Why Insurance Companies Are Requiring Water Shutoff Valves

I'm a licensed C-36 plumbing contractor for Hydro Hero Plumbing in Chula Vista, and I have been installing these devices for some time, mostly in Eastlake, Otay Ranch, and Bonita. There has definitely been a change in the calls I receive. A few years ago, I would receive calls asking about these devices out of simple curiosity. Now, the calls are made because the homeowners received a letter stating they need to install one.

The Call That Started It For Me:

A close friend of mine that is a Navy service member stationed in San Diego and his wife bought a home in Eastlake. They had been in the home less than a month when a pipe burst. Nobody was home at the time. By the time they returned, the damage was severe.

The remediation alone cost tens of thousands of dollars before the rebuild even began. The walls, flooring, cabinets, and subfloor had to be completely removed.

After the remediation process, his insurance company sent him a letter. Before they would renew his homeowner's policy, he was required to have a smart shutoff valve installed on the main water line.

He called me to have it installed. A few hours later, it was done. I also provided his insurance company the paperwork they needed. Comparatively, the cost of the loss was much greater. This device, that costs a few hundred dollars, could have prevented this financial loss.

I now take these requirements more seriously and tell my customers the same thing; this is not a box to check, this is a device to prevent a loss from becoming a claim.

Issac Cruz is the owner of Hydro Hero Plumbing, a licensed C-36 plumbing contractor serving Chula Vista and San Diego County for more than 20 years.