Does Homeowners Insurance Cover a Sewer Backup?
Imagine walking downstairs and finding several inches of dirty water coming up through a floor drain.
Your finished basement has damaged flooring, drywall, furniture, and personal belongings. Cleanup needs to start immediately.
You have homeowners insurance, so you assume you are covered.
Unfortunately, sewer backup damage is typically not covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy. In Utah, sewer backup and sump pump failure are common exclusions unless additional coverage has been added to the policy.
Sewer Backup Coverage Is Usually an Add-On
Homeowners insurance covers many types of sudden damage, but sewer or drain backup is different.
To protect against this type of loss, you generally need water or sewer backup coverage added to your homeowners policy through an endorsement.
The Utah Insurance Department specifically identifies Sewer Back-up and Sump Pump Overflow Coverage as additional coverage that may be available for an extra premium.
Depending on the policy, this additional coverage may help pay for damage to your home and belongings caused by water backing up through a sewer or drain or overflowing from a sump pump.
A Sewer Backup Can Get Expensive Quickly
A sewer line becomes blocked while the family is away for the afternoon. Wastewater backs up through a basement drain and spreads across the floor.
By the time they return, they may need to:
Remove damaged flooring
Cut out contaminated drywall
Replace furniture and belongings
Hire professional water-remediation services
Clean and disinfect the basement
Repair or replace damaged finishes
The bill can quickly reach thousands—or tens of thousands—of dollars.
Without the proper endorsement, the homeowner could discover that their standard policy does not cover the loss.
Sewer Backup Is Different From Other Water Damage
This is where homeowners insurance can become confusing.
Some water losses may be covered by a standard policy. For example, sudden water damage caused by a burst pipe may be covered depending on the circumstances and policy.
But water that backs up through a sewer or drain is generally treated differently.
The Utah Insurance Department specifically lists water damage from backed-up drains or sewers as something not covered under most standard homeowners policies.
That is why simply asking, “Do I have water damage coverage?” is not enough.
You should ask:
“Do I specifically have sewer or water backup coverage?”
How Much Sewer Backup Coverage Do You Have?
Even if you added the endorsement, check the limit.
A policy might provide a specific amount of sewer backup coverage rather than automatically matching your full dwelling or personal-property limits.
That matters if you have a finished basement with:
Expensive flooring
Furniture
Electronics
A home theater
Bedrooms
An office
Stored personal belongings
The more you have below ground level, the more important it becomes to understand what your policy would actually pay after a covered backup.
Coverage limits, deductibles, and what qualifies as a covered backup vary by insurance company and policy.
Check Your Policy Before You Need It
Do not wait until sewage is coming through the basement drain to find out whether you purchased this coverage.
At Tommy Thomsen Insurance, we can review your homeowners policy and help you determine whether sewer or water backup coverage is included, what your limit is, and whether your current protection fits your home.
Let’s Review Your Home Insurance
If you are not sure whether your homeowners insurance includes sewer backup coverage, let us take a look.
Request a homeowners insurance quote through our website or call Tommy Thomsen Insurance at 801-982-7200.
We will explain your coverage in plain language so you know what is—and is not—protected before a loss happens.
This article provides general insurance information and is not a guarantee of coverage. Sewer and water backup coverage, limits, deductibles, exclusions, and claim payments vary by insurer, policy, and circumstances of the loss.