Standard homeowner insurance typically will not cover the main sewer damages between the city to your home, leaving you with additional expenses outside your budget. The sewer line is technically not part of your home plumbing, but the homeowner needs to resolve damages that may occur to it.

The main sewer line is prone to problems. Cracked sewer lines, tree roots or heavy rains are some of the primary causes of these problems, which cause sewage to flow back into your basement, drains or sinks. You may incur damage when this happens.

The best way to avoid unnecessary spending is to get sewer line insurance. It works best for homes that use a sewer system instead of a cesspool or septic system. The homeowner owns the lines up to the point where it connects with the main line. These lines typically run below the ground, traversing streets, homes, yards and sidewalks. 

How Much Does Sewer Line Insurance Cost?

Homeowners' insurance will probably not cover sewer line damages, which leads to unforeseen expenses. Cost is likely one of the first things to check before committing to something. Before looking at other providers, check with your homeowners' insurance for sewer line coverage. Many providers have add-on or rider options.

Depending on the inclusions of the coverage, it should cost you anywhere between $40 to $160 annually. Your existing insurance might have a sewage backup rider, but this typically only covers backup damages, not the line itself. Checking coverage is a good thing, so you know what's covered and not.

Other fees that sewer line insurance may cover include inspection and excavation fees. If your existing provider does not have rider options, a standalone policy is the way to go. It costs anywhere between $10 to $15 a month. However, it only exclusively covers sewer lines. Availability and pricing may vary depending on location, among other factors. Check with the provider for more details.

Is Service Line Coverage Worth it?

The short answer is, yes, sewer service line coverage is worth the extra cost, regardless if it is a standalone policy or a rider. Homeowners should consider a sewer service line insurance policy to protect their home’s sewer lines.

Sewer line damages are beyond the homeowner’s control and addressing these damages can be pricey. Not having coverage will cost you a lot of money. If you cannot fix it immediately, it will leave your home without essential services for days, weeks or months.

With sewer line insurance, you get peace of mind knowing you have protection against damage to your service line. 

Best Sewer Line Insurance Companies

It’s hard to choose among the many sewer line insurance companies, most of which offer similar coverage. However, some providers may have gaps, hidden costs or deductibles. Here are the top seven recommendations if you are looking for sewer line coverage.

Choice Home Warranty

Choice Home Warranty is technically not insurance, but it offers coverage for things excluded from a traditional home insurance policy.

Before digging deeper into Choice Home Warranty, it is important to differentiate home warranty and home insurance. The former is a service contract that assists in paying replacements and repairs in home systems and household appliances. Homeowners' insurance is a property insurance that protects you against damages and losses.

Most home insurance will have four essential coverages:

• Your home's structure
• Personal belongings
• Additional living expenses coverage
• Coverage or protection on liability

Choice Home Warranty offers several plans covering home issues, including sewer damages. It also offers appliance coverage, which most home insurance policies do not cover.

Choice Home Warranty is available in two plans — basic and total. The table below shows a list of appliances and home systems it covers.

You can optionally add coverage for the following items:

• Pool/spa
• Central vacuum
• Septic system, septic tank pumping
• Standalone freezer
• Sump pump, well pump

Pros

• Available in 49 states, except Washington
• No 30-day waiting period if you have proof of previous coverage
• Parts have a 90-day workmanship guarantee
• Personal customer service delivered by a dedicated team of representatives 
• 24/7 warranty service

Cons

• Roof-leak coverage has a limit of $500
• Service fee

American Family Insurance

American Family was founded in 1927 with its headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin. The company offers insurance for cars, condominiums, homeowners and business owners. American Family offers discounts if you purchase a bundle of insurance. Its standard policies cover the basics, but you can add coverage as you like.

Its water and sewer line insurance has the following coverage:

• Sewer line freezing
• Latent or hidden defects
• Pressure, mechanical and electrical systems
• Deterioration, corrosion, rust and decay
• Normal wear and tear
• Sewer line collapse

American Family Insurance is available in the following states.

Pros

• Fewer customer complaints for a company of its size
• Several coverage options
• Discount on smart-home devices that qualify

Cons

• Only available in 18 states

HomeServe

HomeServe is one of the country's best-known warranty companies. The company offers a variety of products, including sewer line coverage. You can bundle coverages for your home. For example, you can get sewer line protection with drains and interior plumbing protection.

Covered components include:

• Electrical: Exhaust fan, outlet, electrical wiring and switches
• Heating and cooling: Refrigerant leaks, water heater, pilot burners, circuit boards, furnace conditioning and air conditioning
• Plumbing: Septic and sewer lines, clogged toilets, leaking water supply inside heaters and water pipes and exterior water service lines

Sewer line coverage typically will cost $13 per month for a $6,000 coverage. However, one detail worth noting is that the policy coverage is limited to $3,000 or $1,000 per service line restoration. The competition may offer better deals. There is a waiting period of 30 days before it becomes effective, just like other providers.

Here are the exclusions you might see in the policy or contract. All exclusions may not appear, so read the fine print.

• Negligence: Damages resulting from negligence are not covered.
• Correcting a repair: Mistake correction cost is not inclusive if you try to fix the damage yourself first.
• Unusual circumstances: Damages from forces or events that are uncontrollable, such as pandemics, natural disasters and war. 
• 30-day waiting period: Service calls within the 30-day waiting period are prohibited.
• Unlisted systems: Any part of the home not specified in the contract.

