Don’t Flush Your Savings down the Drain: Understanding Sewer Backups and Homeowner Claims

9/16/2018 (Permalink)

The rainy season in flood zones can produce a lot of anxiety for homeowners. Especially, when you consider that basic home insurance policies may not cover damage incurred by a sewer backup, meaning that if sewage starts spilling over your toilet, contaminating and damaging your home, you may be left footing the bill; however, even if your policy covers backups, there are still some things that you should understand.

1. Understand the Potential Causes of a Backup

A sewage backup typically doesn’t happen without reason, and sometimes these reasons are things you have control over. For instance, one of the main causes of a backup is a blockage in the line due to roots. Shrubs, bushes, trees can produce roots that are dense enough to break through your sewer lines, clogging the pipes and ultimately causing a backup.

2. Understand Common Prevention Tactics

Understanding how a sewer backup occurs enables you to perform preventative maintenance. For instance, you can ensure that no trees or shrubs are encroaching in areas where the waste lines run. You can also ensure that you dispose of things like grease and paper properly, and you can install a backwater prevention valve.

3. Understand the Cleanup Process

In the unfortunate event that you experience a sewage backup, you should familiarize yourself with the cleanup process, which includes a lot of wet vacuuming, mopping, disinfecting, and any other contaminant removal. However, it may be a good idea to call in restoration specialists to assist you in this process, and it will likely be a requirement by any insurance coverage you may have.

4. Understand the Process of Filing a Claim

Most insurance companies expect certain things when clients file claims. For instance, you should have before and after photos of the damaged area. You should itemize a list of property that was damaged or lost. And, you should contact your insurance representative immediately. It is also a good idea to save any receipts related to any restoration work.

Nobody wants to experience a sewer backup, but if you are in Brooklyn, NY, it is necessary to understand the basics and to know what your homeowner policy covers.

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