Exterior Water Service Line Coverage
$7.95/mo
$23.85/qtr
$95.40/yr
James and Carrie of Spring, Texas had been away for a long weekend when they reentered their home and smelt a strong odor of gas. While they were initially very concerned about the smell, they walked around a bit and it seemed to dissipate.
“We checked the stove burners and they were off, and after a few minutes, we didn’t smell it anymore,” said Carrie. “So, we decided to give it another day or two before making any calls.”
(Note: HomeServe recommends calling 911 the moment you smell a strong gas odor in your home.)
Another couple of days went by, and Carrie, who worked out of a home office, realized that she started to get headaches and was beginning to faintly smell the gas odor again. That was enough for her to call their gas utility, CenterPoint, who reminded her that she had signed up for a repair plan by HomeServe that covered the interior and exterior gas line.
“I had been wanting to sign up for a repair plan or two for a while when I finally pulled the trigger a few months ago,” said Carrie. “I figured for a few extra dollars on the bill, peace of mind couldn’t hurt, and with an older home, you just never know. I had no idea it would come to use so soon.”
Once HomeServe was briefed on the situation, a local and reliable member of the contractor network, FYI Plumbing, was dispatched to the home. They immediately began their gas leak detection process on the interior gas line. After a few hours, the plumbers at FYI Plumbing counted nine spots that the line was leaking gas, including near a nonfunctioning gas fireplace in the home as well as near an HVAC unit in the attic.
"I figured for a few extra dollars on the bill, peace of mind couldn’t hurt, and with an older home, you just never know. I had no idea it would come to use so soon."
“They told us this was a real risk, and that it was a good thing we called when we did,” said Carrie. “The home is old, so the windows are a bit drafty, which really helped our safety in this situation.”
It was determined that over 100 feet of the home’s interior gas line would need to be replaced in total because it was actively leaking gas at all hours of the day and night. When all was said and done, James and Carrie saved $6,500 as well as gained some peace of mind that their home was safe to stay in.
Carrie had first brought up the idea of signing up for repair plans by HomeServe after receiving a few post cards in the mail. Now, after experiencing the savings potential firsthand, she never hesitates to inform her neighbors and loved ones of the benefits.
“While this repair was going on, a neighbor and friend of mine came over and asked what was going on,” said Carrie. “When I explained the situation, she grimaced at how much this was going to cost, but I got to tell her that just because we paid a few extra dollars on the gas bill each month, it wasn’t costing us a dime.”
Published May 14, 2024