Homeowners have numerous things to worry about, and in most cases, they potentially ignore the problems with sewage. Most of them do not know about sewage and water pipe responsibilities. Damaged sewage systems can be a significant issue, and sewage water can destroy personal properties, furniture appliances, walls and floors.
When it comes to the sewage system of your property, not many areas will be covered by your home insurance policy. If any part of your sewage line on your property is damaged due to natural and unexpected calamities, your insurance company might be covering for it. However, if there is a sewage backup or pipes are damaged due to common avoidable issues, your Insurance company might deny the claim. So you may have to shell out money to repair or replace them.
So today, we will answer the question, “is a broken sewer line covered by insurance?”, and more.
Feel free to click the following link if you’d like to learn about other aspects of home insurance in Canada.
What are some common signs of sewage issues?
A damaged or leaking sewer pipe can be harmful and lead to significant damage to your property which is only recognizable after it has begun. Therefore you must look at various warning signs which might indicate a damaged sewer line:
- Sewage or waste is backing up in your sink or the washroom.
- Pungent odour in and around your house
- Rodents and insects can indicate a hole in the sewage pipeline.
- Basin and sinks are draining slowly.
- Crack and dampness in your foundation might lead to a water or sewage leak
- Frequent toilet blocks
- Pools of septic waste in your yard
Is a broken sewer line covered by insurance in Canada?
A standard home insurance policy in Canada will not automatically cover the sewer or the utility lines that run through your property and connect your house to the outside. In most cases, you may need add-on service line coverage or a sewer line policy cover to protect your sewage system from damage.
What coverage does a sewage line policy offer?
The type of coverage varies depending on the kind of add-on policy that you will purchase. However, a standard sewage line policy will cover numerous repair costs such as:
- Backfilling the holes or damage in the lawn
- Excavation fee
- Removal costs for clogs and blockage
- Inspection fee
- Equipment cost
Purchasing sewer line coverage is always advised as it will enhance the protection of your standard home insurance policy. This add-on policy will help you repair the sewer lines if a disaster occurs. At the same time, your personal property and dwelling insurance will pay for your home structure and replace any damaged personal items.
When will your home insurance policy cover a damaged sewer line?
If you’re wondering, “does homeowners insurance cover sewer line replacement?” then you’ve come to the right place. As per regulations, the part of the sewage system on your property is considered the ‘other structure’. It will receive the same protection from your insurance policy as your home.
For example, if a sewage line in your garden explodes due to excess accumulation of septic waste or gas, the damage will be covered by your home insurance policy. Simply speaking, the source of the blast or damage has to be something external which is outside of your control.
Also, the pipeline’s part must be on your property line. If, in any case, the pipe is outside your premises, your insurer will not pay for it. Your insurance policy will cover damage to your sewage system if it is caused by one of the following issues:
- Hail storm or wind storm
- Vandalism
- Falling objects
- Explosions
- Damage caused by vehicles or aircraft
- Lightning or fire
Now you know the answer to the question, “does home insurance cover sewer line replacement?”.
How much coverage can you expect for a damaged sewer line?
In most cases, insurance companies limit the coverage for ‘other structures’ to 10% of your total home insurance amount. For example, if you have home insurance for $100,000, your insurer will only cover ‘other structures’ like your septic tank or fence for $10000.
When will your Insurance company reject any claim for the sewer line?
1. If there is excess sewage backup
Almost all the insurance policies clearly state that they will not cover any damage caused to your sewage system due to excess sewage backup. Whatever the water or the sewage destroys, your insurer will not pay for them.
2. Physical damage to the pipeline
If your sewer pipeline is damaged due to faulty construction or preventable errors, your home insurance policy will not even consider the bill for repairs or replacement. Additionally, your insurance company might not pay for any damage due to calamities like earthquakes, floods or tree roots. For that, you will need to purchase other add-on policies.
What are the two types of coverage for sewer line damage?
1. Service line coverage endorsement
A service line coverage will protect your sewer lines if they are damaged. It will protect your sewer lines and steam pipes from various issues such as:
- Rodents, insects and vermin
- Daily wear and tear
- Collapse
- Rust, corrosion and deterioration
- Weight of equipment, vehicles and living beings
2. Water backup coverage endorsement
Your home insurance policy will not cover water and drain backup damage. So instead, you can buy an add-on water backup coverage to get protection from water damage.
For example, if the sewage water has flooded your house and has damaged the walls, floors and furniture, you can use this add-on coverage to pay for any damaged floor, furniture or other personal belongings.
Steps you can take to prevent issues with the sewage system
Here are some essential steps which you should take to reduce the amount of risk to your sewer lines:
- Avoid flushing non-biodegradable and damaging items like oil, paper towel, plastic packets etc
- Replace corroded and damaged pipelines with plastic pipes
- Carefully remove tree roots that can creep into your pipelines and damage them
- Annually inspect the sewage system
- You can hire a plumber to determine whether you need to buy a backwater valve to prevent sewage backflow.
Is a broken sewer line covered by insurance? — Endnote
Simply speaking, most home insurance policies will not cover any sewer line problems. Therefore, you should buy a sewer line insurance policy to avoid major out-of-pocket expenses. Most popular insurance companies offer sewer line coverage as an add-on to your standard Home Insurance policy.
