Why Should You Add Water Backup Coverage to Your Homeowners Insurance Policy?
Not everything that goes in a toilet is supposed to....But that is not all that sewer and drain backup coverage is. It could be a toy in a toilet, a sump pump that fails/can't keep up or even a washing machine drain that backs up causing damage. Let's get into what it is and what it means for you.
We’ve all experienced heavy rains and we can all agree that there’s no better feeling than coming back to a warm and dry home. However, when that amount of rain overwhelms drainage sewers, water only has one place to go: straight into your home.
As extensive as the damage can be, it’s not typically covered by the standard homeowner’s insurance policy. Sewer backups are also not covered in the flood protection provided by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is why it’s important to invest in water back up insurance.
What is Water Backup Insurance?
Also known as sewer backup insurance, water backup insurance must be purchased as an extension of your standard homeowners insurance policy. Water backup insurance offers coverage for any damage done by raw sewage backing up into your home.
Sewer backup insurance also offers coverage if your sump pump were to overflow and cause damage to your home as well. Did you know that scenario is also typically excluded in a standard homeowner’s insurance policy?
Water backup coverage also offers loss of use coverage, which provides you with clean accommodations while repairs are being made for your home to be safe to occupy again.
Do I Need Water Backup Coverage?
The average cost of water backup coverage ranges from $40 to $200 annually, depending on your risk exposure and the limits you select. If you EVER get water in your basement or watch toilet water come from your upstairs bathroom to your downstairs ceiling....You will wish you could trade almost any amount of money for this nightmare to go away!
That's why when compared to how much a water backup incident would cost you, the coverage seems priceless. According to cleanup industry experts, the average cleanup cost is approximately $7.00 per foot. This means that your 1,000 square foot basement would cost you around $7,000 to clean and repair.
There are many misconceptions on who really needs sewage backup coverage. Regardless of whether you live on top of a hill or if you don’t have a basement, the risk is always present. In fact, between 2009 and 2013, water damage claims accounted for more than a quarter of all homeowners property damage insurance claims.
Don’t subject yourself to being unprepared should disaster strike. If raw sewage were to contaminate your home, it’s always best to be prepared to avoid dealing with the financial fallout and cleanup on your own.
Give us a call today at Archbold and Lewis Insurance to discuss how much you water back up coverage you need, you do not want to go without this coverage.
P.S. If its brown flush it down does not always apply.....Tell your kids....
