# Insurance for building drying, leak detection and water damage restoration in Germany

> After a burst pipe, your dryers run day and night in other people's homes, often for weeks. Leak detection means drilling and opening up; water damage restoration means removing screed and insulation. This page explains which insurance firms for building drying, leak detection and water damage restoration in Germany need and what it costs.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-building-drying-and-water-damage-restoration.php  
Updated: 2026-10-15

## Are my dryers insured while they are at the customer's home?

Usually not under normal contents insurance, which only covers your premises. Equipment on site needs electronics or equipment cover that applies away from your premises and includes theft. With a large fleet of dryers, a blanket policy based on total value is worth it.

## At a glance

- **Compulsory:** No compulsory insurance for the business; motor liability is required for every vehicle
- **Biggest risk:** Fire or water damage caused by your own equipment at a customer's home, and mould after incomplete drying
- **Basic cover from:** about €400 a year for public liability for a small business, a guide figure from our quoting work
- **Statutory accident insurance:** Employees are insured by law through the Berufsgenossenschaft (statutory accident insurer); owners can join voluntarily
- **Often forgotten:** Dryers and meters on other people's sites are usually not covered by contents insurance

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **Equipment fire:** A dryer overheats in a cellar at night and the fire spreads to the house.
- **Drilling into a pipe:** During leak detection or insulation drying, the drill hits a cable or heating pipe.
- **Incomplete drying:** Screed is signed off too early and mould appears under the new floor months later.
- **Theft:** Dryers and meters disappear from building sites and underground car parks.
- **Invoice disputes:** Owners or insurers paying the bill cut run times and electricity costs.
- **Water from your own work:** A hose comes loose and condensate damages parquet and furniture.

**Risk radar** (Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.): Liability 5, Fire and water 4, Theft 4, Cyber 2, Downtime 3, Health 3

## The insurance you need

- **Business liability** (Essential): Pays for injury and property damage at the customer's home, including damage from your work, to pipes and from your equipment. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-liability.php
- **Electronic equipment** (Strongly advised): Covers dryers, leak detection and measuring equipment on site against breakdown, theft and water. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-electronic-equipment.php
- **Car insurance** (Strongly advised): Compulsory for every vehicle; from three vehicles a fleet policy is worth considering. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-car-insurance.php
- **Business legal expenses** (Strongly advised): For unpaid invoices from owners, managers and insurers, and for disputes over defects. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-legal-expenses.php
- **Business contents** (Depends on the business): Replaces stores and equipment at your premises after fire, burglary or water damage. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-contents.php
- **Business interruption** (Depends on the business): Pays fixed costs if your store or equipment is out of action after a loss. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-interruption.php
- **Cyber insurance** (Depends on the business): For job software, measurement logs and customer data that are encrypted or stolen. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-cyber-insurance.php

## What it costs: example prices

Premiums depend on turnover, staff, the value of your equipment and whether you only dry or also remove screed, insulation and floors.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Business liability | Small drying firm, two people, €5 million cover | about €400 to €800 a year |
| Business liability | Restoration firm with eight staff, leak detection and strip out | about €1,200 to €2,800 a year |
| Electronic equipment | 60 dryers and meters worth €120,000, with off premises and theft cover | about €1,200 to €3,000 a year |
| Business legal expenses | Contract and debt collection legal expenses | about €450 to €1,000 a year |
| Car insurance | Van up to 3.5 tonnes, liability and partial cover | about €700 to €1,400 a year |

For comparison: Equipment cover for a mid sized fleet of dryers costs about as much a year as two new condensation dryers.

_Guide figures from our quoting work, excluding German insurance premium tax, October 2026. Your premium depends on your business, region and claims history; we obtain the exact quote for you._

- [Pflichtversicherungsgesetz, § 1: compulsory motor liability](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pflvg/__1.html)
- [SGB VII, § 2: persons insured by law](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_7/__2.html)
- [SGB VII, § 6: voluntary insurance](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_7/__6.html)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Start** (small drying firm with a few machines): Business liability, Electronic equipment, Car insurance. Together: about €1,600 to €3,200 a year
- **Restoration** (firm with leak detection, strip out and several vehicles): Business liability, Electronic equipment, Car insurance, Business legal expenses. Together: about €3,500 to €8,000 a year
- **All round** (restoration company with store, large equipment fleet and vehicles): Business liability, Electronic equipment, Car insurance, Business legal expenses, Business contents, Business interruption, Cyber insurance. Together: individual, usually from about €8,000 a year

## The worst day in building drying

Six claims drying and restoration firms really see, all on one day. Click through and see who pays.

- 06:50: Four dryers have disappeared overnight from an underground car park. (€5,200, Paid by: Electronic equipment)
- 09:20: Drilling for insulation drying hits the underfloor heating. (€6,800, Paid by: Business liability)
- 11:40: A condensate hose comes loose and water runs under the living room parquet. (€7,500, Paid by: Business liability)
- 14:10: The equipment van scrapes a pillar while manoeuvring. (€2,400, Paid by: Car insurance)
- 16:30: A property manager cuts the invoice by half the drying time. (€3,600, Paid by: Business legal expenses)
- 02:10: A dryer overheats in a cellar; the fire damages storage rooms and stairwell. (€42,000, Paid by: Business liability)

**Damage so far:** €67,500

## Practical tips from your broker

- Insure dryers and meters with off premises and theft cover, not just at your base.
- Have damage from your work and to pipes expressly included in public liability.
- Check equipment regularly and keep records; after a fire you will be asked.
- Record moisture readings at the start and end of drying; they prove your work.
- Agree run times and electricity costs in writing before you start.
- Tell the insurer if you also strip out screed and insulation or treat mould.

## Why NAMMERT for your business

- **We know water damage:** In boat insurance we handle claims ourselves, including water in the hull. We know how drying is documented and billed.
- **We compare for you:** As an insurance broker, Norman Nammert compares several insurers and checks off premises cover and damage from your work.
- **Business and fleet in one place:** Equipment, vehicles and private provision are handled together.
- **Family run since 1989:** Our advice is free for you; the insurer pays our commission.

## FAQ

### What insurance does a building drying firm need?

Public liability including damage from your work and to pipes, equipment cover that applies on site, and compulsory motor liability for your vehicles.

### Is public liability compulsory?

Not by law. Property managers and clients regularly ask for proof.

### Who pays if my dryer starts a fire at the customer's home?

Public liability pays for the damage to the house. The dryer itself is only replaced under equipment or electronics cover.

### Are stolen dryers on site covered?

Only with off premises and theft cover in your electronics or equipment policy. Contents insurance usually only applies at your premises.

### What does insurance for a drying firm cost?

From our quoting work, public liability starts at about €400 a year; with equipment cover and a van, a small firm usually pays €1,600 to €3,200.

### Are my employees covered for accidents at work?

Yes, employees are insured by law through the Berufsgenossenschaft. As the owner you can join voluntarily.

## Request quotes

We obtain quotes and come back with a comparison, free of charge. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-building-drying-and-water-damage-restoration.php#anfrage

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Your broker: Norman Nammert, trading as NAMMERT. Insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act. Broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH is a separate company. It does not arrange your contract.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, Karl-Marx-Straße 4, 15711 Königs Wusterhausen, +49 3375 29 12 77, info@nammert.com. Wikidata: Q141141479.