When a sewer backup occurs inside a home, it creates a very filthy and disgusting situation. There are a variety of reasons that a sewer backup can happen, from a major snow melt to an unusually high rainfall. The extra water in the pipes starts to back up, and it flows the opposite direction into your home and onto your floor. Sewage coming into your home can cause extensive damage, not to mention a serious health risks. 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. Your home can be damaged by a backup, and the waste water carries bacteria that can be dangerous to your health.
Those with insurance policies from traditional insurance companies will likely find that their policy has an exclusion for sewer backup damages. Most times, the homeowner can pay extra and have a rider attached to include it. 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. Replacing damaged property or paying for the cleanup cost may not be enough, depending on the limit on the policy. The damage can be so extensive that carpets need to be replaced, and you may need to install new drywall. And think about the cost to replace all of the belongings kept in your basement.
If a sewer backs up, causing waste water to enter your home, sewer backup insurance is designed to cover the cleanup. Your home insurance policy will pay replacement costs for property damage if they settle losses on a replacement cost basis. Other policies provide coverage on an actual cash value basis. When a policy is designed like this, property that is damaged will be covered based on the depreciated value of each item.
Most cities accept no responsibility 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. The cost varies with your home's risk for a backup. Damages that will be covered have their limits, and they will have their own deductibles, with these riders. 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 main sewer line is owned and maintained by the property owner, including any part of the line that extends into the street or public right of way.
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. If there is a major rainstorm or melt, the issue with the pipes will become obvious quickly.
Keep in mind, the majority of business and home insurance do not automatically include sewer backup, and a rider is necessary to have this protection. 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. Your home can be damaged by a backup, and the waste water carries bacteria that can be dangerous to your health.
Those with insurance policies from traditional insurance companies will likely find that their policy has an exclusion for sewer backup damages. Most times, the homeowner can pay extra and have a rider attached to include it. 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. Replacing damaged property or paying for the cleanup cost may not be enough, depending on the limit on the policy. The damage can be so extensive that carpets need to be replaced, and you may need to install new drywall. And think about the cost to replace all of the belongings kept in your basement.
If a sewer backs up, causing waste water to enter your home, sewer backup insurance is designed to cover the cleanup. Your home insurance policy will pay replacement costs for property damage if they settle losses on a replacement cost basis. Other policies provide coverage on an actual cash value basis. When a policy is designed like this, property that is damaged will be covered based on the depreciated value of each item.
Most cities accept no responsibility 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. The cost varies with your home's risk for a backup. Damages that will be covered have their limits, and they will have their own deductibles, with these riders. 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 main sewer line is owned and maintained by the property owner, including any part of the line that extends into the street or public right of way.
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. If there is a major rainstorm or melt, the issue with the pipes will become obvious quickly.
Keep in mind, the majority of business and home insurance do not automatically include sewer backup, and a rider is necessary to have this protection. Take the time to make sure you are protected.
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