The consequences of a sewer backup are very unfortunate, and is a dirty and costly job to clean up. 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 pipes can't handle the extra volume and it flows back through the pipes and into the house. The damages that can be caused by sewage water in the home is a health risk, and obviously can damage your home quite severely. Cleanup has to be begun immediately, and the price for doing it is exceedingly high. The best way to protect yourself from the financial implications of a sewer backup in your home is to get extra insurance in case of this problem, and to take some actions to prevent it.
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. Your home can be damaged by a backup, and the waste water carries bacteria that can be dangerous to your health.
Sewer backup is usually excluded from the list of insurable damages in traditional insurance company policies. Often it's available as a rider at an additional cost. 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. This limit may or may not be sufficient to cover the cleanup, let alone the replacement of damaged goods. Often drywall and carpets will need to be torn out, and replaced. There are also valuables that many people store in the basement, and these replacement costs can add up significantly.
If a sewer backs up, causing waste water to enter your home, sewer backup insurance is designed to cover the cleanup. 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.
In the majority of cases, the city you live in will not be legally responsible for sewer backups. A rider must be purchased to cover the costs of damages caused by sewer backups, unless the policy states otherwise. Depending on the risk factors in your area for backups, the price will vary. Damages that will be covered have their limits, and they will have their own deductibles, with these riders. The insurance company and the policy itself will outline what limits are in place.
Repair and maintenance of the sewer line that runs out of your home and connects to the city's main line in the street is not the city's responsibility, it is the homeowner's, and many do not know this. 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. When the line is damaged, a sudden rainfall could make the problem quite noticeable indeed.
Keep in mind, the majority of business and home insurance do not automatically include sewer backup, and a rider is necessary to have this protection. 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. Your home can be damaged by a backup, and the waste water carries bacteria that can be dangerous to your health.
Sewer backup is usually excluded from the list of insurable damages in traditional insurance company policies. Often it's available as a rider at an additional cost. 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. This limit may or may not be sufficient to cover the cleanup, let alone the replacement of damaged goods. Often drywall and carpets will need to be torn out, and replaced. There are also valuables that many people store in the basement, and these replacement costs can add up significantly.
If a sewer backs up, causing waste water to enter your home, sewer backup insurance is designed to cover the cleanup. 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.
In the majority of cases, the city you live in will not be legally responsible for sewer backups. A rider must be purchased to cover the costs of damages caused by sewer backups, unless the policy states otherwise. Depending on the risk factors in your area for backups, the price will vary. Damages that will be covered have their limits, and they will have their own deductibles, with these riders. The insurance company and the policy itself will outline what limits are in place.
Repair and maintenance of the sewer line that runs out of your home and connects to the city's main line in the street is not the city's responsibility, it is the homeowner's, and many do not know this. 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. When the line is damaged, a sudden rainfall could make the problem quite noticeable indeed.
Keep in mind, the majority of business and home insurance do not automatically include sewer backup, and a rider is necessary to have this protection. Do what is necessary to ensure that you are covered.
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