🚨 Sewer & Drain Backup Coverage — Why Your Limits Matter
Most homeowners don’t realize that sewer, drain, and sump pump backups are not fully covered under a standard homeowners policy. Instead, they fall under a separate coverage called Water Backup Coverage — and the limits on this part of your policy can make a huge difference during a loss.
A typical policy might only include $5,000–$10,000 of backup coverage by default… but cleanup and restoration from a basement or bathroom backup can easily exceed $15,000–$40,000+ depending on the damage.
Here’s why paying attention to your limits matters:
🔹 Backup losses are expensive. Extraction, sanitizing, disposing of contaminated materials, drying, and rebuilding add up quickly.
🔹 Many policies cap this at low limits, leaving the homeowner responsible for the rest.
🔹 Upgrading coverage is usually inexpensive, often just a few dollars per month.
🔹 Sewer and drain backups are one of the most common major home losses — especially during heavy rain or snowmelt.
💡 Pro Tip: Call your insurance agent and ask what your current Water Backup limit is. Consider increasing it to match the value of your basement finishes or stored belongings.
