Homeowner policies offer coverage for an overflow of the plumbing system. However, this coverage excludes water that backs up through sewers, drains or from a sump pump. Most policies offer a Water Backup and Sump Overflow endorsement that can be added to your policy for a specified limit of coverage.
When a sump pump fails, it causes water to backup into your home through floor drains and brings unwanted water-borne materials with it. Sump pumps are designed to remove water away from the foundation. If they fail, water can quickly overflow and inundate the home.
Annual plumbing inspections and snake-outs of drain lines can help reduce this risk. Installing a backwater valve can also allow waste water to flow away from the home; the valve can close when water tries to come back into the drain line.
Even so, insurance coverage should be part of your water backup aversion plan. The Water Backup and Sump Overflow endorsement covers a loss caused by water, water borne material or sewage — which backs up through sewers or drains and overflows from a sump pump. It does not apply to the physical loss of the sump pump caused by mechanical breakdown.
The endorsement is available and is an affordable endorsement to add to homeowner's insurance policies. It can help offset costs of a water damage claim.
Contact Park & Associates to see if this endorsement is available to add to your policy.