Quick answer: Did you know your homeowners insurance company can ask you to prove your plumbing is in good condition? In Florida it happens at renewal, after a water claim, when a home passes 25 or 30 years old, or when a 4-point inspection flags the plumbing section. BSP1 Plumbing offers a plumbing inspection for insurance for $295: a licensed plumber (CFC1432849) checks your water heater, supply lines, angle stops, P-traps at every sink, prior leak areas, outdoor faucets and more, then gives you a written report with photos that you can hand to your insurer or agent. Drain cleaning, sewer camera inspections and repairs are not included and are quoted separately.
Why your insurance company is asking
Water damage is the most frequent homeowners claim in Florida, and non-weather water losses (a burst supply line, a failed water heater, a leaking angle stop) cost carriers more than almost anything else. So underwriters now look at plumbing the way they look at roofs. Depending on the carrier you may receive a plumbing certification form to be completed by a licensed plumber, a request for photos of the water heater and supply lines, a letter about polybutylene or galvanized pipes, or a non-renewal notice that can be reversed with a passing inspection. Some carriers ask for it every year on older homes. Answering with a proper report from a licensed plumber is usually faster and cheaper than shopping for a new policy.
What the $295 insurance inspection covers
- Water heater: age from the serial number, tank condition, T&P relief valve and discharge line, drain pan and pan drain, expansion tank, water connections, gas flex or electrical hookup, strapping and venting where applicable
- Supply lines and pipe material: copper, CPVC, PEX, galvanized steel or polybutylene, with photos of the visible piping and any corrosion
- Angle stops and fixture supply lines: every toilet and sink, plus the washing machine hoses, refrigerator and dishwasher lines (rubber hoses and corroded stops are the most common failures)
- P-traps and drain connections at sinks: leaks, corroded metal traps, S-traps and loose slip joints
- Prior leak areas: staining, patched drywall, soft cabinets and other evidence of past water intrusion, with a note on whether the cause was repaired
- Outdoor faucets and the main shut-off: hose bibs, the main valve and pressure regulator, plus a static water pressure reading
- And more: washing machine box, water softener or filter connections, visible drain lines and any item your carrier’s form specifically lists
You receive a written report with photos within 24 to 48 hours. If your carrier sent a form, such as the Tower Hill Plumbing System Certification Form, we complete and sign the plumbing portion as part of the same visit.
What is not included, and why
The $295 inspection is a visual and functional check of the supply side and the fixtures, which is what insurers ask for. It does not include drain cleaning, a sewer camera inspection, electronic leak detection or any repair. If you want the condition of the main sewer line documented too, for example before buying an older home, see our home buyer plumbing inspection with sewer camera. Any repair we recommend is quoted separately, and once it is done we re-verify the item and update your report so the insurer sees a passing result.
The items that most often fail an insurance plumbing inspection
A water heater older than 12 to 15 years, or one without a drain pan or a correctly routed relief line. Polybutylene supply pipe, which many carriers will not insure at all. Galvanized steel supply lines with visible rust. Rubber washing machine hoses instead of braided stainless. Corroded or frozen angle stops that will not shut off. Active drips under sinks, S-traps and slip joints held together with tape. Evidence of a previous leak with no proof of repair. Most of these are small, same-day fixes; the water heater and a repipe are the two that take planning, and financing is available for both.
How to prepare for the visit
Clear the space under the kitchen and bathroom sinks and around the water heater, have the letter or form your insurer sent, and know where your main shut-off is if you can. The inspection takes about 45 to 75 minutes for a typical single-family home. You do not need to be home for the whole visit, but we recommend being there for the walk-through at the end so the findings are clear before the report goes to the carrier.
Do you need a 4-point inspection or a plumbing inspection?
A 4-point inspection covers roof, electrical, HVAC and plumbing and is performed by a licensed home inspector. We are licensed plumbers, not home inspectors, so we do not issue 4-point reports. What we do is the plumbing part done properly: the plumber-signed certification forms, the detailed plumbing report with photos, and the repairs that make a failed plumbing section pass. If your 4-point flagged plumbing, this inspection is the next step.
Why Central Florida homeowners call BSP1 Plumbing
Licensed, insured and bilingual (CFC1432849), with upfront pricing and reports your insurer accepts. We serve Orlando, Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Lake Nona, Celebration, Hunters Creek and all of Central Florida. Call (321) 732-5615. ★★★★★ Hundreds of 5-star reviews on Google.
Frequently asked questions
Does the $295 plumbing inspection for insurance include repairs?
No. It includes the inspection of the water heater, supply lines, angle stops, P-traps, prior leak areas and outdoor faucets, plus the written report with photos. Repairs, drain cleaning and camera inspections are quoted separately.
Which insurance companies accept your report?
Our reports are signed by a Florida-licensed plumbing contractor, which is what carriers request. We regularly complete plumbing forms for Florida homeowners policies; bring the form your company sent and we will fill out the plumbing portion.
How often does my insurer want this done?
Many carriers ask for it at renewal on homes over 25 to 30 years old, after a water claim, or every year on homes with older water heaters or pipe materials. Check your renewal letter; an annual inspection also catches small leaks before they become a claim.
How fast can you come out?
Usually within one or two business days in Orlando, Kissimmee and St. Cloud, and the report follows within 24 to 48 hours, so a renewal deadline is rarely a problem.
