The Nasty Truth: A Sewer Backup is NOT Covered by a Standard Homeowners Policy.
The Most Disgusting, and Uninsured, Home Disaster.
I came home to a homeowner’s worst nightmare. The city sewer main had backed up, and raw sewage had come up through the drains in my finished basement, destroying everything. I was horrified. I was even more horrified when my insurance agent told me my standard homeowners policy would pay nothing. The policy had a clear exclusion for damage caused by “water which backs up through sewers or drains.” It was a disgusting, expensive, and completely uninsured catastrophe.
Sewer Backup vs. Sump Pump Failure: Two Different Problems, Two Different Riders.
Know Your Water Risk, and Get the Right Endorsement.
These are two distinct problems that require two distinct (but often combined) insurance riders. Sewer Backup coverage protects you if the city sewer or your septic system backs up and sends gross water into your home. Sump Pump Failure coverage protects you if your sump pump breaks down or the power fails during a storm, and ground water floods your basement. If you have a basement, you are at risk for both, and you need to make sure your policy has a rider that covers both scenarios.
How a $50/Year Endorsement Can Save You From a $20,000 Raw Sewage Nightmare.
The Best, and Most Important, Rider for Any Home with a Basement.
After my uninsured sewer backup, I learned about the “Water Backup and Sump Pump Overflow” endorsement. For a tiny additional premium—often only $50 to $100 a year—you can add this rider to your homeowners policy. It is specifically designed to cover the exact type of disgusting and destructive event I experienced. It pays for the water removal, the professional sanitization, and the replacement of your ruined floors, walls, and belongings. It is an absolute must-have for any home with a basement or a low-level bathroom.
My Sump Pump Failed in a Rainstorm. My Basement Was Destroyed. Here’s What Insurance Paid.
The Rider That Turned a Catastrophe into a Claim.
During a massive rainstorm, our power went out, and our sump pump stopped working. The ground water poured into our finished basement, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage. I was terrified we weren’t covered. But when I had bought my policy, my agent had insisted on adding the “Sump Pump Failure” rider. It was a miracle. The insurance company paid for the entire cleanup and rebuild of our basement. That one, small, inexpensive rider saved us from a financially devastating loss.
Don’t Assume You’re Covered for Water From a Drain. You’re Not.
The Most Common and Dangerous Water Damage Exclusion.
This is a critical point. Your standard homeowners policy covers you for a pipe that bursts inside your walls. It does NOT cover you for water that comes up from a drain or a sump pump pit. This is a specific and absolute exclusion. Do not assume that “water damage” means all water damage. The water that comes from below is not covered unless you have proactively added this specific and essential endorsement to your policy.
If You Have a Basement, These Two Riders are Non-Negotiable.
The Two-Headed Dragon of Basement Water Damage.
A basement is a wonderful feature, but it is a magnet for two specific types of water damage. It is vulnerable to a sewer backup coming up from the main drain, and it is vulnerable to ground water flooding if your sump pump fails. These are the two primary ways a basement can be destroyed by water. A smart homeowner with a basement will ensure they are protected from this two-headed dragon by having a robust “Water Backup and Sump Pump Overflow” endorsement on their policy.
A Side-by-Side Look at What Each Coverage Does (and Doesn’t) Do.
One is for the Gross Water. The Other is for the Ground Water.
Let’s make it clear.
Sewer Backup Coverage: Protects you when the municipal sewer or your septic system backs up, sending water up through your toilets, showers, and floor drains. This is the “gross water” problem.
Sump Pump Failure Coverage: Protects you when your sump pump fails to remove accumulating ground water, and that ground water floods your basement. This is the “ground water” problem.
You often need both.
“Water is Coming Up From the Floor Drain!” The Exact Moment You Need This Coverage.
The Nightmare Scenario That Defines the Need.
The moment you see dark, murky water bubbling up from the floor drain in your basement is the moment you will either be incredibly grateful that you spent the extra $50 a year on a Water Backup rider, or you will be filled with a deep, sickening sense of regret. It is a very specific, and very common, type of home disaster. This one, simple endorsement is the only thing that stands between that nightmare and your financial security.
The Most Overlooked and Disgusting Gap in a Standard Homeowners Policy.
The Unseen Risk That’s Hiding in Your Pipes.
Most homeowners are worried about a fire or a hailstorm. They rarely think about the complex and aging network of pipes that lies beneath their home. But a sewer backup is one of the most common, most destructive, and most disgusting claims a homeowner can face. The fact that this common risk is specifically excluded from a standard policy makes it the most significant and overlooked gap in coverage that every homeowner needs to be aware of and proactively plug.
Protect Your Basement. Protect Your Sanity. Add These Coverages.
The Simple Phone Call That Buys You Peace of Mind.
If you have a basement, a sump pump, or even just a ground-floor bathroom, you are at risk. The solution is simple. Call your insurance agent. Ask them if you have “Water Backup and Sump Pump Overflow” coverage. If you don’t, add it immediately. It is an incredibly inexpensive endorsement that protects you from an incredibly expensive and emotionally draining disaster. It is a small price to pay to protect your basement and your sanity.