Do You Need Sewer Backup Coverage?
Hey, wait a minute! What’s that smell? You may have a sewer backup problem, and it could cost you hundreds if not thousands of dollars to fix. Great. Sewer backups are something that many people never see coming, so a lot of homeowners skip on sewer backup coverage. Or worse, they don’t know that they can get it. If you’re one of these homeowners, here’s a rundown of what sewer backup insurance is and how it can be a lifesaver if you own a home.
What is sewer backup coverage?
Usually, your home’s septic tank is built to remain at a safe level and dissolve waste from your bathrooms. However, if something goes wrong, sewer backup coverage is available as an endorsement to your home insurance policy. This type of coverage can help you with the costs of cleaning up the gross backup sewage that has seeped into your yard, as well as repairing your septic tank. Sewer backup coverage can also help you recover some of the property lost due to sump pump damage.
What doesn’t sewer backup insurance cover?
It’s essential to look at your particular policy to see what types of situations and property is covered by your sewer backup coverage. It’s also important to note that sewer backup insurance won’t cover damages due to negligence or flood damage. So, remember to turn on your sump pump and get flood insurance to make sure you are covered across the board.
Pro tip: If there’s water entering your basement, it’s probably not a sewer issue. However, it’s still important to make sure that all water is draining away from your home’s foundation so that the problem is easily corrected.
How much is sewer backup coverage?
Usually, sewer backup coverage doesn’t cost all that much, especially when you consider how much it will cost to repair a sewer issue yourself. Depending on your location, this endorsement could be anywhere from a $25 to $120 add on to your home insurance premium.
How much does sewer backup coverage cover?
First, it’s essential to consider how much coverage you’ll need. So, it can be helpful to think of sewer damage backup coverage as a specific type of property insurance. You want to make sure that the plan you get doesn’t only cover the cost of the sewer system, but also anything that was destroyed by the sewage.
How much your sewer backup insurance will cover ultimately depends on your home insurance policy as a whole and in what state you live in since policy limits can vary by state. These limits can range anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 worth of coverage. Some states can also offer coverage for the same amount that you’ve insured your house for.
Either way, make sure that your home even qualifies for sewer backup coverage. If you live in a flood-prone area or somewhere where it’s very likely for underground systems to be damaged, a carrier may not offer you sewer backup coverage at all.
How can I prevent sewer backup?
As much as sewer backup coverage can help if disaster strikes, it’s important to know how to prevent this problem in the first place. Here are some tips on how to prevent sewer backups:
Don’t flush anything but toilet paper down your drain.
Don’t rinse grease down the drain when you are done with it. Instead, wait for it to cool, and throw it away with your regular trash.
If the root systems of your trees and shrubs make their way into your sewer lines, replace the pipes with plastic ones. This will prevent the roots from entering the system and causing debris to build up.
If you want to install flood control systems to your sewer system, make sure you consult a plumber to make sure they are installed correctly and that any existing connections are correctly installed.
Being a homeowner can be a lot of responsibility. You have to make sure that you’re not only concerned about the above-ground aesthetics of your house, but also the ins and outs of your plumbing and electrical systems. Most preventative measures are easy to do regularly, especially those regarding your sewer systems.
Finding the right sewer backup coverage is also easy. Talk to your insurance agent or insurance company. They could help you with the ins and outs of your home so that they can find the best sewer backup and overall homeowners’ insurance for you. Plus, they will know how to get the best rates on the coverage you need.
