Standard homeowners insurance usually does not cover the cost of repairing or replacing a broken, collapsed, or clogged sewer line. However, resulting water damage to your home and optional add-on protections can often cover these expensive issues.
Standard homeowners insurance may only cover sewer line damage caused by sudden, accidental perils such as fire, explosion, or impact. Gradual wear, root intrusion, corrosion, or poor maintenance are typically excluded from standard policies.
Avoid making guesses or unsupported statements about what caused the damage to your property. Speculating can lead to inaccuracies in the adjuster's report, potentially affecting your claim.
Common Sewer Line Problems
To clear a main sewer line clog, use an industrial-strength chemical main line opener (like Green Gobbler Main Line Opener or Instant Power Main Line Cleaner), or physically clear the blockage using a motorized drain auger (sewer snake). For severe blockages or tree roots, an auger is the most effective solution.
Drains in hard-to-reach areas, such as underground pipes or sewer lines, require additional effort and equipment. Unblocking these drains can cost between £250 and £500 or more, depending on the complexity of the task.
The insurance company that denies the most claims depends heavily on the type of insurance you are referring to:
How to Intimidate the Insurance Adjuster
The 80% rule in homeowners insurance dictates that your dwelling coverage must equal at least 80% of your home’s total replacement cost. Meeting this threshold ensures your insurance company covers the full cost of repairs (minus your deductible) for a covered loss.
The Signs You May Need Main Sewer Line Replacement Service
PMRs for malignancies of the stomach, kidney, brain, and lymphopoietic system were also elevated, especially among plumbers. Chronic rheumatic heart disease, emphysema, liver cirrhosis, and all external causes of death were the major non-cancer causes with significantly elevated PMRs.
3 Plumbing Pipe Materials You Don't Want In Your Home
Damage caused by most disasters is covered but there are exceptions. Standard homeowners policies do not cover flooding, earthquakes or poor maintenance. Flood coverage is provided by the federal government's National Flood Insurance Program, although it is purchased from an insurance agent.
Recurring sewer backups typically mean there is an issue deep in your main line rather than a simple clog in a single fixture. The most common causes are tree roots invading pipes, buildup of "flushable" wipes or grease, collapsed or sagging pipes (a "belly"), or city sewer overloads during heavy rain.
Generally speaking, you're usually responsible for drains inside the boundaries of your property, while the sewerage company is responsible for lateral drains, which are usually outside of property boundaries, and sewers. Although most sewers are now publicly owned, there are still some private or unadopted sewers.
One hidden truth is that insurance companies often aim to minimize their payouts. Adjusters may downplay the extent of the damage, offer lowball settlements, or employ various tactics to delay the claim settlement process.
Common Reasons for Claim Denials
Police Reports. First, an insurance company will request to see any police reports associated with your accident.
Some key phrases to avoid saying to an insurance adjuster include:
Popular Insurance Companies with the Most Complaints
State Farm is the #1 insurance company in the U.S. overall by market share and direct premiums written. However, the top ranking depends on the specific category of insurance you are looking for.
Standard, hand-powered drain-clearing tools aren't effective against a clog caused by tree roots that have entered an underground pipe. Contact a professional plumber to clear this type of blockage. And if the blockage is under the road or sidewalk, it may even be the city's responsibility to fix it, not yours.
Don't ignore these signs