner’s nightmare? You bet, and utility companies have come up with their own solution: They’ll sell you a service plan at a low monthly rate that will cover repairs to and damages from water and sewer lines. (Your utility might also offer plans for power surges, kitchen or laundry appliance failures, water heater replacement, heating and cooling system replacement and more.)
Dominion, the Richmond, Va.-based energy company that services a large part of the East Coast as well as two western states, sells a potpourri of home “warranty” programs, starting at a $1.99 per month. (Prices vary by state. In Virginia, where I live, Dominion charges homeowners $4.99 to $5.99 per month for water line replacement and $5.99 for sewer line repair). Why should homeowners bite?
Many other utilities in the U.S. outsource their insurance-warranty programs to large service providers. One is HomeServe USA, based in Norwalk, Conn., which is partnered with 400 cities, municipalities and utilities serving 2.8 million homeowners, says Meehan. Its service plans are on average $5 per month for water service line coverage and $8 to $10 a month for sewer line coverage.
Alas, sewer line policies may not take effect immediately. James Pecot of Chantilly, Va., noticed a neighbor’s lawn being dug up earlier this spring. The sewer line at that house was clogged and couldn’t be cleared. That’s when Pecot heard about the sewer line insurance being sold by Dominion. He called the company the next day and bought the sewer line warranty, which wouldn’t be effective for 30 days, he was told up front. A week later, the sewer line at the Pecot home failed.
“I called Dominion, and they indicated my coverage was not yet active and we were not covered,” says Pecot. A recommended sewer and plumbing company came out and fixed what turned out to be a cracked pipe that had tree roots growing through it (the plumber said the line could have been cracked 30 years ago, when it was installed). The cost for repairs: $4,700.
But some say homeowners are better off putting that $72 or so per year into a rainy-day fund to cover future unknowns – like when my water heater bit the dust this spring (and I didn’t have a water heater service plan from my utility).
You should also check your homeowners insurance. Most policies don’t automatically cover sewage and drain backups, which can cause expensive damage if water and sewage backs up into your house. It may cost just $50 to add about $10,000 in sewage backup coverage. But that’s for internal work – not for water or sewer line repair outside the home.
Ask about a service-line rider for your policy. Unlike with a service plan from your utility company, you will be able to use your own plumber for the repairs. Then again, you’ll be responsible for dealing with the plumber.
The Warwick Sewer Authority (WSA) strongly encourages homeowners whose properties are connected to sewers to contact the WSA at the first sign of trouble with their sewer system. WSA inspectors are available to respond to a customer’s call and will investigate the nature of the problem. If the problem can be traced to the public sewer collection system, WSA will make the necessary repairs and improvements to the system. If it is determined that the public sewer system is functioning properly, WSA inspectors may be able to assist homeowners in addressing problems with their private service connection.
Temperature/pressure-relief or TPR valves are safety devices installed on water heating appliances, such as boilers and domestic water supply heaters. TPRs are designed to automatically release water in the event that pressure or temperature in the water tank exceeds safe levels.
If temperature sensors and safety devices such as TPRs malfunction, water in the system may become superheated (exceed the boiling point). Once the tank ruptures and water is exposed to the atmosphere, it will expand into steam almost instantly and occupy approximately 1,600 times its original volume. This process can propel a heating tank like a rocket through multiple floors, causing personal injury and extensive property damage.
Water-heating appliance explosions are rare due to the fact that they require a simultaneous combination of unusual conditions and failure of redundant safety components. These conditions only result from extreme negligence and the use of outdated or malfunctioning equipment.
The TPR valve will activate if either water temperature (measured in degrees Fahrenheit) or pressure (measured in pounds per square inch [PSI]) exceed safe levels. The valve should be connected to a discharge pipe (also called a drain line) that runs down the length of the water heater tank. This pipe is responsible for routing hot water released from the TPR to a proper discharge location.
A properly functioning TPR valve will eject a powerful jet of hot water from the discharge pipe when fully activated, not a gentle leak. A leaky TPR valve is an indication that it needs to be replaced. In the rare case that the TPR valve does activate, the homeowner should immediately shut off the water and contact a qualified plumber for assistance and repair.
