Water & sewer line insurance covers repairs that traditional homeowners insurance doesn’t normally take care of – including community service lines.
So… how do you know whether or not water and sewer line insurance plans are worth it? We’ve put together this blog post detailing the pros, cons, and several reasons why you might consider buying water line insurance for your home.
What is water line insurance?
If you’re a homeowner, one of the many things you have to worry about is your water supply lines. Many homeowners make the mistake of assuming either one of the two incorrect assumptions:
Incorrect assumption #1: Water supply companies (or the city) are responsible for fixing broken water lines connecting to my home.
This may come as a surprise, but your city or your water supply company is only responsible for the main water line that your home’s service lines are connected to. This means that if the mainline breaks, they will repair it. But if one of your connecting lateral lines breaks, then you’re going to have to pay out of pocket.
Incorrect assumption #2: My homeowners’ insurance policy will cover any broken water lines that need to be repaired or replaced.
Homeowners’ insurance policies don’t normally cover external water lines, so when it comes to your water and sewer service lines, you’re on your own. There are some exceptions, and many homeowners’ insurance policies are now adding service line coverage as an option to their policy.
But… never assume that your policy covers your water lines because it probably does not. If you want to make sure, call your coverage provider and ask them.
What is sewer line insurance?
Like water line insurance, sewer line insurance covers damages that are not typically covered by homeowners’ insurance policies. Sewer line coverage usually kicks in when your sewer system backs up – meaning water and sewage come pouring out of your drains and toilets instead of going down the drain like it’s supposed to.
Sewer line backups can be a real mess, and they are often very expensive. Sewer line insurance can help to offset some of the costs.
What does sewer insurance cover?
Sewer line insurance plans normally cover the cost of repairing or replacing your sewer line if it becomes damaged. This includes the costs of cleanup, repair, and restoration services.
It’s important to note that some sewer insurance policies do not cover damage caused by a backed-up septic tank – only damage caused by sewer system backup will be covered.
What is “Service Line Coverage”?
Service line coverage is a type of water and sewer line coverage offered by homeowners’ insurance agencies. Service line coverage helps homeowners to pay for the repair or replacement of their water and sewer service lines, which are the pipelines that run from the city water main to your house.
Service line coverage is normally an optional add-on to a homeowners’ insurance policy, and it’s important to note that not all policies include this type of coverage.
Is service line coverage necessary?
Service line coverage is not necessary, but it is definitely a good idea to have. Many homeowners do not realize that their homeowners’ insurance policy will not cover damages incurred to their water and sewer service lines.
And even if your policy does include this type of coverage, it’s important to know that the amount of coverage may be limited.
Is service line coverage worth it?
Yes! Service line coverage protects you from having to pay for the expensive repairs or replacements of your water and sewer service lines.
Plus, having this type of coverage can help to speed up the claims process if something does happen – meaning you’ll get the money you need to fix things faster.
Should I get service line coverage?
If you value peace of mind, then the answer is yes. Service line coverage is a good way to protect yourself from unexpected and costly repairs.
If you’re not sure if your homeowners’ insurance policy includes (or provides as an addon) this type of coverage, be sure to call your provider and ask. And if it doesn’t, consider adding service line coverage to your policy today by browsing third-party insurance providers, such as Homeserve.
Doesn’t homeowners insurance cover sewer lines?
Most homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover sewer lines. However, sewer line insurance is available as an add-on or separate policy to help cover the costs of damages that are not typically covered by homeowners’ policies.
Does homeowners insurance cover pipe replacement or broken sewer pipes?
Normally, homeowners’ insurance plans don’t cover the cost of repairing or replacing broken sewer pipes. However, water line insurance and sewer line insurance can help to offset some of the costs if your sewer system backs up.
It’s best to call your provider and request this information, or any information they have about related coverages.
Do I need sewer line insurance?
That depends. Sewer line insurance is not typically covered by homeowners’ insurance policies, but it is available as an add-on or separate policy. Service line coverage – which helps to pay for the repairs or replacements of your water and sewer service lines – is normally an optional add-on to a homeowners’ insurance policy.
Do I need water line insurance?
If you don’t want to absorb 100% of the cost of a broken water line down the road, then it’s probably in your best interest to get water line insurance. Like sewer or service line coverage, water line insurance is available as an add-on or separate policy to help cover the costs of damages that are not typically covered by homeowners’ policies.
