Ireland's leading loss assessor
Water damage insurance claims
Water damage at home can happen fast and the disruption it causes can be just as hard to deal with as the damage itself. We manage your water damage claim from start to finish, assessing what has been affected, putting together the evidence, and negotiating with your insurer so you get the settlement you are entitled to.
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First 24 Hours
What to do immediately after water damage
Water keeps moving until you stop it. Turn off the stopcock if a pipe has burst, keep away from electrics near the affected area, and photograph everything before anything gets moved, mopped or thrown out. That evidence is the foundation of your water damage claim.
Hold off on major clean-up or permanent repairs until the damage has been properly inspected. Once a room has been stripped out and redecorated, it becomes much harder to prove what was actually lost. Keep receipts for anything urgent, such as a plumber callout or hired drying equipment, as these costs can form part of the claim.
If you are unsure where to start, talk to a loss assessor before accepting any offer from your insurer.
Understand Your Cover
What’s typically covered in water damage claims
Most Irish home insurance policies cover water damage when it happens suddenly. A burst pipe, a failed washing machine hose, an attic tank that lets go overnight. These fall under what your policy calls escape of water, and they make up a large share of the water damage claims we handle.
Where claims get harder is when the insurer argues the damage happened gradually. A slow leak behind a wall or a drip that went unnoticed for months is often treated as wear and tear or a maintenance issue, and many policies exclude it. The line between sudden and gradual is not always obvious, and insurers do not always draw it fairly. What decides the outcome is your policy wording, the evidence around the cause, and how well the full extent of the damage has been recorded.
Water damage claim types
Explore common water damage insurance claims
Hidden Damage
Hidden damage and mould risk
The wet patch you can see is rarely the full story. Water tracks along joists, soaks into insulation and settles inside wall cavities, sometimes rooms away from the original leak. We regularly inspect properties where the visible damage looked minor and the moisture readings told a very different one.
Miss that hidden moisture and problems surface weeks later: swollen skirting, lifting floors, staining that keeps coming back, and mould. By then the insurer may query whether the new damage relates to the original event at all. A proper assessment maps where the water went, not just where it ended up, so drying and replacement costs are captured in the claim first time round.
Reduce Stress
Why use a loss assessor for water damage claims?
Water damage claims turn on detail. The cause gets disputed, hidden damage gets missed, and the costs run across several headings at once: drying, trace and access, structural repairs, redecoration, contents. Anything left out of the claim is unlikely to appear in the settlement.
A loss assessor works for you, not the insurer. We inspect the damage, gather the evidence and present a claim that reflects the full loss, then deal with the insurer’s loss adjuster on your behalf. That tends to mean fewer delays, fewer missed items and a stronger position when scope or settlement is challenged. OMC Claims act for homeowners nationwide, including a dedicated team of loss assessors in Dublin for claims across the city and county.
Timelines
How long do water damage claims take?
Escape of water claims are often more complex than they first appear because the immediate leak is only part of the issue. The insurer will usually need to consider where the water came from, whether any policy exclusions apply and how far the damage has spread through ceilings, floors, walls or adjoining areas. More straightforward claims may be dealt with within a few weeks, but larger losses involving trace and access, drying works, damaged floors or kitchens, or disputes about gradual damage can take several months. Taking photos straight away, stopping the leak if it is safe to do so and getting the damage properly recorded before major repairs begin can help support the claim and reduce avoidable delay.
With you every step of the way
Why us for water damage insurance claims
Full and Fair Settlements
We build every water damage claim to capture the complete loss, from structural repairs to contents and drying costs, so you receive the settlement you are entitled to under your policy.
Water Damage Negotiation Experts
Our assessors deal with insurers and loss adjusters on water damage claims every week. We know the arguments that arise, from gradual damage to drying scope, and how to answer them.
Full-Service Claim Management
We handle the entire process: policy review, inspection, documentation, submission and negotiation, through to coordinating restoration. You focus on getting your home back to normal.
Thorough by Design
Water damage hides. We look beyond the obvious, checking where moisture has travelled through floors, walls and cavities so nothing is left out of your claim.
Quick Claims Admission
We work to get your claim admitted by the insurer as early as possible, which shortens delays and gets drying and repairs moving sooner.
Transparent Communication
You will know where your claim stands at every stage, from first inspection to final settlement, with no surprises on fees. Our fee is agreed with you in advance.
where we operate
Supporting water damage claims across Ireland
OMC Claims supports homeowners across Ireland with expert help on water damage insurance claims. From major cities including loss assessors in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick to towns and rural communities nationwide, our team is ready to help you manage your claim with confidence. Whether your property has suffered a burst pipe, leak, overflow, or escape of water, we can guide you through the claims process and act on your behalf.
