Should i buy sewer line insurance

If something were to happen to your sewer lines, you might have to pay out of pocket to repair or replace them, which could cost thousands of dollars. To protect yourself from these kinds of financial mishaps, you might want to invest in sewer line insurance. This type of insurance offers additional coverage for replacements, major repairs and other issues that might arise due to problems with your sewer lines.

This could include sewer backup, water backup, sump pump issues, blocked sewer pipes, collapsed water lines and much more. Not all policies are alike, so make sure you read thoroughly before you sign off on an insurance policy. Think about problems that you've had in the past and the type of coverage that you might need in the future as your system ages.

When you file a claim, a licensed technician will repair or replace the parts of your sewer line that caused the issue. When they're done, you might have to sign a form that signifies that you accept the repairs. Some insurance companies only pay for repairs up to a certain dollar amount. If your repairs cost more than that, you may have to pay for the rest out of pocket.

Otherwise, your insurance may cover the full cost of your repairs. The cost of your insurance depends on your location and the amount of coverage that you want for your sewer system.

Facebook Twitter. Years of wear mar the pipe and cause leakage requiring excavation and replacement of the pipe.

The connection had to be replaced. Should you? Typically, these are home warranty contracts, not insurance, and they are usually offered by a third party, not the utility itself. This is a common arrangement: Most utility companies don't want to repair water lines, and they get a cut of the contract cost from the home warranty company.

The contract typically covers the water line from the edge of your property to the outside wall of your house. In most cases, plumbing inside your house is covered by homeowner's insurance unless the leak has been caused by neglect. If you have a well, the coverage typically runs from your home's outer wall to your well casing. The water line contract isn't an insurance policy, but it will have exclusions. Read them carefully.

For example, there's often a day waiting period before the contract goes into effect. Pipes broken by natural disasters, such as earthquakes, won't qualify. For a limited number of people, it can be. First, barring some very shoddy plumbing work, water mains tend to last a long time — typically 50 years or more. If you have a new house, a water line leak is unlikely, and you probably don't need a warranty contract.

Second, the cost of replacing your water line varies according to the distance between your house and your property line, the type of pipe you use, and whether you must dig up the old line more on that in a moment. A short water line means a more affordable fix, and you may be able to cover the cost from your savings without the need for a warranty contract. The longer the pipe to your house, the more pipe you'll use, and the more your replacement will cost.

If you have an older home built before the s, you likely have a basement where standing sewage can cause havoc, or if your property is on a wooded lot, you would likely also need sewer line insurance.

However, if you have a newer home with pipes made of clay or PVC, you may be able to do without sewer line insurance. But remember as your house grows older, there may be problems with the plumbing or sewage system, and in such instances, being insured can be a great protection against costly repairs.

If you live in a region prone to flooding, you can buy flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program , administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Many companies offer home service contracts that include sewer line repair service. Some home service companies offer multiple services such as interior electric line, power surge, water heater repair and replacement and water line services.

Some even offer emergency plumbing services. Coupled with sewer line insurance, a home service agreement can offer comprehensive protection for your home and personal belongings. If an insurance adjuster determines that neglect or irresponsible use caused a sewer line loss, the insurer may deny the claim.

Oftentimes, you can detect sewage problems before disaster strikes. Common signs of sewage issues include:. If the sewer line on your property backs up or breaks, it could send raw sewage into your home, ruining the flooring, walls and furniture. When you add the expense of replacing furniture, flooring and sheetrock, a single sewage incident can cost a small fortune. The cost of sewer line insurance varies, depending on the type of coverage you purchase.

Some utility companies offer water and sewer line coverage for a few dollars a month. Sewer line coverage varies, depending on the type of policy you purchase. American Water Resources offers standalone sewage line policies that cover numerous repair costs, including:.