Usually not. Most standard Massachusetts homeowners policies exclude water that backs up through sewers and drains, unless you added a water backup or sewer backup endorsement, which often has its own limit. Check your policy's declarations page for that endorsement. Sewage in the basement right now? Keep people away and call (413) 603-1274.
How to tell if you have it
- Look on the declarations page for "water backup", "sewer backup" or "sump discharge or overflow"
- Note the limit. Endorsements are often a set dollar amount
- Check whether a separate deductible applies
- If unsure, call your agent and ask in writing
General information only. Your policy controls.
What counts as backup
Water or sewage coming up through a floor drain, toilet, tub or sink from the sewer line, or overflowing from a sump pump that failed, is usually treated as backup. A pipe that bursts inside the house is a different coverage, usually included in the base policy. See burst pipe insurance.
Chicopee neighborhoods with combined sewers
Some older parts of Chicopee have combined sewers, which carry rainwater and sewage in the same pipe. In heavy storms they can back up through basement floor drains in homes without a backflow valve. If you live in an older neighborhood and have a basement drain, the endorsement and a backflow valve are both worth considering.
If it already happened
- Keep people and pets out and stop using water in the house.
- Photograph the backup and the drain it came from.
- Report it to your insurer even if you are unsure of coverage.
- Get it cleaned up safely: see sewage backup cleanup.
How much coverage to buy
Water and sewer backup endorsements usually come in limits like $5,000, $10,000 or $25,000, and the cost goes up with the limit. Think about what is in your basement. A finished basement with carpet, drywall, a bathroom and furniture can cost far more than $5,000 to clean and rebuild after a sewage backup. An unfinished basement with a boiler, a water heater and storage boxes may need less. Ask your agent what the endorsement covers, since some include sump pump failure and some do not.
Reduce the risk
- Do not pour grease, wipes or paper towels down drains
- Have the sewer line camera-inspected if you have had a backup before
- Ask a plumber about a backwater valve on the main sewer line
- Keep valuables off the basement floor
Sewage backup cleanup is a health job, not just a water job. See sewage backup cleanup.
Sewer backup or groundwater?
Insurers treat these differently. Sewer backup comes up through floor drains, toilets or tubs and smells of sewage. Groundwater seeps through walls or cracks in the floor during heavy rain and is usually clear. Water from a failed sump pump is a third case that some endorsements include and some do not. Photograph exactly where the water came in, and tell your insurer what you saw.
Questions
Does flood insurance cover sewer backup?
Only in limited cases tied to an actual flood. See does flood insurance cover burst pipes.
Can I add the endorsement now?
Yes, for future losses. It will not cover a backup that already happened.
Sewage backup now? Call
Call (413) 603-1274 now. Locally owned in Chicopee.