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Water damage claim support
Water damage insurance claim FAQs Ireland
What does 'escape of water' mean on a home insurance policy?
‘Escape of water’ is the term used in most Irish home insurance policies to describe water damage caused by a sudden leak from a pipe, tank, appliance, or fixture. It is one of the most common types of home insurance claim in Ireland. If your policy includes escape of water cover, you may be entitled to claim for the damage caused, including repairs, drying, redecorating, and in some cases, damaged contents. The exact scope of your cover depends on your policy wording. If you are unsure what you are covered for, contact us and we will review your policy as part of a free consultation.
Can I claim on my home insurance for a water leak?
In most cases, yes, provided the leak was sudden and accidental rather than the result of a gradual problem or poor maintenance. Most standard Irish home insurance policies cover escape of water events such as burst pipes, appliance failures, and sudden tank leaks. Whether you can claim, and how much you can recover, depends on your specific policy, the cause of the leak, and how well the damage is documented. If you are unsure whether your situation qualifies, speak to us before contacting your insurer.
What kind of water damage is covered by home insurance?
Most policies cover sudden, accidental water damage, typically referred to as escape of water. This can include burst pipes, leaking appliances, cylinder or tank overflows, and bathroom leaks. Cover is generally harder to establish for damage that built up over time, such as a slow drip behind a wall or a gradual roof leak, as insurers often treat these as maintenance issues. Roof ingress, sewage back-up, and flood damage may be covered separately or excluded depending on your policy. The cause of the damage and how it is evidenced are the two biggest factors that determine your outcome.
Are burst pipes covered by home insurance?
Usually yes, if the damage was sudden. A burst pipe claim can include trace and access costs, which are the costs involved in finding and exposing the source of the leak, drying and dehumidification, structural repairs, redecorating, and damaged contents. The extent of what is covered depends on your policy and the circumstances of the burst. Some policies also cover temporary accommodation if your home becomes uninhabitable. Having a well-documented claim from the outset makes a significant difference to what you recover.
What is trace and access cover and does my policy include it?
Trace and access is a specific element of cover that pays for the cost of locating a hidden leak, for example lifting floorboards, cutting into walls, or excavating pipework to find the source. It does not cover the cost of fixing the pipe itself, but it does cover the damage caused by the search. Many Irish home insurance policies include trace and access as standard, though limits and conditions vary. If a hidden leak has caused significant damage in your home, it is worth checking whether this cover applies before you authorise any investigative work.
What should I do immediately after water damage?
If it is safe to do so, stop the water at the source and turn off the stopcock if a pipe has burst. Avoid using electrics in or near the affected area. Take clear photos and video of the leak, the source, and all damage before anything is moved or cleaned up. Keep receipts for any emergency costs such as a plumber callout or drying equipment hire. Avoid carrying out permanent repairs until the damage has been properly inspected and recorded, as this protects your claim. If you are unsure what to do next, call us and we will advise you immediately.
What should I include on a water damage insurance claim list?
A thorough claim list should cover every item and element affected by the water damage, not just the most obvious. This includes structural damage such as flooring, skirting, plasterwork, ceilings, and joists; all damaged contents and furnishings; drying and dehumidification costs; trace and access costs if a hidden leak was involved; temporary repair costs; and any additional living expenses if you had to vacate part of your home. Insurers assess claims based on what is presented to them. If something is not listed and evidenced, it is unlikely to be included in your settlement. A loss assessor helps ensure nothing is missed.
Is mould after water damage covered by insurance?
It can be, provided you can show that the mould is a direct result of a covered water damage event. Insurers look closely at mould claims and will often question the timeline, the drying steps taken, and whether the original damage was properly reported. The strongest position is one where the water event is clearly documented, professional drying was carried out promptly, and the mould is linked directly to inadequate drying or a hidden moisture issue rather than pre-existing conditions. If mould has appeared following a water damage event in your home, contact us before approaching your insurer.
How long does a water damage claim take to settle?
Escape of water claims can sometimes be resolved within a few weeks where the source of the leak is clear and the damage is limited. More serious cases often take several months, especially where drying is needed, multiple rooms are affected, the cause is disputed or the insurer raises concerns about gradual damage or policy conditions.
How much does a loss assessor cost for a water damage claim?
For water damage claims, our fee is typically 10% plus VAT of the final settlement. This is agreed in advance, so there are no hidden charges. The fee reflects the full scope of work involved, including reviewing your policy, inspecting and documenting the damage, preparing the claim, and negotiating with your insurer on your behalf. Most clients find that having a loss assessor manage their claim results in a more comprehensive settlement than they would have achieved alone, which more than offsets the fee. Your first consultation with OMC Claims is free.
If your question is not covered in the FAQs above, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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