Sewers are buried and can be undermined by landscaping, which causes them to break. It’s not always easy to find the problem if it is underground, but homeowners insurance should cover damages like broken or damaged sewer pipes. However, this is not always the case.
Plumbing Issues: What Homeowner’s Insurance Policies Cover
Many homeowners insurance policies will cover a broken or damaged sewer pipe. The policy should clearly state what is covered and what is not.
Here’s a question that plumbers are often asked, generally after a burst sewage line has caused significant damage to a homeowner’s home:
“Will a broken or damaged sewage pipe be covered by my home’s insurance?”
Sewer lines that have been damaged may be especially dangerous to houses because:
- They’re notoriously tough to spot.
- Contaminants in wastewater may hasten the deterioration of a building.
- Bacteria may be transmitted via wastewater.
As a result, many homeowners question whether their home insurance would cover their losses when faced with this dangerous threat to their health and property. The answer is that it is debatable.
Homeowners Insurance Coverage: Factors To Consider
There are a number of elements that might determine whether or not a certain sewage pipe damage incident is covered by your home’s insurance policy.
Your Insurance Provider
There are many different companies out there that offer homeowners insurance. While some basic forms of coverage are required, there may be exceptions for specific events depending on your insurance provider.
Some exceptions are:
- Earthquakes, landslides, and sinkholes.
- Floods and hurricanes.
- Bug or varmint infestations.
- General wear and tear.
Other exceptions may be included, so check your policy for more details.
Coverage That Was Purchased Separately
It is possible to add supplementary coverage to many insurance plans, such as flood insurance or sewage and drain backup coverage, which explicitly tackles floods and damage from sewer/drain failures. If you require more, the extra coverage is supposed to provide an extra safety net. Make sure to do thorough research on your property and the location in which you reside so that you may get the additional coverage that is most appropriate for you.
Amount Of Your Deductible
Almost every insurance policy includes a minimum amount of money that the damage to your house must cost before your insurance policy begins to pay. If your damages are less than this amount, the insurance will not pay for them.
What Caused The Pipe To Burst?
What caused the pipe to burst plays a major role in determining whether or not the repairs will be covered. As mentioned earlier, wear and tear aren’t typically covered by homeowners insurance. So, if a pipe breaks because of a lack of maintenance, then your insurance won’t cover it. The same goes for breaks caused by earthquakes/earth movement—unless you have that specific bit of coverage (which is a good idea in California). Events that might be covered would include damage caused by faulty workmanship or damage from an accident or an act of vandalism.
If your home’s insurance covers the cost of replacing or repairing the pipe, it may also cover the cost of certain structural and personal property damage. Once again, the kind of coverage you have will have a significant impact.
Keeping Yourself Safe From Sewer Pipe Damage
One of the best things you can do to limit the impact of broken sewer pipes on you and your family is to regularly check your home’s sewer & drain pipes for signs of damage—including slow drains, unusually tall grass, musty odors in rooms with pipes running through them, etc.
Early detection and resolution of an issue may help you save money and other resources. If you record your repairs, it may also assist avoid a break from being classified as “wear and tear” and being rejected.
Aside from keeping your home’s pipes maintained, it’s vital to find a strong homeowners insurance policy that includes sewer & drain coverage to protect against such damages. This may take a lot of extra effort to compare policies and make sure that your contract includes the right protections, but it’s worth it to avoid excessive losses from pipe damage.
The “how much does sewer line insurance cost” is a question that many homeowners are asking. There is no standard answer to this question because every company has different policies and rates.
It is important to know that aging and overburdened sewer lines break all the time and accidents happen. An experienced plumber can tackle these plumbing issues, so don’t hesitate to contact one today.
For specific types of pipe, repair tips are available. To learn more, check out PEX Vs Copper Piping: Pros, Cons, and Installation Tips.
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