When it comes to sewer lines in your home, problems can get messy real fast. Since problems with a sewer line can build up over time you might think nothing is wrong. Then in the blink of an eye you have a serious problem to contend with. Regardless of the mess than show up, the expense of fixing a sewer can be very costly. It’s not uncommon to wonder, “does homeowners insurance cover sewer line replacement?”
It’s a tough question to answer because this will depend on the type of coverage you hold and how the problem happened. It’s highly recommended that you review you homeowner’s policy regularly so in the case of an emergency like this you’ll already be prepared with a solution.
Sewer lines are an integral part of your dwelling’s plumbing. They take waste water from your home and underground through your yard out the municipal sewer. Your toilet, sinks, basin sink, showers, and all other water systems in your empty into it. It’s easy to flush your toilet and not think about where it goes, but when a problem occurs it will impact your entire home.
There’s a long list of ways your sewer line can become damaged. Problems like clogs from things that shouldn’t be flushed to roots growing into the pipe system can slowly build up over time and suddenly cause serious backups. Fixing issues can range from just hundreds to thousands of dollars so bigger problems can be a financial set back for homeowners.
When the line becomes damaged and doesn’t require replacement you may ask does homeowners insurance cover sewer repair. Unfortunately, insurance is typically used to cover sudden accidents and unforeseen problems. If the problem occurring could have been prevented with proactive measures there’s a change your insurer won’t help.
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It’s not all bad news regarding homeowner’s insurance and your sewer line damage. There be certain situations where your policy will offer coverage. In the event that your sewer line is damaged during an unforeseen accident, the sewer line repair might be covered in that instance. For instance, if a tree in your yard falls and breaks the ground hard enough to damage the line, your coverage may step in to help since the damage was due to an accident.
Since sewer lines are typically buried far underground it’s typically not common for an accident to damage them. Problems usually occur from slowly deteriorating conditions.
Knowing that the out-of-pocket cost to replace a sewer line can be detremental, many insurers offer add-ons like sewer line replacement insurance.
This type of rider is available through some insurers to add more coverage to your existing plan. By adding the coverage for a nominal fee you can avoid hefty out-of-pocket costs when there is damage to your sewer line. In some cases, they’ll have a “service line coverage” policy which would provide coverage to all of your underground utilities like electric, water, and also your sewer lines.
This type of add-on might even help cover the cost of the excavation, labor, and even materials. Should you live in an older home where the sewer lines are many years old, this type of coverage might be beneficial since it’s typically reasonably priced compared to the coverage it provides.
While most policy endorsements cover the cost of repair and replacement, your insurer may have an add-on that will allow coverage on just a simple backup.
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The best way to prepare is to already be familiar with your plan. If you already have an existing policy familiarize yourself with things in it. If you’re unsure about your policy it’s smart to touch base with your agent or customer service at your insurer.
Should you discover that you’re not actually and are now interested in adding coverage, you’ll have a bit more information to share with your agent while shopping. That way in a moment of crisis you can rest assured that having your homework in advance is giving you an advantage.
