Jump right to it: The best sewer and water line insurance plans are offered by Choice Home Warranty.
Your home insurance may have some expensive coverage gaps when it comes to sewer lines. If your sewer line fails, chances are good that you’re on the hook for repairs, which could cost thousands.
Water and sewer line insurance promises to protect your home from sewer line damage and other risks in exchange for a monthly premium or fee. Here’s what to consider.
Quick Look: Best Sewer Line Insurance
- Best for Coverage for Normal Wear and Tear: Choice Home Warranty
- Best for Diminishing Deductible Option: American Family Insurance
- Best for a Full Range of Home Warranty Protection: HomeServe
- Best for Unlimited Annual Benefits: Service Line Warranties of America
- Best for Per-Incident Coverage: American Water Resources
- Best for Independent Agent Network: Erie Insurance
- Best for Low Deductible: Mercury Insurance
7 Best Sewer Line Insurance
When choosing water line protection or a sewer line insurance plan, you’ll find similar coverage available through warranty providers and insurers. However, some coverage plans may have deductibles, hidden costs or gaps in coverage that can cost you money if you need a sewer line repair.
It’s also important to note that sewer line coverage does not cover damage to your home. For sewer backup or sump pump overflow coverage, ask your home insurance provider if you can get a rider.
1. Best for Coverage for Normal Wear and Tear: Choice Home Warranty
While not technically insurance, Choice Home Warranty offers valuable coverage, including for some things that may fall outside of your traditional home insurance policy, like sewer line insurance.
Choice Home Warranty offers several plans that provide coverage for plumbing issues, including 1 plan that offer sewer line coverage. Their plans offer protection for several other types of appliances and so forth that aren't always covered with your traditional home insurance policy.
Get in touch with Choice Home Warranty for your free home warranty quote.
Pros
- Covers a range of issues that occur in the home and on the property
- Covers everything on the property that utility companies are not obligated to fix
- Allows you to choose how much coverage you need for the property
Cons
- A home warranty is not insurance, per se, but it provides a level of protection many people need. If you want a full insurance plan, you’ll need to look elsewhere
2. Best Diminishing Deductible Option: American Family Insurance
American Family Insurance is an insurance provider offering a wide range of both standard and niche policies. Their products include anything from home insurance to landlord insurance to sewer line coverage.
Their Sewer and Water Line Insurance policy covers the following:
- Wear and tear
- Sewer line collapse
- Rust, corrosion, decay and deterioration
- Electrical breakdown
- Mechanical breakdown
- Pressure system breakdown
- Hidden or latent defect
- Freezing of sewer line
American Family Insurance offers several other useful standalone and add-on policies, like water and power line insurance. Get in touch with them to get a free quote today.
Pros
- There’s a large range of coverages that are available under these plans
- Helps homeowners purchase the sort of insurance they need to fully protect their homes
Cons
- This plan is not something you can offer with the sale of a house or request when buying a home
3. Best for a Full Range of Home Warranty Protection: HomeServe
As one of the nation’s best-known home warranty companies, HomeServe offers a selection of warranty products. These include sewer line coverage/water line protection as well as bundled coverage. It pairs sewer line protection with other plumbing concerns, like interior plumbing and drainage system coverage. For sewer line coverage, expect to pay about $13 per month for $6,000 in coverage.
However, coverage per call is limited to $3,000 or $1,000 per call for service line restoration (as opposed to sewer line replacement). Like many providers, HomeServe has a 30-day wait period before coverage becomes effective. All covered repairs have a one-year guarantee under the warranty program.
Pros
- Bundled coverage makes it easier for you to accumulate all the protection you need
- This is a good option for home sellers who want to pass on protection to buyers
- Low cost coverage makes it easier for anyone to purchase the policy and maintain it
Cons
- A warranty is not a homeowner’s policy. Make sure you’re comfortable with this warranty before proceeding.
4. Best for Unlimited Annual Benefits: Service Line Warranties of America
One of the most affordable plans also offers some of the best coverage limits. Service Line Warranties of America offers an unlimited annual benefit amount with an $8,500 per call coverage limit.
