Sewer system
Backed up sewers can cause thousands in damage to floors, walls, furniture, and electrical systems. And think of the smells and clean up! If this happens to your home or business, will your insurance cover the damage?
Many people assume sewage backup or sump pump overflow is covered by their homeowners or business insurance polices. THIS IN NOT TRUE! Standard policies don’t cover the damage. If it is not on the policy, the coverage is minimal.
The good news is that water and sewer backup coverage can be purchased under your homeowner’s or commercial property policy and it’s very affordable. It is recommend that all property owners have this coverage. Water that backs up from a sewer or a drain can create a clean –up nightmare and also damage appliances like electrical circuitry, furnaces and water heaters as well as personal belongings.
What protection does watersewer backup provider?
The back up of water or waterborne materials a sewer drain
Water or waterborne material that overflows from a sump, even if the back up her water is due to the mechanical breakdown of the sump pump. coverage includes damage to cover property but excludes the sump pump and related equipment that has broken down.
What causes water sewer backups?
1) Blockages due to tree roots.
The trees in your yard may be beautiful, but the roots can cause damage to your pluming. The roots can dig very deep in search of water and nutrients, things that can be found in abundance in pipelines. These routes can enter pipes through small cracks and continue to grow until extensive damage is caused. Different tree roots grow in different ways, so it’s a good idea to know about each kind located on your property.
2) The Flushing Game: Toys & Other Strange Items.
Plumbers are no strangers to discovering weird objects in toilets like toys, keys and watches. However, some mystery clogs are caused by the most bizarre and unlikely items.
3) Improper disposal of paper products
There’s a good reason why you shouldn’t flush paper products down the toilet. Every year baby wipes, dental floss, paper towels and other such products end up in the sewer. Specifically wet wipes, which don’t disintegrate after they are flushed and are causing thousands, if not millions of dollars in damage.
4) Aging sewer system
According to the civil engineering research foundation the number of backed up sewer’s is increasing about 3% per year. Sewer system in the United States or on average over 30 years old, which is a huge contribution factor to the rapid increase of sewer backups, overflows and flooded basements.
5) Improper Disposal of Grease
Pouring grease down the drain can cause clogged pipes and even sewer overflows. liquefied fat, oil and grease (FOG) that is poured down the kitchen sinks will build up overtime and can cause major damage to your home. These fat and oil buildups cause about 36,000 sewer overflows each year. To properly dispose of you cooking grease, simply place the cooled liquid into a sealed non-recyclable container and discard it with your regular garbage. If you pour grease down the sink or even into the toilet it will cool and harden in your pipes (or in the sewer) down the line.
6) Combined Pipelines
Sometimes sewer systems combine the raw sewage pipeline with the storm water pipeline. During times of intense storms and runoff, this combined pipeline can become clogged with debris. This can result in sewage backup situation and low-lying drains.
The cost of sewer backup coverage is affordable and can be added to a homeowner’s insurance policy.
