Your insurer sent a Poly B letter. Here is exactly what to do
A non-renewal or conditional renewal notice feels like a fire alarm, but it comes with a clock you can work with. Here is what the letter really means and the steps that keep you covered.
The 30-second answer
Don't ignore the letter and don't panic. Call your broker today, get the insurer's exact requirement in writing, and get replacement quotes moving. Most conditional renewals give a 60 to 90 day window, and a completed repipe with the right paperwork resolves almost all of them.
What the letter means
Canadian insurers treat Poly B as an elevated risk because water damage is the most expensive category of home claim and Poly B has a known failure pattern as it ages.1 Insurer responses typically escalate through four tiers: a premium surcharge, a water-damage exclusion on the policy, a conditional renewal with a remediation deadline, and finally non-renewal or refusal to write a new policy until the pipe is replaced.2
A conditional renewal with a 60 to 90 day deadline has become the most common response from major carriers, based on field-reported broker experience.2 One tier deserves special caution: a water-damage exclusion leaves your policy looking intact while removing coverage for exactly the claim a Poly B home is most likely to make.
The steps, in order
Take the deadline seriously
If your coverage lapses and you have a mortgage, your lender can force-place insurance at roughly two to four times normal cost, with worse coverage. The deadline in the letter is the whole game.2
Call your broker and get the requirement in writing
Ask exactly what the insurer requires and by when: full replacement, or is a monitored automatic water shut-off device an accepted interim measure? Some insurers accept a ULC or CSA approved shut-off system with multiple sensors as a bridge while work is scheduled.3 Get the answer in writing.
Know what proof insurers accept
The standard package is a contractor completion certificate stating full removal of the Poly B, the replacement material (PEX), Red Seal certification of the plumbers, pressure test results, and the contractor's licence details.2 Partial or spot repairs generally do not reinstate coverage, because every Poly B line in the house has aged on the same timeline.4
Get quotes moving now
A full repipe typically takes two to nine days on site, but contractor scheduling is the long pole inside a 60 to 90 day window. Ask each contractor whether their paperwork matches the insurer package above, and whether drywall repair and paint are included.
Close the loop with the insurer
Send the completion certificate to your broker, confirm in writing that the condition is cleared, and ask what happens to your premium. Replacing Poly B removes the surcharge risk and, just as important, removes the wear-and-tear argument insurers use to deny gradual-leak claims.1
If you're not sure you even have Poly B
Start with the visual identification guide. Ten minutes at the hot water tank and under the kitchen sink usually settles it, and telling your insurer accurately matters: failing to disclose Poly B when asked can itself void coverage.1
Common questions
Can my insurer really refuse to renew over pipes that have never leaked?
Yes. Renewal is the insurer's choice, and Poly B's age and failure record make it a standard underwriting concern. No court ruling forces insurers to cover or refuse Poly B homes; it's carrier discretion, which also means brokers can often find another market.
Can I just switch to a different insurance company?
Sometimes. Carrier positions vary and change by renewal cycle, and a broker can shop the market for you. Expect the Poly B question on every application, and expect surcharges or conditions to follow the pipe until it's replaced.
Will my water damage claim be paid in the meantime?
It depends on your policy wording. Insurers commonly classify Poly B failures as gradual deterioration rather than sudden and accidental damage, which is the basis used to deny claims. Check whether your policy carries a water-damage exclusion and ask your broker to confirm your position in writing.1
Sources for this page
- Canadian insurer and broker guidance on Poly B and water damage coverage
- Field-reported Canadian carrier practice compiled from broker and industry accounts
- Realtor and industry reporting on insurer-accepted water mitigation devices
- Canadian plumbing industry documentation on full versus partial replacement
Carrier positions change each renewal cycle and vary by province, home, and claims history. Verify your insurer's current requirements with your broker. Facts above are drawn from the documents named and rewritten for clarity.
Published by Poly B Plumbing Guys
This library is maintained by the team that replaces Poly B every day across Alberta and BC. Red Seal certified plumbers, full remove-replace-restore service including drywall and paint, a 25-year warranty, and the completion certificate insurers ask for.
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