Any home or business with plumbing may be affected by the unpleasant event of a sewer backup at some point. Backed-up sewers can cause thousands of dollars in damage to floors, electrical systems, walls, furniture, and other items.
Luckily, some flood coverage in home and business insurance policies contains full or partial provisions for sewer backup damages. However, not every flood insurance policy will offer this specified coverage. Muller Insurance serves clients in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and other states. Here, we guide you through some of the complexities of flood insurance to make sure you are adequately protected if a sewer backs up.
The Importance of Flood Insurance
Flooding may happen anywhere, at any time. It often causes expensive damage to personal items, structures, entire properties, and similar elements. Some locations tend to be more prone to flooding disasters, which is why home and business owners in high-risk flood areas with mortgages from government-backed lenders are required to have flood insurance. If you are unsure of your level of risk, review a flood zone map to determine the likelihood of this natural disaster hitting your home or business.
Ultimately, flood insurance provides you with peace of mind that your assets are protected if such damage causes any losses to your property and possessions.
Flood Insurance Coverage and Sewer Backups
To best understand the details of flood insurance coverage, it helps to know how the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) defines a flood. FEMA states a flood is a temporary water issue that triggers a partial or complete inundation of at least two acres and properties on land typically considered dry. In addition, it states that flooding stems from either an overflow of inland or tidal waters, or an abnormal, fast-moving accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source, including mudflow or a collapse of land along the shore of a significant body of water. Therefore, policyholders are not required to cover water damages such as sewer backups under flood insurance, unless the backup is a direct result of flooding.
Since sewers and drains sometimes back up as a result of a storm, these causes of a sewer backup are more likely to qualify for coverage under your flood insurance than a sudden backup caused by a blockage or an old system. It all comes down to the actual cause of the backup. If you can tie the origin back to a natural flooding disaster, the damage may be eligible for coverage.
What if a Sewer Backup Is Not a Result of Flooding?
In cases where you are concerned about damages from a sewer backup that is not caused by flooding, you may want to consider flood insurance. You may also purchase a separate sewer backup insurance coverage plan. It is best to discuss hypothetical sewer backup concerns with your current flood insurance provider or ask about any potential additions available to cover sewer backup instances.
Additionally, sewer backup policies may be a branch of homeowner’s insurance, so it can also be beneficial to review your homeowner’s policy. Until an issue arises, many homeowners are unaware that they are responsible for the sewer line that connects their home to the city’s sewer main. With the uncertainty of a sewer backup damaging your belongings or your home’s structure, it is wise to investigate specified coverage. If an unfortunate sewer backup scenario were to occur, you will be happy that you planned.
Trust the Agents at Muller Insurance
Independent insurance agents, such as Muller Insurance, can provide you with more varieties of coverage to explore, lower costs, and increased potential bundling opportunities. When it comes to flood damage and sewer backups, bundling opportunities are ideal for getting the most amount of protection.
Muller Insurance can assist in you finding local and specialized insurers in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and other states. If you would like to explore your flood insurance options, and want to ensure that you are also protected in the event of a sewer backup, contact us today to get a quote.