We found a plan for under $6 per month, although availability varies by area. Preexisting conditions may affect eligibility and homes that have had prior tree root removal from sewer or septic lines are not eligible. Repairs are performed by local licensed and insured technicians and work is guaranteed for one year.
Pros
- The unlimited annual benefit is one of the more powerful coverages in the industry
- The coverage per-call limit is rather high, making it a much safer option for homeowners
Cons
- This warranty is far more specific than the competition, meaning many people may need more robust coverage
- Pre-existing conditions could impact coverage
5. Best for Per-Incident Coverage: American Water Resources
Choose from plans that cover sewer lines or bundled plans. These cover sewer and water lines as well as an option to add coverage for other plumbing emergencies. Basic sewer line coverage with American Water Resources is priced at $9 per month.
Coverage limits are $10,000 per occurrence, including sewer line repair, refill, and reseeding, as well as sidewalk or road repair related to the sewer line service. A $50 per call service fee may apply. Repairs under the warranty program are guaranteed for one year and coverage is subject to a 30-day waiting period.
Pros
- The warranty is priced very low as it is very specific to water and sewer lines
- The coverage per occurence is very high
Cons
- There may be a service call fee that applies to each visit from a technician
- There is a 30-day waiting period, which could cause problems for some homeowners
6. Best for Independent Agent Network: Erie Insurance
A well-respected insurer with a history of protecting families dating back to 1925, Erie Insurance provides sewer line coverage as part of a service line protection bundle. New or existing ErieSecure home insurance clients can add coverage, choosing from 2 plans that cover sewer line damage and a range of utility lines including:
- Cable lines
- Internet lines
- Electrical wiring
- Natural gas pipes
- Propane pipes
Erie’s Plus bundle provides up to $10,000 of coverage while the Select bundle extends coverage up to $25,000, enough to cover most big jobs. Your chosen deductible may apply for each occurrence, but higher coverage limits bring greater peace of mind. To inquire about coverage and pricing, just reach out to one of Erie’s 12,000 plus independent agents.
Pros
- The vendor network is so large that it serves just about anyone, no matter where they are
- The large range of covered losses is very helpful for homeowners in as-is properties, historic homes, etc.
- Sewer line coverage be purchases on its own, helping you save money
Cons
- The coverage levels are still relatively low, even though there are many covered losses
7. Best for Low Deductible: Mercury Insurance
One of the fastest-growing insurers and a company with a 50-year history of protecting families, Mercury Insurance. They offer service line protection as an add-on to its home insurance policies. $10,000 of coverage is paired with an affordable $500 deductible to provide coverage for a broad range of service lines, including sewer line or water line repair.
As a plus, Mercury’s service line protection program also helps pay for additional living expenses if your home becomes temporarily uninhabitable due to a covered water pipe, service line or other covered claim. Not bad for a few extra dollars per month.
Pros
- This is a full insurance plan that protects your home and things that are often not covered
- Coverage for additional living expenses is available
- The firm is growing quickly, meaning you might see more coverage options and perks in the future
Cons
- The deductible may seem quite high, especially considering most warranties will do the job for much less
What is Sewer Line Insurance
Sewer lines and most service lines running from your house to a utility aren’t covered by standard home insurance. Some insurers offer a rider, an add-on that extends limited coverage, and there are also companies that sell sewer service line coverage as a standalone contract or as part of a larger home warranty.
Remember, too, that a water line break or sewer line replacement could require a second mortgage on your home because the expense is so great. A water leak could cause your water bill to rise by thousands of dollars in a short time, but a service line warranty program covers repair costs with a small service fee and upfront or monthly premium.
What Does Sewer Line Insurance Cover?
Sewer lines can fail over time, either collapsing, becoming clogged or invaded by roots. Line coverage, however, is specific tot he situation, and every repair plan will be a little bit different.
If the problem requires digging and line replacement, you can expect to pay even more. This is why you want an insurance policy or warranty that handles line repair, pipe replacement, associated home repairs, etc.
There are a few considerations before buying coverage. Your home insurance company likely won’t cover damage from sewer backup. Often, this is available as an add-on and is separate from coverage for sewer lines themselves. The utility company isn’t responsible because it must maintain the system, not your home.
