Many different things can go in your home that can be costly to repair. In the meantime, problems can cause inconvenient or even unlivable conditions. One particularly difficult problem to deal with is a backup of your sewer system. When this happens, you will need assistance from many different parties – including your insurance company.
Your home is connected to the city’s sewer system and you must maintain and repair the portion of the sewer line going from your home. Many factors can cause a blockage in your sewer line, including the following:
- Cracked pipes
- Tree roots
- Old and crumbling pipes
- Significant rain or flooding
- Blockages inside the pipe
If you become aware of any conditions that may affect your sewer line, you should have them inspected and order any necessary repairs to prevent a backup. If a backup does occur, raw sewage can be forced back into your home through drains in the floor, drains in the sinks, and your toilets. A backup will not only require the repair of the problem that caused the backup but also the sanitary cleanup of the sewage from your home. As you can imagine, this can be quite expensive. You will have to turn off your water, clear the area of the backup, and involve the sewer department and likely professional plumbers. You may have to spend a night or two outside of your home for health and safety purposes.
Home Insurance Coverage for Sewer Problems
When your sewer backs up, you may assume that your home insurance policy will kick in and cover the expenses of repair and clean up. However, most basic home insurance policies do not automatically cover the costs of sewer repairs. If your sewer system or plumbing is older or if there are other factors that make you suspect you may have a sewer backup, you want to speak to your insurance agent about getting the additional coverage that you need. Often, this involves adding a special provision to your policy, which can make your premium go up, but will be worth it in the event of a costly backup.
Call 203-367-7704 today for a quote.
If you want to learn more about sewer coverage or other special riders that are available to protect your home, please call our skilled insurance agents at Berliner-Gelfand & Co., Inc. as soon as possible. We will discuss all of your options and provide advice based on your insurance needs.