Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Sewer Line Repair in Minnesota?

You discover that your sewer line is cracked, collapsed, filled with roots, or needs replacement.

Then comes the big question:

Will homeowners insurance pay for it?

The answer is: it depends on your policy, the cause of the damage, and the coverage you’ve purchased.

Homeowners should never assume a sewer repair is covered simply because they have homeowners insurance.

Sewer backup coverage and coverage for the physical sewer service line aren’t necessarily the same.

Let’s break it down.

Does Standard Homeowners Insurance Cover Sewer Line Repairs?

Coverage depends on the policy and what caused the damage.

Homeowners insurance is designed to cover specific losses described in your policy. It isn’t automatically a maintenance plan for everything attached to your home.

How a policy responds may depend on what caused the damage, along with the policy’s specific terms, exclusions, endorsements, deductibles, and coverage limits.

Because policies and exclusions vary, the best way to determine whether your particular sewer repair is covered is to contact your insurance agent or carrier and ask them to review the specific policy language.

What About Sewer Backup Coverage?

This is where homeowners can easily get confused.

Sewer backup coverage generally relates to damage caused when sewage or water backs up into the home.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce explains that a typical homeowners policy does not cover damage caused by sewer backups or a sump pump’s inability to handle runoff from a major downpour. Homeowners may be able to purchase separate coverage or an endorsement for these risks.

For example, imagine sewage backs up through a basement drain and damages flooring, drywall, furniture, and personal belongings.

A sewer backup endorsement may provide coverage for certain damage resulting from a sewer backup, depending on the terms, exclusions, and limits of the individual policy.

But that does not automatically mean the damaged underground sewer pipe itself is covered.

That’s an important distinction.

Ask About Service Line Coverage

Another type of coverage homeowners may want to ask their insurance agent about is service line coverage.

Depending on the insurer and policy, service line coverage may protect against certain types of damage to underground utility lines serving the home.

Some insurance policies may include service line coverage for certain types of damage to a private sewer lateral. Whether a particular sewer line, type of damage, or repair is covered depends on the specific policy, exclusions, limits, and cause of loss.

Ask your insurance agent specifically:

“Do I have service line coverage for my private sewer lateral?”

Don’t simply ask whether you have “sewer coverage.”

Being specific can help avoid confusion between sewer backup coverage and coverage for the underground pipe itself.

Why Might a Sewer Repair Claim Be Denied?

An insurance company may deny a sewer-related loss or repair for many reasons.

Depending on the policy and circumstances, these may include:

• Long-term deterioration
• Normal wear and tear
• Maintenance-related issues
• Existing defects
• Damage that falls under a policy exclusion
• A cause of loss that isn’t covered by the policy
• Repair costs that exceed applicable coverage limits

These are examples only. Your insurance company must determine whether a specific loss is covered under your individual policy.

Cichy’s Water & Sewer cannot determine insurance coverage, but we can help determine what is happening with the sewer line itself.

The homeowner’s insurance company makes coverage decisions based on the individual policy and the circumstances of the loss.

Documentation Can Be Important

When you’re dealing with a possible insurance claim, documentation matters.

A statement that says “the sewer is bad” doesn’t provide much information.

Depending on the situation, useful documentation may include:

• Sewer camera video
• Photos
• Location of the defect
• Pipe material
• Approximate depth
• Type of defect
• Written findings
• Repair recommendations
• Repair estimates

The Minnesota Department of Commerce recommends documenting damage and providing written estimates when making a sewer-backup claim.

If you’re submitting a sewer repair to insurance, ask your insurance company what documentation they need before work begins whenever possible.

Should I Get a Sewer Camera Inspection First?

In many situations, yes.

A sewer camera inspection can help identify what’s happening inside the pipe.

For example, a camera may reveal:

• Roots
• Cracks
• Separations
• Offset joints
• Deterioration
• Obstructions
• Standing water
• Collapsed pipe

However, if you’re considering a major repair, simply seeing the problem isn’t always enough.

Knowing where the defect is located can be critical to determining repair options and developing an accurate estimate.

That’s why a more complete sewer diagnostic evaluation can be valuable when a homeowner is facing a potentially significant sewer repair.

Don’t Wait Until You Have a Sewer Emergency to Check Your Insurance

One of the easiest things Minnesota homeowners can do today is contact their insurance agent.

Ask:

• Do I have sewer backup coverage?
• Do I have service line coverage?
• Does my service line coverage include my private sewer lateral?
• What are my coverage limits?
• What is my deductible?
• What causes of sewer line damage are excluded?

It’s much better to understand your coverage now than to do so while standing in a basement with a sewer backup.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce also encourages homeowners to understand their policy, including coverage limits, deductibles, and exclusions, and to discuss coverage questions with their insurance company or agent.

Have a Sewer Problem? Find Out What’s Actually Happening.

Send insurance questions to your insurance carrier.

Sewer questions can come to us.

If you’ve had recurring backups, received a sewer inspection showing defects, or been told your sewer needs repair or replacement, Cichy’s Water & Sewer can help evaluate the line and discuss repair options.

Depending on the condition of the existing pipe, solutions could range from traditional excavation and repair to trenchless CIPP sewer lining.

The key is understanding the problem before choosing a solution.

What’s in your pipes? Let’s find out.

Contact Cichy’s Water & Sewer to schedule a sewer diagnostic evaluation or discuss your sewer repair options.