Standard homeowners insurance policies typically cover many kinds of property damage, but one area often excluded is damage from water or sewer backups. For many households, adding a water backup endorsement can help fill this gap.
This type of coverage is designed to help with costs when water backs up through sewers, drains, or sump pumps, leading to damage inside your home.
What Is Water Backup Coverage and What Exactly Does It Insure?
Water backup coverage may refer to several optional add-ons to a homeowners policy, depending on the insurer. Depending on the policy, coverage may help pay for repairs and cleanup costs when water backs up into a home through a drain or overflows from a sump pump.
This type of damage can ruin flooring, drywall, and personal belongings, making cleanup costly without coverage. Having this kind of endorsement can be especially useful for homes with basements or properties in areas where aging infrastructure increases the chance of backups.
How Much Does This Coverage Cost?
The cost of water backup coverage varies depending on the insurer, the coverage limits selected, and the risk factors associated with your home. In general, these kinds of add-ons are considered affordable compared to the potential expense of paying for backup damage on your own. Because repair and cleanup costs often run into the thousands, many homeowners find such endorsements to be worthwhile.
What Isn’t Covered by Water Backup Coverage?
Water backup coverage doesn’t apply to all types of water damage. For example, flooding caused by heavy rain, storm surge, or rising groundwater typically requires separate flood insurance. It also won’t cover gradual issues like leaks due to poor maintenance. Understanding what is and isn’t included helps ensure you don’t assume coverage where it doesn’t apply.
Learn More About Your Options
Water backups can cause expensive damage in a short amount of time. At Auto Insurance Discounters, we can help you understand how water backup coverage works, your available options, endorsement costs, and how coverage may fit into your homeowners policy. Contact us today to learn more or request a quote.