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Are Your Broken Sewer Pipes Covered? We Asked an Agent
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We built this guide to educate homeowners on the chances of getting sewer line repairs covered by homeowners' insurance. These guidelines and recommendations generally apply to most areas, but we cannot guarantee they all apply where you live. Speak to your insurance agent to discover the policy add-ons, riders and local ordinances that pertain to you!
You discovered a broken sewer pipe in your home — and the only thing more unpleasant than the smell is the quote for your plumbing repairs. You’re likely wondering, “Will my homeowners insurance cover the bill?”
We spoke to Paxten Volbrecht, Director of Agency Operations at Jacobs Insurance Solutions, to gain expert clarity and actionable tips for homeowners trying to get their insurance provider to cover the cost of sewer repairs.
The team at Mother Modern Plumbing offers a century of Dallas plumbing expertise, led by our Master Plumbers. Talk to us to obtain the professional quote and expert sewer line inspection data needed to increase the odds of getting covered for repairs.
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Found Broken Sewer Pipes? Do These 3 Things Immediately
If you discover a broken sewer pipe, act quickly and strategically. Paxten advises homeowners to take these 3 actions, in a specific order, to improve your chances of being covered.
Your crucial first steps: get your ducks in a row
- Contact a Reputable Plumber: Obtain a thorough assessment of the damage, the likely cause, and a detailed repair or replacement estimate.
- Document Everything: Take clear photos and videos of the broken pipe, the surrounding area, and any resulting damage. Keep all plumber reports and invoices.
- Locate Your Insurance Policy: Have your policy documents readily available.
Always call your insurance agent first, not your direct carrier
As Paxten advises, contacting your insurance agent first can be a crucial step:
"If you have an agent, you can speak to the agent about the policy without it going on your claims history. So you can have a conversation with me, and it might not go on your claims record. Now, if you have a conversation with a carrier directly, that's going on your claims record, 100%." - Paxten Volbrecht
Speaking with your agent allows you to discuss the situation and understand potential coverage before filing a formal claim, which can impact your claims history even if the claim is ultimately denied.
Call a plumber to increase your approval odds
The difference between approved and denied claims often hinges on proper documentation from sources that your insurance provider trusts. This includes an inspection and quote from a certified Master Plumber.
A detailed report from a qualified plumber can provide crucial information about the cause of the break, which is vital for your insurance claim. Clear documentation (photos, videos, plumber's report) strengthens your case and helps the insurance adjuster understand the situation.
Sewer Line Coverage: It's About The Policy, Not The Problem
According to Paxten, the crucial factor isn't just the broken pipe itself, but the specifics of your homeowner's insurance policy and how the damage occurred.
"Ask me about [exactly] what you’re purchasing when you’re getting your policy set up." - Paxten Volbrecht
The gray area between sewer repairs and homeowners insurance
The question of insurance coverage for broken sewer pipes isn't a simple yes or no.
Homeowner's insurance is designed to protect against sudden and accidental damage from covered perils. Sewer line issues often fall into a gray area, frequently stemming from gradual deterioration, root intrusion, or lack of maintenance – issues typically not covered by standard policies.
Understanding your coverage before a problem arises is a critical step in getting plumbing repairs covered by insurance.
Common Coverage Scenarios: When You Might Be Covered
While not guaranteed, your homeowner's insurance may cover sewer line breaks under specific circumstances, typically involving:
Sudden and accidental damage from a covered event
If a covered event, such as a tree falling on your property and damaging the sewer line, causes a sudden and accidental break, your policy might provide coverage.
Common Exclusion Scenarios: When You Likely Aren't Covered (without extra coverages)
Be aware that most homeowner's insurance policies exclude coverage for sewer line issues resulting from:
Gradual deterioration and wear and tear
Over time, pipes naturally degrade. Damage due to age or normal wear and tear is generally not covered.
Lack of regular maintenance
If the pipe break is deemed to have occurred due to a failure to properly maintain your sewer lines, coverage will likely be denied.