Inspectors should recommend that homeowners test TPR valves monthly, although inspectors should never do this themselves. The inspector should demonstrate to the homeowner how the main water supply can be shut off, and explain that it can be located at the home"s main water supply valve, or at the water supply shut-off for the appliance on which the TPR is mounted.
The pressure at which a TPR valve will activate is printed on a data plate located beneath the test lever. This amount should not exceed the working pressure limit marked on the data plate of the water-heating appliance it serves.
TPR valves with missing data plates should be replaced.Although a TPR valve might never become activated, it is an essential safety component on boilers and domestic water heaters. Guidelines concerning these valves and their discharge pipes reflect real hazards that every homeowner and home inspector should take seriously. More information about this subject can be found in InterNACHI"s Water Heater Discharge Piping mini-course, InterNACHI"s Plumbing Inspection course or by contacting a qualified plumber.
While it"s possible to manually shut off your natural gas, the following specialized valves are available that can automatically shut off your service in case of an emergency:
Earthquake natural gas shut-off valve (also known as a seismic natural gas shut-off valve) automatically shuts off your natural gas service when an earthquake of a sufficient magnitude occurs at your home.
An excess-flow valve (EFV) automatically closes and restricts the flow of natural gas in the event an underground pipe is damaged or if there is a significant increase in the flow of natural gas to the meter.
If you want to have an earthquake natural gas shut-off installed, or are required to have one by your insurance company or the local Department of Building and Safety, the valve must be installed on your house line.
Under the regulations of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), General Order 112-E, only SoCalGas® or its certified contractors are authorized to operate the natural gas service shut-off valve.
When you hire a qualified professional to install your earthquake valve, you"ll need to make sure that the valve is installed on your house line, not on SoCalGas" facilities. SoCalGas" facilities include all of the pipe fittings installed and maintained by SoCalGas, up to and including the last elbow or tee connecting to your house line. See the diagram below for to see where your house line starts.
All unauthorized valve installations found on SoCalGas" facilities will be removed. In addition, earthquake valves are not permitted in utility curb meter vaults.
If an earthquake or other significant event causes your earthquake shut-off or excess-flow valve to close, you can follow the manufacturer"s instructions for resetting the valve so that natural gas flows again. However, we recommend that you contact a qualified professional or SoCalGas to reset the valve, and to perform a safety check of your natural gas appliances before they are placed back in operation to verify that no natural gas leaks exist, and to re-light your pilot lights.
Remember that following a major emergency it may take many days or even weeks before someone can come to your location. (SoCalGas charges a fee to reset valves and re-light pilot lights when your earthquake shut-off valve has closed due to a non-earthquake occurrence.)
Price: The cost of the valve is going to vary based on the type and size of the valve, as well as the installation requirements and the company installing it.
Choosing a valve: In order to choose the right valve size and manufacturer, contact your local Department of Building and Safety to find out their earthquake valve requirements.
Where to buy a valve: You can purchase an earthquake valve at supply retailers, licensed plumbing contractors, or directly from the valve manufacturer.
Using a contractor: You can hire a qualified professional to install the earthquake or excess-flow valve on your house line. SoCalGas will not install a valve for you.
Effective February 10, 2002, California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) Decision 01-11-068 prohibits installation of an earthquake valve on SoCalGas" facilities. In addition, SoCalGas no longer installs earthquake shut-off valves for its customers, and does not allow any customer owned equipment, including excess-flow valves, be installed on SoCalGas" facilities.
If you have an earthquake valve that was installed by SoCalGas or one of its authorized contractors on or before the February 10, 2002 cutoff date, that is located on SoCalGas" facilities, with proper documentation your installation may be allowed to remain in place. Authorized contractors are those who participated in SoCalGas" earthquake program and were trained by SoCalGas to work on their facilities.
Additional information regarding earthquake valves and natural gas service restoration after a valve activates can be found in Tariff Book, Rule 10, Section G, "Earthquake Valve Service."
An Excess Flow Valve, or EFV, is a safety device installed on natural gas distribution pipelines to automatically close and restrict the flow of natural gas in the event an underground pipe is damaged or if there is a significant increase in the flow of natural gas to the meter. These conditions are typically caused by digging or construction but can also be caused by damage to your natural gas meter by a vehicle impact.