Do you constantly struggle with your water backup at home and do you think it’s time to get water backup coverage? For today’s blog let’s learn about water backup coverage and how you can benefit from this type of insurance coverage for your homes.
If you asked homeowners a list of situations they wished they never had to deal with, it’s probably to sump pump failure and drown their home. It’s likely similar to a burning house.
It’s a disaster, no denial. Basically, when a sump pump fails it causes water to go back up into your home. This instance can also bring all kinds of water-borne diseases that might put you and your family at risk. Not to mention that a water backup can create costly damage as well.
As homeowners, it’s your ultimate responsibility to ensure that your house is a home to live in. Keep it liveable and free of risk.
Today, let’s learn about water backup coverage and how it’s imperative for you to get one.
What is Water Backup Coverage Anyway?
Water backup coverage is an endorsement option that protects against damage to your home or personal property because of water that backs up through sewers, drains, and discharges or overflows from a sump, sump pump, or related equipment.
Most homeowners add on this policy because of how damaging water backups can be — repairs typically need floorboards, walls, and furniture to need replacing, given the unsanitary conditions of the water.
Essentially, water backup coverage includes water removal, construction materials/labor, and replacement costs for items and structures damaged from accidental water overflow.
There are various circumstances that can cause water to flow back into your home, many of which a traditional water backup insurance policy covers:
- Blockage in city pipelines
- Malfunctioning appliances
- Gutter system backup around your home
- Old or damaged sewers or drains
- Overflow from a sump pump
With this coverage, it will help you pay to remove any standing water, replace your belongings, repair the structure of your home and remove any mold growth caused by the overflow. Essentially, having you save thousands of dollars on repairs.
Water backups can be a pain. No matter if an appliance malfunctions and starts pumping water into your kitchen, or you find standing water in your basement from a sump pump failure, cleaning up the result is costly.
4 Reasons to Add Water Backup Coverage
Instead of saving money for a living, you end up spending more on repairs and damages.
So what more convincing do you need to get one? Here are four reasons why.
1 Water Backup is Not Included in Basic Homeowners Insurance Policy.
Your home insurance policy doesn’t include water backup coverage? Then it’s time you start getting one.
Water backup coverage is an add-on to basic homeowners, condo, or renters policy. Without the coverage, you’ll end up paying for cleanup or damage caused by a sump, sump pump, or other non-plumbing system or non-domestic appliance.
2. It’s Inexpensive.
Getting water backup coverage is just right for your budget. The average cost of water backup is around $50 to $250 annually, depending on your risk exposure and the limits you select.
There are different types of limits and coverages available that are tailored to your needs. Depending on the type of water backup coverage, and the grounds you are applying it for, it bases its rate and price. Make sure that you also work with your insurance agent to choose a limit that matches your unique coverage needs.
3. Water Backups Can Happen to Every Homeowner.
There are several myths concerning who is more or less likely to have a water backup. It doesn’t matter if you live on a hill, don’t have a basement, have flood insurance (a distinct sort of coverage), or if your home has never had a water backup issue. This type of loss can happen to anyone.
4. It Qualifies You for Loss of Use Coverage if Your Home is Uninhabitable.
In most cases, a sump pump failure doesn’t make your home unlivable, in other words, you would still be able to live in your home while there are ongoing repairs.But in the rare case that it does make your home uninhabitable, having water backup coverage would qualify you for Loss of Use coverage.
For example, this might apply if you have a damaged furnace due to a water backup, it’s 30 degrees outside, and you can’t heat your home.
When Should You Buy Water Backup Coverage
Water damage is a common struggle for homeowner’s insurance policyholders. However, not all types of water damages are reimbursed for, even if backed-up sewers cause them.
Decide how important it is to add water backup and sump overflow protection to your policy with these points.
It Depends on Your Home and Climate
The reality is that not every home needs water backup and sump overflow coverage. It’s recommended for homes that are prone to weather- or sewage-related flooding around the yard.
Also, we recommend this coverage to homeowners who live in places with heavy rain and snowfall. Consider this option if your home floods regularly after it rains and your yard does not have a proper drainage system.
When The Coverage Is Not Standard
Water damages due to accidents are covered in an average homeowner’s insurance policy.
This includes damages from heavy rainfall that enters your home. However, water backup coverage isn’t. Neither is water damage caused by flooding, water backups from below the ground, sewer backups, or sump pump overflows. You must buy flood insurance separately.
Types of Coverage Included
A water or sewer backup plan covers you for water damages made to your property and the personal contents inside. Coverage applies only if the water overflows from a drain, sewer, sump, sump pump, or any system that handles subsurface water.
The type of protection you need for your home depends on your unique needs. Not every homeowner deals with flooding on a regular basis, so many of them do not have flood insurance. ‘
Similarly, a homeowner’s insurance policy doesn’t include a water backup and sump overflow coverage. You must buy it separately.
Additionally, it is a vital protection plan that prevents your home, yard, and personal belongings from being damaged by sewage or sump pump backups.
Water Backup Coverage at Harbor Insurance
Water backup can vary in size and severity, good water backup coverage should be flexible and affordable. Luckily at Harbor Insurance, you can have the best insurance coverage tailored for your budget.
At Harbor Insurance, we can be a better insurance agent to help you get the right coverage insurance for your water backup coverage. Not only that, as one of North Carolina-based insurance providers, we aim to help you determine the most appropriate coverage and find the best options with top-rated carriers. In as easy as a 30-minute consultation, we can let our team of skilled licensed agents help with urgency.
Final Thoughts.
There you have it, everything you need to know about water backup coverage for your homeowner’s insurance. Make sure to go over our blog prior to buying your insurance policy and check rates. It’s best to also consult with a reliable insurance agent so you can get clarity on your insurance coverage today.
Ready to upgrade your homeowner insurance?
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