Backing Up the Facts: How Insurance Covers Sewage Disasters

About 1 in 60 insured homes have claims due to water damage or freezing.[1] If that damage was caused by something that was sudden or accidental, it’s typically covered by a traditional homeowners insurance plan. Sewage backup is different.

Sewage backup involves fluids coming into your home from pipes, toilets, or sinks.[2] While the issue might be sudden, it’s not part of typical coverage under homeowners insurance. These organizations consider sewage backup a completely different type of incident. 

Immediate action is crucial. This article guides you through the steps to take and how to navigate the insurance claims process effectively.

What Is Sewer System Failure?

A sewer system failure happens when the city’s plumbing stops working.[3] Power outages can cause this problem, as can flood water overwhelming the pipes.

When city systems fail, pipes can be overwhelmed with fluids. They must go somewhere, and sometimes, they move out of the pipes and back into the home through your toilets and sinks. 

If you have a sump pump system, it may help to mitigate damage from a sewage backup. But if it’s overwhelmed, it could fail and not offer enough help. 

How Does Sewer Backup Insurance Work?

A typical homeowner’s insurance policy won’t cover damage from sewage backup and sump pump failure. You’ll need a specific product called sewer backup insurance for this kind of protection. This coverage is typically offered as an endorsement (or add-on) to your standard homeowners policy.

While sewer backup insurance can help if the pipes back up into your home, it’s not complete protection. This table can help you understand what is and isn’t covered by a typical sewer backup insurance plan. 

What Is Covered?	What Isn’t Covered?
Sewer backup	Repairs due to wear and tear
Sump pump failure	Water entering the home from pools or bodies of water
Power outage leading to sump pump failure	Flooding
	Groundwater intrusion

What Exclusions & Limitations Apply?

Sewage backup insurance is a very specific type of product that covers one type of issue. It won’t cover one of the most common types of water damage that happens to American households. 

Sewer backup insurance won’t cover water that enters your home in a traditional flood-type situation. If your community has an intense storm and the waters rise around your house, your sewage backup system won’t help make you whole. 

Flooding costs an average of $2.8 billion in damages every year.[4] To get protection from this type of water, you’ll need dedicated flood insurance. 

How to File a Claim

If you’ve experienced a sewage backup issue and have a policy that covers it, you should file a claim as soon as the problem appears. 

Follow these steps to file a claim:[5]

1. Make a list of everything that was damaged. 
2. Take photos and videos of the damage before you clean up anything. 
3. Contact your insurance company, and provide your policy number, name, address, and phone number. Tell the agent you’re ready to file a claim. 
4. Explain what happened, and describe the extent of the damage. 
5. Ask what to do next. Can you hire a plumber right away, or should you wait for the adjuster to arrive?

Prepare for paperwork from your insurance company. The more data you can add, including photos and videos, the more you can prove that the problem is real and very expensive.

What Should You Do After Sewage Backup? 

After you’ve filed a claim for the damage, and you’ve gotten permission to do so from the insurance company, it’s time to clean up the mess. 

Follow these steps to get started:[6]

• Call a plumber to investigate the cause of the backup. 
• Wear boots, rain gear, and gloves when inside the area. 
• Wash all surfaces with hot, soapy water.
• Disinfect contaminated areas with a solution made of one part bleach to 10 parts water.

Sewage is intensely contaminated, and it can carry disease. If items can’t be adequately cleaned, they should be tossed and replaced. Put your safety first, and keep your insurance agent informed of what you can’t clean. 

How to Select the Right Contractor 

Picking the right contractor is a critical part of dealing with sewage backup. This professional can fix the situation. You may need a plumber to help you fix broken pipes, and you may need a general contractor to repair intense damage caused by water intrusion. 

Use this checklist to ensure you pick someone who is capable and qualified:[7]

• Get estimates from more than one professional. 
• Get everything in writing, including cost, materials, schedules, and payment schedules. 
• Ask for references. 
• Ask for proof that the contractor is bonded, carries appropriate insurance, and offers workers’ compensation insurance. 

Once you’ve selected the right contractor, offer the estimate to your insurance company. Your insurance company should cut a check you can use to get the project started. Your contractor may need to move through a final inspection before the ultimate payment is issued. 

How Can You Prevent Sewage Backup? 

While buying a sewage backup policy can help you avoid catastrophic losses from intrusion, there’s more you can do. Prevention is an important part of keeping your home safe. 

Use these tips to prevent sewage backup episodes:[6]

• Flush human waste products. Don’t flush anything else. 
• Don’t put fat, oils, or grease down your sinks. 
• Install a sewer backflow prevention device that will swing shut to keep sewage from flowing in.
• If you’re on a city sewer line, report any problems to the appropriate city department immediately.

Regular inspections may be helpful too. A plumber can use scoping tools to spot clogs inside your pipes that could lead to backups. 

Protect Your Home From Sewage Backup 

A sewage backup insurance plan could offer protection if the city’s pipes back up into your home. These episodes can be incredibly damaging and expensive. Coverage could be critical. 

Your quick action after sewage backup matters too. Report these problems as soon as you spot them, and work closely with your company on your claim.