Different types of water damage exist. For instance, bathtubs and washers are both prone to overflowing. Visualize arriving home one day to find a sewage or water backup. These risks might be problematic for you and your insurer because a typical homeowners policy rarely covers them.
Sewer backups, often known as 'water backups,' are happening increasingly more. But unfortunately, many homeowners may not realize they are typically not covered by most insurance. Cleaning, repairing, and replacing the damaged objects in your home could be expensive, depending on the degree of the damage.
Unless you have bought a specific sewer backup coverage, your standard homeowners insurance is unlikely to pay for this damage. Continue reading to know more about sewer backup insurance and what alterations you need to make to your home policy to receive full protection.
Key Takeaways
Several things can cause sewage to back up into your home. First, it can be expensive property losses, whether only a tiny leak or an ankle-deep flood. So, always ensure to have sewer backup insurance to cover the damages. Typical causes of sewer backups include these.
Here are some safety measures to avoid a sewer or sump pump blockage.
No. A standard home insurance policy doesn't cover sewer backup. However, many home insurance providers provide it as extra coverage on top of the regular homeowners insurance plan. The coverage provides a specific amount of coverage that will cover sewage backup and water backup claims.
So, having sewer backup insurance will always be beneficial for a homeowner. If you chose sewer backup coverage, your homeowners policy would likely provide coverage for the following two instances of sewer backup.
Sewer backup insurance covers damage to the sewer pipe connecting your home to the city main. It also covers the cost of having standing sewage removed from your home and repairing any damage it causes.
Remember that sewer backup insurance does not cover your home's broken or malfunctioning plumbing system. Normal dwelling coverage sometimes covers this, but it may vary by your insurer. Additionally, sewer backup insurance will not cover problems that develop gradually over time due to poor maintenance. Before buying sewer backup protection insurance, read the fine print to know its applicable conditions.
Flood insurance also differs from sewer backup coverage. Since sewer backup flooding directly results from the septic system, flood insurance won't provide coverage. Likewise, your sewer backup insurance does not cover flood damage due to your sewer lines or septic system.
The annual cost of a home insurance policy with an additional $20,000 in sewer backup coverage comes to around $1,249. Most homeowner insurance policies allow for the addition of sewer backup coverage, which normally costs an additional $50-$250 a year. Numerous factors, like the weather in your area and the coverage limits you select, will affect your cost.
These are the average annual rates of some of the top home insurers.
| Insurer | Average without backup coverage | $10,000 limit | $20,000 limit | $30,000 limit | $40,000 limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Family | $1,479 | $1,576 | $1,635 | $1,692 | $1,692 |
| Allstate | $1,204 | $1,270 | $1,298 | $1,323 | $1,325 |
| State Farm | $1,204 | $1,238 | $1,258 | $1,268 | $1,279 |
| Amica Mutual | $2,088 | $2,153 | $2,145 | $2,174 | $2,174 |
| Nationwide | $1,135 | $1,186 | $1,245 | $1,340 | $1,340 |
| Farmers | $1,660 | $1,745 | $1,800 | $1,880 | $1,880 |
| Progressive | $1,456 | $1,486 | $1,484 | $1,496 | $1,496 |
| Liberty Mutual | $1,230 | $1,284 | $1,308 | $1,327 | $1,340 |
| MetLife | $1,313 | $1,369 | $1,388 | $1,417 | $1,417 |
| Travelers | $1,331 | $1,417 | $1,444 | $1,511 | $1,511 |
| USAA | $1,378 | $1,388 | $1,394 | $1,399 | $1,399 |
No. Sewer backup insurance doesn't cover damages due to flooding or surface water. Therefore, you would require additional flood insurance coverage to cover flood damage. Although certain insurers might provide flood coverage as extra, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is typically the only source of flood insurance.
These are the main reasons homeowners should add water backup coverage to their policy.
When water damage results from backups, a few paper towels may not always be sufficient to remove them. Sewer backup coverage can help in this situation. If you don't have this coverage, you might have to pay for losses out of cash. Assess your policy documents or contact your insurer to determine if your current home insurance policy covers sewer backups.
As standard home insurance policies don't cover sewer backups, it is always safe to buy extra coverage. The yearly rate of a home insurance policy with an additional $20,000 in sewer backup coverage costs nearly $1,249. Do you want to get this coverage for a cheaper rate?
Then Way.com can help you! Use our app or visit our website to find the best sewer backup insurance in your area. Of course, the rate can differ based on your place and your chosen coverage limit. But we can offer you the most affordable rates for sewer backup insurance.
Do you want additional help? Then our agents in your area can help you. So get in touch if you want to know about the best sewage backup insurance coverage!
The home insurance rates published in this guide are based on the results of research completed by Way.com’s data team. Using a mix of public and internal data, we analyzed millions of rate averages across U.S. ZIP codes.
Quotes are typically based on a full coverage policy average unless otherwise noted within the content.
These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes will differ. Given this, it’s important to go through our insurance steps form to find how much you can save with way.com
Yes. A standard home insurance policy doesn't offer sewer backup and flood coverage. So, buying extra coverages to cover the damages due to sewer backup and flood is better.
A surplus of water and debris enters municipal sanitary sewers during heavy rain or quick snowmelt, overloading the sewage system. Too much water could back up into your home's sewer line and overflow into your basement if the sewer system cannot handle it.
Significant damage from a broken sewer line may not be recognizable for some time after it starts. So, you should be cautious about the following warning signals that could point to a damaged sewer line.
The fumes from raw sewage can cause gastroenteritis, frequently accompanied by fever, vomiting, cramps, and, if left untreated, death. In addition, asthma is an increasingly prevalent health issue linked to sewage-related airborne pollutants.
On average, sewage backup insurance costs anywhere from $50 to $250 annually. The rate depends on the coverage limits you select and how risky your insurer judges your home's construction and location.
No, sewage backup coverage isn't included in a homeowners insurance policy. However, many house insurance providers provide it as an add-on to the typical homeowners insurance policy in the form of optional coverage.
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