A standard homeowners insurance policy might help you repair sewer lines when they’re on your property and they’ve been damaged by a covered peril. And if those same conditions are met, then your policy may also cover the cost of repairing the damage a broken sewer line causes in your home.
Read on to learn more about when and how sewer lines are covered by your home insurance policy – and when you need an endorsement.
When does home insurance cover sewer line damage?
Your homeowners insurance policy typically only covers damage to your sewer line when it’s sudden and accidental and caused by a covered peril. On many policies, covered perils include events like:
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Lightning.
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Fire.
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Hail.
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Windstorm.
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Explosions.
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Damage caused by vehicles.
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Vandalism.
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Falling objects.
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Riots or civil disturbances.
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Volcanic eruption.
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Damage caused by aircraft.
Your coverage applies when the damage is sudden, accidental, and out of your control. Moreover, it only applies to the portion of the sewer line that is on your property. Any parts of the line that sit on someone else’s property are the responsibility of that property’s owner, whether that’s another homeowner or a municipality.
When does home insurance not cover sewer line damage?
Unfortunately, many of the most common reasons that sewer lines fail are not covered by insurance. These include:
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Age and deterioration.
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Faulty construction.
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Ground settling.
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Corrosion
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Tree roots.
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Extreme temperatures.
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Clogs.
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Preventable error.
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Earthquake.
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Pests.
One important exclusion to note is damage caused by sewer backup. While that can be the result of a damaged sewer line, it’s pretty much always excluded from homeowners insurance. Many insurance companies offer sewer backup endorsements so you can get this important coverage added to your policy. However, it covers repairs to property a sewer backup damages in your home, like warped floors, not the actual service line.
Optional coverage for sewer lines
When you look at the list of covered perils, you probably noticed that most seem unlikely to damage your sewer lines. But the exclusions? They’re just the kind of events that could end up causing costly repairs.
That’s why many insurance companies provide greater coverage through endorsements. Two key ones to consider are:
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Sewer backup coverage. Also called a water backup and sump overflow endorsements, this add-on modifies your policy so it covers water damage caused by a sewer backup but not the broken pipe or sewer line itself.
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Service line coverage. Service line coverage endorsements boosts your coverage so that it protects against more types of damage to service lines as well as other costs.
How do sewer line endorsements work?
A service or sewer line endorsement, sometimes called buried utility lines coverage, is an add-on that you can usually purchase when you buy your policy. Depending on your insurance company, it covers damage to sewer lines and other underground utility pipes, water lines, and wires on your property caused by:
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Deterioration, corrosion, rust, or decay.
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Mechanical or electrical breakdown.
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Regular wear and tear.
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Pest damage.
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Freezing.
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Pressure from heavy equipment.
Typically, a service line endorsement covers the cost of locating and repairing the line, plus the costs associated with excavating and backfilling the yard and fusing, welding, and cutting the pipes for repairs. Some even pay for reseeding the lawn and other repairs to the yard.
Coverage limits for a sewer line endorsement are usually between $10,000 and $12,000, and there may be a separate deductible.
How much does sewer line coverage cost?
A sewer line coverage endorsement can likely be added to your home insurance policy for an extra $30 to $40 per year. This varies based on the insurance company and the amount of coverage you choose.
Sewer line coverage FAQs
What part of the sewer line is the city responsible for?
Who’s responsible for what part of the sewer line depends on the laws where you live. That said, you’re likely responsible for maintaining any sewer lines on your property, while the city or municipality is responsible for maintaining the main sewer lines on public property.
Is sewer line insurance required?
Sewer line coverage is not required. However, you might want to check with your mortgage company if you have a loan on your home. Mortgage lenders usually dictate certain types and levels of coverage that their mortgage holders must purchase.
Does service line coverage include sewer backups?
Service line endorsements generally cover the damage to your sewer lines, not the damage to your home’s interior a sewer backup might cause. You’ll need a sewer backup endorsement to cover any damage to your home that occurs due to a sewer backup.
How to prevent sewer line damage
Keeping the sewer lines on your property in good working order is essential to protecting yourself from the financial burden of repairing them. Some ways to minimize the chance of needing sewer line repairs include:
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Properly disposing of grease and oil.
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Using a drain catcher to prevent clogs.
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Properly disposing of paper and hygiene products.
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Planting trees away from sewer lines and manage any existing tree roots
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Replacing metal pipes with plastic pipes.
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Getting regular plumbing inspections.