A lot of people believe their insurance automatically covers Sewer Backup. But, according to the Insurance Information Institute, most home and business insurance plans don’t cover it unless you add that protection. So, you need to check your policy to see if it’s included. This applies no matter if you have a Basic, Broad, or Special Form policy.
What is Sewer Backup Insurance
Sewer backup insurance helps if sewage gets stuck in your bathtub, toilet, basement, or anywhere else in the house. It pays to fix your sewer pipe and clean up the mess caused by the sewage. Sometimes, it’s also called water backup insurance or drain backup coverage.
How Does Sewer Backup Insurance Work
sewer backup coverage is not the same as flood insurance. Flood insurance is a separate type of insurance that’s not usually included in regular home insurance. If your sewer system backs up and causes flooding, it’s not covered by flood insurance because it’s connected to your septic system.
Also, if flooding happens for reasons unrelated to your sewer or septic system, your sewer backup insurance won’t cover it.
What Does It Cover
Basically, this insurance helps pay for damage from water backups and getting rid of extra water in your house. It covers things like furniture and damage to your house, but it doesn’t cover floods from rainwater seeping through your basement’s cracks or water rising on the ground.
What It Doesn’t Cover
A broken or messed up plumbing system in your home. Problems that happen because you didn’t take good care of it. Piles of dirty water because the city or town didn’t manage things right. Every insurance company is different. So, before you buy sewer backup coverage, read all the details carefully. Also, chat with your insurance agent to make sure you understand what they’ll pay for.
How Much Does Sewer Backup Insurance Cost
The usual price for home insurance is about $1,237 per year. But if you add extra protection for sewer backups, it might cost you around $50 to $250 more every year. The final cost depends on where you live, like the weather in your area, and the level of coverage you want.
Companies That Offer This Insurance
Here are some companies that offer this Insurance:
- USAA
- Allstate
- Liberty Mutual
- Chubb
- Nationwide
- AAA
- Amica Mutual Insurance Company
These Insurance companies’ options are only a few, but there are many other companies that offer sewer Backup coverage. It’s really important to carefully look into and compare different policies. Then, find the one that fits your needs the best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does sewer backup insurance cover flooding?
Sewer backup insurance helps pay for damage caused by sewage backing up into your home. It covers fixing the sewer line from your house to the city main, cleaning up the mess, and repairing any damage.
If you have a septic system instead of a city connection, it also covers damage to your septic system and cleanup. But remember, it won’t help if your home floods from rain or rising water levels. For that, you need a separate flood insurance policy.
Is it safe to stay in a house with sewage backup?
When you come into contact with sewage, the danger level depends on how bad it is. But in general, being around sewage can make you sick. Sewage water has germs like bacteria and parasites that can harm your health. If your house has sewage backup, try to avoid it and fix the problem quickly.