Facing a sewer line repair or replacement may be the worst among all types of property damages.
First, unlike typhoons or hailstorms, no prior weather advisory prepares you for potential underground drain troubles. Secondly, sewer line problems are often undetected until they escalate into irreparable damages.
Unfortunately, sewer line repair and replacement services come with sky-high costs.
But what if you have homeowner’s insurance backing you up? Is that enough to cover it?
Homeowner’s insurance is the first line of defense that safeguards homeowner’s finances from sudden and unexpected property damages. Property managers can escape many troubles and headaches with applicable insurance coverage, including empty wallets.
The question is: does a homeowner’s insurance include sewer line repair and replacement?
Stay tuned because Drain Magic answers this question in the following texts!
When Does the Homeowner’s Insurance Policy Cover a Sewer Line Repair?
Here’s a slap of reality: sewer line repair costs are rarely included in insurance coverages.
As disappointing as that sounds, insurance policies seldom cover everything that has to do with sewers. But that does not mean it is impossible. Insurance policy coverages are disputable, given the right precedents.
Later, we will provide several examples where your sewer line repair or replacement may fall under your homeowner’s insurance.
But first…
Know Your Insurance’s Covered Perils
Before you call your insurance for a claim, it’s crucial to understand the perils covered by your policy.
Perils are the specific events or circumstances that your insurance policy will cover. Homeowner’s insurance will only reimburse your sewer line repair costs if the damage is included in their covered perils.
Perils come in many forms and classifications. Discover them below:
Common peril
Common perils are the events typically included in homeowner’s insurance across various providers. Here are some examples of common perils:
- Lightning strike
- Theft
- Fire
- Vandalism (willful damage to your property)
- Explosion
- Snow damage
- Wind
- Hailstorm
- Falling objects (like tree trunks or branches)
- Vehicular or aircraft damage
Ironically, flooding and earthquake damages are not usually covered in your average homeowner’s policy.
Named peril
Named perils are the specified events that the insurance will only cover. That means your homeowner’s insurance will not cover anything unlisted in their named perils. Unfortunately, this puts insured homeowners in a tight spot, especially with their sewer line repair and replacement problems.
Open peril
Open perils, also known as “all risks coverage,” covers property damage for all causes except the ones your policy excludes. Compared to named peril, open perils are more loosely governed. That means you are more likely to reimburse your sewer line repairs with a genuine peril policy.
The only downside is that open perils are usually more expensive than other forms of homeowner’s insurance.
Examples of possible sewer line repairs covered by a homeowner’s insurance
Here are some possible instances where a homeowner’s insurance could cover sewer repair and replacement costs:
Under-the-house sewer problems
Homeowner’s insurance typically covers property damage within the household’s premises. That means insurance may only cover repairing underground drains when they are UNDER the house. The owner will cover repairs or replacements beyond the establishment.
Of course, this depends heavily on the attributable cause of damage. For instance, vandalism or an indoor explosion that damages your underground drains may be considered.
Septic tank
(Note: You may skip this portion if your underground drains travel to sewage treatment facilities)
You need a good cause to justify a homeowner’s insurance claim for septic tank damages, like under-the-house sewer problems. Moreover, some insurance providers will also scrutinize the location of your septic tank before approving your claim.
Some households have their septic tanks located underneath the basement. Unfortunately, more homeowners have septic tanks 10-25 feet away from their houses. This may be a point of contention when filing insurance reimbursements.
Insurance may choose not to cover the damage in cases of septic tank damage from preventable factors or personal negligence.
Sewer line damaged by tree roots
Root intrusion is a leading cause of drain line problems and blockages in homes, leading to floods. Sadly, insurance companies rarely cover them in a homeowner’s policy. However, there are possible instances when a homeowner’s insurance covers sewer line damages caused by trees.
Since most coverages include falling objects, the force of falling trees may cause displacement toward underground drains. You can try to dispute this in your homeowner’s insurance claim. In other instances, insurance may cover the repairs for household flooding damages caused by root intrusions. But they may not include the cost of repairing your sewer line.
Homeowner’s insurance is a delicate subject, especially for sewer line repairs. But one solution is searching for insurers that offer optional endorsements or riders that include underground drain repairs or replacements. Otherwise, you may be forced to do it out of pocket.
As crucial as finding a reliable insurance provider, you also need expert sewer technicians to help you. Drain Magic is just that.
Contact us if you need sewer line repairs or replacements in South Central Pennsylvania!
Call us at 717-936-9444 or book an appointment here.