A smaller group of insurers also offer service line endorsements, add-ons that provide coverage for sewer line failures which expand your home insurance coverage. Specialized coverage for sewer lines is also available from a number of dedicated providers or home warranty companies.
Some home sellers might offer warranty coverage for the water main, sewer pipes, etc. This could be helpful if you’re selling an older home or want to add an incentive that makes the house easier to sell, especially when you’re passing homeowner responsibility for the plumbing system, gas line, water lines, etc. to the buyer.
Average Cost of Sewer Line Insurance
When purchasing a sewer line policy as standalone coverage, expect to pay about $10 to $15 per month or higher.
We found plans that only covered sewer lines for under $10 per month, although pricing and availability may vary by location. Many providers for sewer protection partner with regional utility providers or only service select areas.
If your insurer offers a sewer line endorsement, your monthly cost is likely to be lower. However, if a deductible applies, the savings may be erased if you have a claim. It’s unusual to find a home insurance deductible of less than $500 and a $1,000 or higher deductible is more common.
Consider the deductible when comparing prices for coverage.
Who Needs Sewer Line Insurance?
Insurance is designed to cover life’s larger financial losses. Sewer line service is likely to cost thousands, so it’s worth considering. Older homes are more likely to need sewer line repair as pipes age.
To dive deeper, you have to look at the pipes. In homes built before the 1950s, sewer pipes were commonly made of clay, cast iron or a fiber conduit called Orangeburg. Of these pipe types, Orangeburg has proven itself to be the most problematic due to its porous nature. It absorbs moisture and its tendency to deform under pressure.
Orangeburg was used often in homes up until the 1970s. Even newer materials like ABS or PVC aren’t designed to last forever. Consider the potential cost of replacement when deciding if sewer line coverage is a good value.
For example, HomeAdvisor.com estimates the average cost to repair a sewer line at over $2,500 but cautions that costs could run much higher. If you were able to secure coverage for about $10 per month, your cost for a year of coverage is $120 for a year or $1,200 for a decade.
Clay pipes can last up to 50 or 60 years, while PVC can last over 100 years. If you have either of these types of pipes and you have a newer home, it’s unlikely that you need sewer line insurance.
Building an emergency savings account is a thriftier option. However, if your home is older, you may be on borrowed time. If you suspect you may have a sewer line failure sometime within the next 10 to 20 years, sewer line coverage can be a money-saver.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Sewer Lines?
This all depends on your provider, but sewer line coverage is often not built into a standard homeowners policy. Some providers do include it, though, and others offer it as an add-on or standalone policy. Some insurers may offer home warranties that include sewer line damage. Check out some of Benzinga’s favorite homeowners insurance policies and some insurance basics to see if they offer sewer line coverage as part of their available products.
Choosing the Right Sewer Line Insurance
Sewer line coverage can be purchased as either a sewer line warranty product or as an add-on to your home insurance policy. Some insurers that offer service line coverage as an endorsement don’t advertise the coverage. Check with your home insurance provider or agent to see if there’s an add-on available. Check with competitors, too. If service line coverage is a priority for you, it may be worth considering a switch to an insurer that can provide the coverage you need.
Warranties or sewer pipe protection plans are often offered without deductibles but can be more costly on a monthly basis. As always, read the fine print before making a commitment. Many plans have exclusions that may affect coverage for your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my sewer line is broken?
There are several indicators that there is trouble with your sewer line. Signs can include sewage backup, unpleasant smells, slow or stopped drains, mold and foundational cracks. An influx of pests can also be a big sign.
The best route when you suspect you have a sewer line issue is to call a professional, such as a plumber, to assess.
How long does a sewer line repair typically take?
This all depends on the extent of the damage and the location of the sewer line. However, the general consensus is that a repair will take an average of 1 to 3 days. Some repairs could be a quick fix and only take an hour or so — others may drag on longer than a week.
That’s why having sewer line coverage will not only save you money, it will save you from added stress when you least need it.
Is sewer line insurance worth it?
Sewer line insurance is often worth the money because repairs can be quite expensive and a leaking sewer line can be both extremely disruptive and even incur environmental violations from your municipality.