As Insurify’s home and pet insurance editor, Danny also specializes in auto insurance. His goal is to help consumers navigate the complex world of insurance buying.
Sara Getman is an Associate Editor at Insurify and has been with the company since 2022. Prior to joining Insurify, Sara completed her undergraduate degree in English Literature at Simmons University in Boston. At Simmons, she was the Editor-in-Chief for Sidelines Magazine (a literary and art publication), and wrote creative non-fiction.
Outside of work, Sara is an avid reader, and loves rock climbing, yoga and crocheting.
Updated October 21, 2024 | Reading time: 4 minutes
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Sewer backup insurance is an endorsement homeowners can add to their home insurance policies to cover damage to their home from sewage overflow and backup. A sewer backup can happen due to heavy rain, clogs, and overwhelmed systems and can cause serious water damage to your home.
Standard home insurance doesn’t typically cover this kind of damage, so a sewer backup endorsement is necessary for financial protection in these situations.[1] Here’s what you need to know about sewer backup insurance and whether it’s worth the cost for you and your home.
Is sewer backup insurance worth it?
Sewer backup insurance is an optional endorsement homeowners can add to their home insurance policies. It covers damage caused by water or sewage backing up into homes through sewers, drains, or sump pumps. Clogged pipes, heavy rain, and even tree roots can cause this.
In many cases, sewer backup insurance is worth it, especially for homeowners in old homes or in areas with heavy rain. For example, if your area consistently sees heavy rains and your sump pump fails, you could see severe water damage to your basement. Without sewer backup insurance, you’ll need to pay for repairs out of pocket.
Cost of sewer backup insurance
Sewer backup insurance typically costs between $150 and $300 per year. Your exact price for this insurance endorsement depends on your area and the size of your home. This breaks down to around an extra $12–$25 per month to protect your home against what could be thousands of dollars in damages.[2]
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Does standard homeowners insurance cover sewage backup?
A standard homeowners insurance policy doesn’t consider sewage backup a covered peril, so it won’t cover it. But most insurance companies offer sewer backup coverage as an optional endorsement.
Sewage backup doesn’t fall under the water damage peril because this peril is meant to protect against damages from internal sources, like burst pipes or broken appliances, not external sources like sewers.
Does flood insurance cover sewage backup?
Flood insurance covers sewage backup if flooding causes the backup and subsequent damage. For example, if rising floodwaters overwhelmed your town’s sewer system and water backed up into your house, flood insurance would cover the resulting damage.[3]
What sewer backup insurance covers
Sewer backup insurance covers overflow caused by the following situations:
Sump pump failure
Tree roots damaging sewer pipes
Overwhelmed municipal systems due to heavy rainfall
Clogged or blocked sewer lines
For example, if your town sees heavy rainfall that causes your sump pump to fail and overflow into your basement, sewer backup insurance covers the damages.
What sewer backup insurance doesn’t cover
Sewer backup insurance doesn’t cover damages in the following situations:
Lack of maintenance
Flood-related overflow
Normal wear and tear
Intentional damage
For example, if a river near your home overflows and floods your basement, sewer backup insurance won’t cover the damages. You’d need flood insurance for this to be covered.
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Causes of sewer backup
Numerous issues can cause sewer backups, such as:[4]
Heavy rainfall
Severe storms often come with heavy rains, which can overwhelm sewer systems and cause water to back up into your home.
Old sewer systems
Many cities and towns have very old sewer systems, which often fail under pressure from excessive stormwater.
Tree roots
Nearby tree roots can penetrate sewer lines and pipes in search of water. As they grow, this can cause serious damage, eventually leading to backups.
Shared pipes
Some town sewage systems have pipes that handle both stormwater and sewage, which can quickly become overwhelmed during a storm and cause backups.
Sewage main clogs
If the city sewer system gets blocked and it’s not addressed quickly, it can cause backups.
Signs of a sewer backup
Some key signs of a sewer backup include:
Seepage around floor drains
Sewage odors coming from your drain
Air bubbles in your toilet
Slowly draining pipes
Multiple drain clogs
Sewage leaking from the cleanout pipe
If you notice any of these signs, call a plumber right away.
5 ways to prevent sewer backup
You can take various steps to maintain your sewer system and prevent sewer backup. The following strategies can help keep your home dry:
Properly dispose of grease and paper products. Never pour grease down the drain. This can clog your drain and cause severe damage to your pipes, ultimately leading to a backup. The same logic applies to paper products, such as wipes, paper towels, and other disposable paper items — these can also clog your drain.
Trim your tree roots. Have a professional come to your home and trim the roots of any trees infiltrating your sewer system.
Replace your sewage line with a plastic pipe. Plastic is more resistant to tree roots and can prevent potential backups from happening.
Use a proper plumbing connection. Never connect French drains or sump pumps to your sanitary sewer, as this will likely clog your pipes. It’s also illegal to do so in many towns.
Utilize a backwater prevention valve. This basement valve prevents sewer backups by allowing sewage to flow out but not back in.
Call a plumber if you have any questions about implementing these solutions in your home.
Sewer backup insurance FAQs
If you’re still deciding if sewage backup insurance is worth it, check out the answers to these commonly asked questions.
Does homeowners insurance cover a sewer backup?
No, home insurance doesn’t cover a sewer backup. Homeowners will need to buy a sewer backup insurance endorsement, sometimes known as water backup coverage, to cover sewer backup damage.
How common is sewer backup?
Sewer backup is a fairly common problem, especially in areas with old sewage systems and places that see consistent heavy rainfall.
What is the difference between sewer backup and overflow?
Sewer backup is when wastewater from the town’s sewer system backs up into your home through your drains. Sewer overflow typically refers to water from your home’s own system, like sinks and tubs, overflowing due to a blockage from within your home.
Does renters insurance cover damages caused by a sewer backup?
No. Renters insurance doesn’t typically cover damages to your personal property caused by a sewer backup. But many renters insurance policies offer sewer backup or water backup insurance endorsements and riders.
Danny is a Brooklyn-based writer with a producer’s license for property and casualty insurance. A former editor at Insurify, he specializes in auto, home, and pet insurance. He works to translate his insurance expertise into digestible, easy-to-understand content for drivers, homeowners, and pet owners alike.
Sara Getman is an Associate Editor at Insurify and has been with the company since 2022. Prior to joining Insurify, Sara completed her undergraduate degree in English Literature at Simmons University in Boston. At Simmons, she was the Editor-in-Chief for Sidelines Magazine (a literary and art publication), and wrote creative non-fiction.
Outside of work, Sara is an avid reader, and loves rock climbing, yoga and crocheting.
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