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Rathbun Insurance Blog

All You Ever Wanted to Know About Insurance

Why Do I Need Water Backup Coverage?

By far our most common claim, not a week goes by that we don’t have an insured with a water backup issue. But why is this coverage so important? 

Water backups can happen to anyone. The truth is it doesn’t matter if you live on top of a hill, if you don’t have a basement, if you already have flood insurance, or if your home has never had a water backup issue before. Everyone has the potential to experience this type of loss.

It’s not covered under a homeowner’s policy. After the accidental rupture of a home’s plumbing pipes or sudden damage to the roof allowing rain to get into the home, the resulting water damage is usually covered. But water damage from most other causes aren't usually covered. However, coverage can be purchased to reimburse for sudden water damage resulting from backups to sump pumps/sewers/drains/toilets/etc. and the resulting damage to personal property.  

It’s fairly inexpensive. The average cost of water backup coverage is less than $100 a year for $5,000 in coverage. Different limits are available to match different needs. When selecting a limits it’s important to consider several factors, including if whether or not the home has a basement, if it is finished, or if the area is prone to backups. We can assist in selecting a limit that fits your needs.

We highly recommend adding water backup coverage on to your homeowner’s policy. It is important to note that flooding is almost never covered under a homeowner’s policy and water backup coverage does not cover damage from water that enters a home through the walls or foundation. If you’d like to make sure your home policy has water backup coverage, give our office a call our send a message through our website.