Scheduling annual sewer cleaning and maintenance with your plumber increases the odds of a future sewer repair project being covered by your insurance. F
or example, members of Mother’s Pipeline get a $300 annual coupon for drain cleaning, plus free freshwater and wastewater leak tests.
Root intrusions
Tree roots growing into and damaging sewer pipes are a common cause of breaks and are often excluded from standard policies.
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Understanding the "Sudden and Accidental" Clause and Optional Add-on Coverage
The "sudden and accidental" clause is key. Insurance companies look for unexpected and immediate damage, not issues that develop over time. Paxten's initial question emphasizes the importance of understanding what your policy covers beyond just the broad strokes.
Consider whether you have any optional or add-on coverages, such as "water backup" or "service line" coverage, which may provide protection for sewer line issues that standard policies typically exclude.
5 Key Questions to Ask Your Insurance Agent About Sewer Coverage
When you contact your agent, be sure to ask these 5 important questions:
- What type of homeowner's insurance policy do I have?
- Does my policy cover sudden and accidental damage to underground pipes, specifically sewer lines?
- Are there any specific exclusions related to sewer lines, such as gradual deterioration or root intrusion?
- Would a discussion about this potential issue be recorded as a claim, even if I don't formally file one?
- Do I have any optional coverage for water or sewer line issues, such as water backup or service line protection?
Make Sure You Understand Your Policy Type
Don't just file a claim blindly. Take the time to understand the specifics of your homeowner's insurance policy.
Ask your agent to guide you through the details of your policy. They’ll help you determine the likelihood of coverage based on your situation and policy language.
Policy add-ons and riders that help cover sewer line repair
Consider adding service line coverage and water backup coverage onto your policy to increase the chances of being covered for sewer line damage.
Service Line Coverage (also known as Buried Utility Line Coverage)
What it covers: This is the most direct type of coverage for damage to underground service lines on your property, including sewer lines, water pipes, electrical lines, gas lines, and communication cables.
Types of damage covered: Depending on the specific policy, it can cover damage from:
- Wear and tear
- Rust and corrosion
- Tree root intrusion
- Freezing
- Mechanical breakdown
- Electrical breakdown
- Collapse
- Weight of vehicles or equipment
- Excavation accidents (even by the homeowner)
- Rodents or insects
Additional benefits: Many service line coverage policies also help pay for:
- Excavation costs
- Repair or replacement of the damaged line
- Landscaping restoration (e.g., reseeding lawns, replacing shrubs)
- Loss of use expenses (if your home is uninhabitable due to the damage)
- In some cases, upgrades to more efficient or environmentally friendly materials.
Important Note: This coverage is specifically for damage to the service line itself.
Water Backup Coverage (also known as Sewer Backup Coverage)
What it covers: This endorsement primarily covers damage to your home and personal belongings caused by water or sewage backing up through drains, sewers, or overflowing from a sump pump.
Relation to sewer line breaks: If a broken sewer line causes sewage to back up into your home, this coverage would typically address the damage inside your house.
What it typically doesn't cover: It usually does not cover the repair or replacement of the broken sewer line itself.
Key benefit: It helps with the often costly expenses of cleaning, repairing, and replacing flooring, walls, furniture, and other personal property damaged by the backup. It may also cover additional living expenses if you have to move out temporarily.
Need Sewer Line Break Documentation? Call Mother
The first step to getting your sewer repairs covered by homeowners insurance is proper documentation backed by experts your insurance provider trusts. That means hiring a Master Plumber with the credibility and experience to deliver a comprehensive inspection, analysis and quote of your plumbing damage.
Dallas area homeowners hire Mother Modern Plumbing for expert plumbing solutions that insurance providers value and trust. Our Master Plumbers lead a team with nearly a century of local experience with sewer line inspections, repair and replacement.
Call us 7 days a week — we’ll have an experienced plumber on site to assess your sewer line and provide the documentation needed to increase your odds of getting covered.
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