If you've ever experienced a sewer backup in your home, you know what a mess it can create. When there is excessive snow melting or higher than average rainfall in a certain area, this can make the drainage system overloaded, and it can cause a sewer backup. The waste water flows back, through the pipes, into your home. When sewage flows into your home, the damages can be very expensive and messy to clean up, and also there are health implications. Cleanup has to be begun immediately, and the price for doing it is exceedingly high. While there are some steps you can take to prevent sewer backup damage, the only way to financially protect your family and home against sewer backup damage is to buy insurance.
The tub or sink can just fill with the excess water sometimes, but if it goes through the toilet pipe, it will flow over the edge more quickly since it is full of water, and this situation can happen with no warning. Backup results in water damage and exposes you to bacteria from the filthy water.
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. 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. There are also valuables that many people store in the basement, and these replacement costs can add up significantly.
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. Your home insurance policy will pay replacement costs for property damage if they settle losses on a replacement cost basis. There are some insurance policies that use a coverage system based on cash values. If that's the case, your policy will pay only the depreciated value of any damaged items.
Cities will very rarely claim responsibility for sewer backups, it's up to the homeowner. 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. Depending on the coverage and the insurance company, limits will vary.
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.
As the years pass, cracks can form on the lines, they can have obstructions, or they can simply deteriorate and collapse. 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. Do what is necessary to ensure that you are covered.
The tub or sink can just fill with the excess water sometimes, but if it goes through the toilet pipe, it will flow over the edge more quickly since it is full of water, and this situation can happen with no warning. Backup results in water damage and exposes you to bacteria from the filthy water.
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. 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. There are also valuables that many people store in the basement, and these replacement costs can add up significantly.
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. Your home insurance policy will pay replacement costs for property damage if they settle losses on a replacement cost basis. There are some insurance policies that use a coverage system based on cash values. If that's the case, your policy will pay only the depreciated value of any damaged items.
Cities will very rarely claim responsibility for sewer backups, it's up to the homeowner. 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. Depending on the coverage and the insurance company, limits will vary.
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.
As the years pass, cracks can form on the lines, they can have obstructions, or they can simply deteriorate and collapse. 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. Do what is necessary to ensure that you are covered.
This article collected, selected and written by: Author Van Hoc
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