What You Need to Know About Sewer Backup Coverage

2/18/2019 (Permalink)

Be your own advocate and ask your agent about your sewer backup coverage today.

Insurance can be a tricky concept to understand. There’s just so much to know that it’s no surprise that we miss details here and there. One detail we want you to be aware of is your policy regarding sewer backup. Every insurance policy is different in this matter, and we strongly recommend consulting with your agent to ensure you are covered.

It's Becoming More Common

Sewer backup happens all too often when it’s least expected. In fact, sewer backups are increasing at an annual rate of 3%. That’s an alarming percentage because it’s happening in homes that haven’t encountered it for 30 plus years, and it’s also happening in homes that are fairly new. The fact is no discrimination is involved when life decides to throw something unexpected your way.

Protect Your Home 

One way you can protect your home is to add a sewer backup endorsement to your policy. It’ll only cost you $40 to $250 annually depending on your home and location, and it covers thousands of dollars more than the included coverage. Please note this is different from water backup coverage.

It is Your Responsibility

According to Insurance Information Institute, “Most homeowners may not realize that they are responsible for the maintenance and repair of their house or sewer lateral—that is, the pipeline between the city sanitary sewer main (which is usually located in the street) and the building.”

Causes of Increased Sewer Backups:

• Aging sewer lines
• Combined pipelines
• Tree roots
• Sanitary main blockages

Let's Talk Cost

A typical sewer backup can cost anywhere from $500 to over $5,000 in repairs and cleaning. It is heavily dependent on whether or not the sewer backup occurs in a finished basement or not.

Start the Conversation

 We hope this information encourages you to spark up a conversation with your agent because it’s easily overlooked. Even one of our employees found out she didn’t have coverage when she joined our team, but now she’s all set with the additional coverage.

Additional Sources: https://budgeting.thenest.com/