If something goes wrong with your septic tank or sewer line, do you know if your homeowner’s insurance will cover this? Installing a new septic tank could cost you $2,000 or more, plus the fee of the excavator, city permit fees and inspection fees. Replacing an entire home sewer line could cost over $10,000.
Don’t wait for an emergency to hit. Examine your current homeowner’s policy and ask questions about your coverage now. Look within your policy under the section where limitations and exclusions are listed. If septic problems are not excluded, they might be covered to some extent and under some circumstances.
Homeowners insurance generally will cover a repair if the damage is unrelated to the regular care and maintenance of the sewer pipe or septic. For example, if there is a major house fire and the sewer line is destroyed because it was located beneath the house, your insurance may cover replacement of these pipes. Your insurance will not cover replacement of pipes that failed because of their age.
A septic system requires maintenance. Just like a roof or furnace, homeowners are responsible for the septic pipes and septic tank on their property. If you don’t properly maintain the septic system and you experience a problem like seepage in your yard, chances are, your insurance won’t cover it. Seepage occurs over an extended period of time and is not sudden. For this reason, the insurance company would consider this a maintenance problem and the homeowner would be responsible.
Avoid potential pitfalls and have a yearly septic tank inspection and maintenance of your lines by a professional sewer-septic contractor.
Posted on behalf of Keith Lee, Metro Septic and Plumbing
