If you’ve recently discovered a leak in your home, you might think filing a claim is a straightforward process. Unfortunately, for many homeowners—especially here in Florida—it can quickly turn into a nightmare.
My name is Mike Keeler, and as a licensed public adjuster, I see insurance companies “morphing” their tactics every day to find new ways to deny claims. They aren’t just looking for facts; they are looking for the “ingredients” to bake a Denial Pie.
Here are three of the sneakiest tricks they are currently using against you.
ways insurance companies try to reject water damage
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1. The “Home Inspection” Trap (For Newer Homeowners)
If you purchased your home within the last five years, companies like Universal and others often use a specific strategy to shift blame.
The Tactic: They will demand the home inspection report from when you originally bought the house.
The Goal: They want to find any minor note the inspector made years ago and blame the current leak on that. They essentially try to pin the responsibility on the home inspector or claim the issue was a “pre-existing condition” that you failed to fix.
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2. The “Innocent” Plumber Question
When a field adjuster visits your home, they often act like your best friend. They might casually ask: “So, what plumbers have you used over the last few years?”
The Tactic: Homeowners often volunteer this information thinking it’s harmless.
The Goal: The insurance company is looking for a pattern of issues. If you’ve had a plumber out for minor repairs or maintenance in the past, they will use that history to argue that your home is “poorly maintained.” They want to reclassify your “sudden and accidental” leak as “wear and tear”—which is standardly excluded from Florida policies.
3. The “Plumber Assessment Form” (The Newest Trick)
This is the most dangerous play in the insurance company’s playbook right now. They may send you a form and ask you to have your contractor or plumber fill it out to “expedite your claim.”
The Tactic: They pressure you to have a third party (your plumber) answer technical questions about the source and duration of the leak.
The Goal: They are looking for very specific “denial ingredients.” For example:
Question: “How long has the leak been occurring?”
The Trap: If your plumber writes “I don’t know” or “maybe a few days,” the insurance company can interpret that as “constant or repeated seepage,” which allows them to deny the claim under the “long-term leak” exclusion.
Pro Tip: You have a duty to cooperate with your insurance company under your policy, but your plumber does not. You cannot control what a plumber writes, and once it is on that form, the insurance company will use it as evidence against you.
How to Protect Yourself
If an insurance company (with the possible exception of USAA, who tends to be more reasonable) sends you one of these “Assessment Forms,” my advice is simple: Crumple it up and throw it in the garbage.
You can still cooperate with the adjuster by telling them what the plumber told you verbally, but you are not required to have your contractor sign away your rights on their proprietary forms.
Need Help with a Florida Claim?
Insurance companies are savvy, but you don’t have to fight them alone. If you have questions about a water damage claim or feel like your company is trying to “bake a denial pie” at your expense, reach out for a consultation.
Name: Mike Keeler, Licensed Public Adjuster (Florida)
Expertise: Representing policyholders against insurance companies to ensure fair payouts.
Resources: Check the IICRC standards for how professional water restoration should be handled.
