While homeowners insurance protects you against some forms of unexpected water damage, water back-ups and sump pump overflows are usually not covered. You may purchase optional water back-up coverage that may pay for damages in the case of sewage back-up or a malfunctioning sump pump.
Sewer backups can cause thousands of dollars in damage. Unfortunately, most homeowners are not covered under a standard homeowners insurance policy. To make sure you are adequately covered, you should seek a special sewer backup endorsement or, in some cases, a separate policy.
Every year, sewer backups cause damage to millions of households. Many homeowners may not know that they tend to be responsible for the maintenance and repair of the pipeline between their city's sewer main and their building, and if it gets damaged or clogged, it's financially their responsibility to remedy the issue.
Causes of sewer backups
While most basement water problems are not caused by sewer backups, the Civil Engineering Research Foundation reports that the number of backed up sewers is increasing at an alarming rate of about 3 percent annually. There are a number of causes of sewer backups—here are some of the most common.
Not usually. While insurance may help cover damage to your property caused by tree roots, it generally won't cover costs associated specifically with the sewer lines.
How much does water backup coverage cost? The average cost of water backup and sewer coverage may range from $50 to $250 per year, with limits of coverage from $5,000 to the full replacement cost of your home. Talk to your independent insurance agent to find the level of coverage that is right for you.
Sewer and Water Backup coverage is an endorsement on homeowners' policies. It usually comes in different coverage increments: $5,000. $10,000.
Quickly handling sewage backups is important for everyone's safety. If left untreated, it can cause more health problems and damage to the house. It's not something you should ignore. Living in a house with sewage backup is very risky.
A sewage spill can be damaging not only to your home, but also to your finances. Most sewer backup cleanup and restoration services cost between $2,000 and $10,000.
Typically covered: losses caused by water abruptly leaking from a pipe inside the home, frozen/burst pipe if reasonable care is used to maintain heat in the home, water backing-up through a sewer or drain (with Back-up of Sewer or Drain endorsement) and water damage to your home caused by ice dams.
Unfortunately, not all insurance policies provide adequate coverage for sewer backups. Many insurance companies put a sublimit, or cap, on sewer backup damage at $5,000. Even with a deductible of $2,500 or higher, a homeowner with a sewer backup claim could be on the hook for thousands of dollars in uncovered expenses.
Step 1: Call a Plumber
If a sewer backs up into your home or business, it's best to call a plumber first to investigate the cause of the backup. Learn more about how and when to report the problem to Environmental Services.
Tree roots can grow into and obstruct the sewer lines; or extraordinary amounts of rainfall can infiltrate the system and overload it. The courts have made it clear that the city is liable for sewer back-up damages if, and only if, the city's negligence causes damages.
Standard homeowners policies typically won't cover blocked pipes from tree roots or any type of sewage backup.
Sewer laterals are the underground pipes that connect your home wastewater to the main sewer line in the street. Homeowners are responsible for their sewer laterals, while problems with the public sewer main line are managed by the city or municipality.
This pipe, which lies buried under the soil of your yard, can last anywhere from 50-100 years or more, depending on the material from which the pipe is made and the conditions under which it is used.
Clearing a clogged sewer line may take between one and three hours. Performing a complete sewer line replacement using trenchless methods may take two or fewer business days. Replacing a sewer line using traditional trench-reliant methods may take three or more business days.
Municipalities and cities are generally not responsible for sewage that backs up into your home unless there is evidence that the municipality or city was negligent in maintaining, repairing, or installing the main sewer line. Proof of this fact can be difficult and costly.
For instance, residential sewer line depth ranges from 18 to 30 inches. However, city sewer line depths are different. Your city's sewer lines must always be deeper than the deepest residential pipe to allow waste to flow downhill. As such, these lines can go as deep as needed.
Sewage backups bring in dangerous bacteria, viruses, and waste. This poses a big risk to your health. It can cause problems like stomach bugs, skin issues, trouble breathing, and allergies. If your house is not safe because of sewage, get out right away.
In extremely high concentrations, hydrogen sulfide can cause loss of consciousness and death. Suffocation: High concentrations of methane in enclosed areas decrease the amount of oxygen in the air and can cause suffocation. Symptoms of a lack of oxygen include: Dizziness.
For example, if the biohazardous material is the result of a crime that took place on the rental property, the renter may be held responsible for the crime scene cleanup. Another scenario involves sewage backups. It is the landlord's duty to maintain their drainage system.
For example, damages caused by a sewer backup are covered if the backup is a direct result of flooding. However, if the backup is caused by some other problem, the damages are not covered.
Key takeaways. Homeowners insurance may cover sewer line damage if it stems from something already included in your policy, like a fire or windstorm. Sewer line damage that is the result of wear and tear is excluded from home insurance coverage.