When a sewer backup occurs inside a home, it creates a very filthy and disgusting situation. Sewer backups can occur when a drainage system simply can't handle unexpected volumes of water from a major rainstorm or a sudden snow melt. The extra water in the pipes starts to back up, and it flows the opposite direction into your home and onto your floor. The damages that can be caused by sewage water in the home is a health risk, and obviously can damage your home quite severely. Cleanup has to be begun immediately, and the price for doing it is exceedingly high. Do what you can to prevent a costly sewer backup issue in your home, but beyond that, you can protect the financial investment that is your home, by getting additional sewer backup insurance.
If you're lucky, your empty tub and sink can fill with the backup sewer water without overflowing onto your floor, but your toilet is already filled with water and the extra backup water pushing up into the toilet bowl creates immediate problems. The bacteria laden water can get all over your home, and it can also damage your furniture or other possessions.
Those with insurance policies from traditional insurance companies will likely find that their policy has an exclusion for sewer backup damages. It can usually be added to the policy with a rider, which comes at a higher premium rate. There are those who live in areas that have so many incidents of sewer backup due to flooding that insurance will only cover a very limited amount of damages. This limit may or may not be sufficient to cover the cleanup, let alone the replacement of damaged goods. Often drywall and carpets will need to be torn out, and replaced. And think about the cost to replace all of the belongings kept in your basement.
When sewer waste water enters a home and causes damages, the homeowner benefits greatly from having a sewer backup rider on their home insurance policy. When the policy you hold deals with losses using a replacement cost calculation, damaged property will be covered as well. There are some insurance policies that use a coverage system based on cash values. When a policy is designed like this, property that is damaged will be covered based on the depreciated value of each item.
In the majority of cases, the city you live in will not be legally responsible for sewer backups. When your regular homeowners insurance fails to specifically mention sewer backup, you must purchase additional coverage in the form of an insurance rider. Depending on the risk factors in your area for backups, the price will vary. Insurance riders typically limit the damage covered and also have separate deductions for damages. The limits vary with the type of policy coverage and the insurer.
The responsibility of maintaining and repairing the sewer line from the house all the way into the street is the responsibility of the homeowner, even though the majority do not even have knowledge of that fact. The property owner is responsible for maintaining the sewer line to the street or public right of way, as owner of the line, they are expected to maintain it.
Over time, these main sewer lines can easily deteriorate, crack, collapse or become obstructed. The fact that the damage is there is not usually visible to the homeowner. But one severe rainstorm may be all it takes to bring the problem to a head.
Typically, sewer backup is not covered by a home or business insurance policy, so to be safeguarded against these unfortunate circumstances, the purchase of a rider is necessary. Take the time to make sure you are protected.
If you're lucky, your empty tub and sink can fill with the backup sewer water without overflowing onto your floor, but your toilet is already filled with water and the extra backup water pushing up into the toilet bowl creates immediate problems. The bacteria laden water can get all over your home, and it can also damage your furniture or other possessions.
Those with insurance policies from traditional insurance companies will likely find that their policy has an exclusion for sewer backup damages. It can usually be added to the policy with a rider, which comes at a higher premium rate. There are those who live in areas that have so many incidents of sewer backup due to flooding that insurance will only cover a very limited amount of damages. This limit may or may not be sufficient to cover the cleanup, let alone the replacement of damaged goods. Often drywall and carpets will need to be torn out, and replaced. And think about the cost to replace all of the belongings kept in your basement.
When sewer waste water enters a home and causes damages, the homeowner benefits greatly from having a sewer backup rider on their home insurance policy. When the policy you hold deals with losses using a replacement cost calculation, damaged property will be covered as well. There are some insurance policies that use a coverage system based on cash values. When a policy is designed like this, property that is damaged will be covered based on the depreciated value of each item.
In the majority of cases, the city you live in will not be legally responsible for sewer backups. When your regular homeowners insurance fails to specifically mention sewer backup, you must purchase additional coverage in the form of an insurance rider. Depending on the risk factors in your area for backups, the price will vary. Insurance riders typically limit the damage covered and also have separate deductions for damages. The limits vary with the type of policy coverage and the insurer.
The responsibility of maintaining and repairing the sewer line from the house all the way into the street is the responsibility of the homeowner, even though the majority do not even have knowledge of that fact. The property owner is responsible for maintaining the sewer line to the street or public right of way, as owner of the line, they are expected to maintain it.
Over time, these main sewer lines can easily deteriorate, crack, collapse or become obstructed. The fact that the damage is there is not usually visible to the homeowner. But one severe rainstorm may be all it takes to bring the problem to a head.
Typically, sewer backup is not covered by a home or business insurance policy, so to be safeguarded against these unfortunate circumstances, the purchase of a rider is necessary. Take the time to make sure you are protected.
No comments:
Post a Comment