Written by Jane Meggitt; Reviewed by Jodi Thornton-O'Connell, GRI, Fitness & Nutrition Coaching Certificate; Updated December 09, 2018![Home Home](/uploads/1/2/6/2/126233057/129892967.jpg)
- Home Insurance Doesn't Cover Crawlspace Sewage Dmg System
- Home Insurance Doesn't Cover Crawlspace Sewage Dmg For Mac
- Home Insurance Doesn't Cover Crawlspace Sewage Dmg Removal
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Septic Problems? Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Septic Problems? Nobody wants to see sewage seeping back into their house through a drain or a toilet. If your house has its own septic system, your insurance usually covers the damages if your system backs up. Home insurance never covers damage your.
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If your septic tank backs up or otherwise breaks down, you have a big mess requiring an immediate solution. Unfortunately, under most circumstances, your homeowners insurance will not cover the repairs. There are exceptions, but not for normal wear and tear. In California, even individual septic tanks are referred to as 'onsite wastewater disposal systems.'
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Home Insurance Doesn't Cover Crawlspace Sewage Dmg System
Standard homeowner's insurance does not typically cover problems with the septic system.
Regarding Septic Tank Damage
Repairing a malfunctioning septic tank is costly, with repairs running from $5,000 to $30,000 or more, depending on whether the tank and the leach field need replacing. If there was nothing you could do to prevent septic tank damage, your homeowners insurance may pay for repairs. However, the sort of sudden “Act of God” issues that may affect other parts of your home, such as a lightning strike, aren’t likely to harm your septic tank, as it is located deep beneath the ground. If your house catches fire from that lightning strike and the septic tank piping is damaged, homeowners insurance should cover that type of disaster. Septic tank damage most often occurs due to lack of proper maintenance, and that is not something an insurer will cover.
Understand Insurance Riders
Because the internal septic system consists of piping, septic tanks per se are not considered part of your home’s structure, like the roof or flooring. Most homeowner insurance policies do not cover “features” found outside of the house. If the issue is important to you, ask your insurance agent about obtaining a rider that may cover septic tank damage. Not all insurance companies will offer such a rider, but if you can find one that does, you may want to switch your business to that provider.
Get Flood and Earthquake Insurance
It is conceivable that a flood or earthquake could severely damage your septic tank. Homeowners insurance does not cover these instances, but you can purchase separate flood or earthquake insurance that will protect not only your septic tank but your entire home.
Protect Your Septic Tank
Since it is unlikely your homeowners insurance will kick in if you experience septic tank problems, preventative maintenance is crucial. Have your septic pumped as often as recommended for the level of use in your home. For most families, that is every two to three years, but any tank subject to heavy use needs annual pumping. Do not flush anything down the toilet other than human waste and toilet paper, and try to throw as much of the latter in the garbage as possible rather than sending it into the septic. Never flush any chemicals or cooking oils, via the kitchen sink, into the septic. Remember that while the septic is most often associated with the toilet, it deals with all wastewater leaving your dwelling. Avoid long showers or doing more than one wash load daily. Make sure nothing heavy is ever placed over the tank and leach field, such as a parking spot for motor vehicles.
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About the Author
A graduate of New York University, Jane Meggitt's work has appeared in dozens of publications, including PocketSense, Zack's, Financial Advisor, nj.com, LegalZoom and The Nest.
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Home Insurance Doesn't Cover Crawlspace Sewage Dmg For Mac
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Home Insurance Doesn't Cover Crawlspace Sewage Dmg Removal
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Meggitt, Jane. 'Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Septic Problems?' Home Guides | SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/homeowners-insurance-cover-septic-problems-54920.html. 09 December 2018.
Meggitt, Jane. (2018, December 09). Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Septic Problems? Home Guides | SF Gate. Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/homeowners-insurance-cover-septic-problems-54920.html
Meggitt, Jane. 'Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Septic Problems?' last modified December 09, 2018. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/homeowners-insurance-cover-septic-problems-54920.html
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