Pros

• One-year guarantee for all repairs
• Licensed and local technicians
• Informative website

Cons

• Multiple plans to get the desired coverage
• Cost and availability dependent on location

Service Line Warranties of America

Service Line Warranties of America is a company owned by HomeServe. It sells protection plans for electrical lines, heating, cooling, gas, sewer and water.

For an annual benefit amount of $8,500 per call coverage, Service Line Warranties of America offers unlimited service. The cheapest plan it offers is $6 per month, depending on your area. However, homes with prior root removal from septic or sewer lines are not eligible. Other pre-existing conditions may also affect your eligibility.

Visit Service Line Warranties of America's website to check if coverage within your area is available. Its website lets you input your zip code to see a list of services in your area.

File a complaint by calling its customer service hotline. Once a complaint is submitted, Service Line Warranties of America will assign and dispatch a contractor to replace or repair the issue. 

Pros

• Unlimited calls per year
• Accreditation and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
• Low monthly premiums without needing to pay service call fees

Cons

• Available in limited states only
• No ability to choose your own contractor
• Systems coverage only

American Water Resources

American Water Resources offers several plans to consumers, including sewer line protection insurance. Interested customers can add coverage, such as plumbing emergencies and water line protection. The most basic sewer line protection starts at $9 per month. Monthly premiums may differ depending on your area.

The coverage limit is $10,000 per occurrence, including reseeding, refill and repair. The homeowner is responsible for paying fees over the per-occurrence limit. Road or sidewalk repairs related to the sewer line are included. However, a call fee of $50 may apply under certain conditions. The coverage has a 30-day waiting period, and repairs have a one-year warranty. 

You can sign up for a plan by filling up an enrollment form or calling the hotline. Payment is available in monthly or annual options. 

Pros

• High per-occurrence coverage limit 
• Monthly and annual payment options

Cons

• Call fee is applicable in some scenarios

Erie Insurance

Protecting households since 1925, Erie Insurance has a longstanding record in the industry. Its service line protection bundle includes sewer line protection. 

Erie's main selling point is its extended water coverage, which covers storm surges, inland flooding and flash flood damages. You can claim coverage if flood damages at least one of the following parts of your home:

• Air conditioning equipment
• Appliances
• Plumbing and electrical system
• Rooms
• Basement
• Foundation
• Heater and furnace

Extended water coverage covers up to $10,000 for equipment installation and material costs. You also get living expenses coverage while your home is under repair. 

Pros

• Additional coverage options
• Discounts on policy premiums on top of the competitive rates
• Few customer complaints
• Extended water add-on for natural disasters, such as floods

Cons

• Available in 12 states and D.C. only

Mercury Insurance

Mercury Insurance has about 50 years of experience protecting families from sewer line issues. Its sewer line protection is an add-on to its homeowners' insurance policy. Its $10,000 coverage has an affordable deductible of $500, protecting your service lines.

Mercury Insurance has comprehensive coverage options, an excellent presence in the digital world and bundling deals. However, its customer service is not the best in the market, given its high number of customer complaints.

The following are the basic coverages in Mercury's home insurance policies.

• Other structures: Covers repair and rebuild of additional structures on your property, such as a garden shed or garage.
• Dwelling: Covers repair and rebuild of any structure attached to your home.
• Personal liability: Covers legal and medical liability if you are legally responsible for property damage or accidental injury.
• Medical payment: Covers guests' medical expenses for injuries arising at your home.

Pros

• Low average cost 
• Optional coverage for water backup, equipment breakdown and service line

Cons

• Available in 10 states only
• Several issues with customers

Factors to Consider

Should you buy sewer line insurance? Several factors are worth considering before signing up. Although sewer line repairs are rare, the high cost makes it worth getting insurance.

Consider the following questions before getting coverage for your sewer line.

• Do you have a basement? Backups into basements often happen if you experience issues with your sewer line. It will hold water because basements are underground.
• How old is your house? Newly built houses will have new sewer lines, which reduces backup risks. Sewer line failure increases as your home ages.
• Does the water system in your city combine raw sewage and stormwater into one pipe? Heavy rainstorms can overload the sewer pipeline, which could lead to sewage backups. A quick way to check this is to ask the city water district office. 
• Does your property have trees nearby? Tree roots can significantly extend below the ground, causing breakage in the pipes. 
• Have your neighbors had sewer line issues? Ask around the neighborhood about it. It should give you a rough idea of your chances of experiencing the same issue. 

Answering these questions should help you know if you need sewer line insurance. 

What Does Sewer Line Insurance Cover?

Sewer line insurance covers the costs of diagnosing and repairing damaged sewer lines. Depending on the provider, it may also include the cost of welding, cutting, fusing and excavation. Coverage limits vary, so check with the provider. 

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Broken Sewer Pipes and Line Replacement?

Most homeowners insurance does not cover sewer pipes and line replacement. However, it may be available as an add-on to existing coverage. Details vary depending on the provider. 

Why Should You Trust Benzinga?

Benzinga has a solid record of providing accurate and precise recommendations for financial information, including sewer line insurance. Launched in 2009, Benzinga is a financial news website founded by Jason Raznick. Benzinga guides you through trading, investing and personal finance, helping you grow your wealth. 

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