Is Sewer Backup Covered by Homeowners Insurance? What to Know and Do First

The short answer

Usually, a standard homeowners policy won’t cover a sewer backup by itself. The Minnesota Department of Commerce says that neither flood insurance nor a typical homeowners policy will cover damage caused by sewer backups. To get that coverage, it says, you need to buy a separate product or an endorsement.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners agrees. It says most homeowners policies offer limited or no coverage for sewer or drain backups and sump pump overflow, and that you might be able to buy endorsements to cover them.

So the real question is: does your policy include water backup coverage? Look for it on your declarations page, the summary at the front of your policy. It may be called “water backup,” “sewer backup,” or “sump overflow.”

Sewer backup, flood, or burst pipe?

Insurers sort water damage by where the water came from. The same wet floor can be treated very differently depending on the cause. Here’s the general picture:

The Maryland Insurance Administration lays out the difference well. If a pipe in your home suddenly bursts and water flows across the floors, a homeowners policy generally covers the water damage. If sewage comes into your home through pipes or drains meant to carry it away, or water overflows a sump pump, your policy may cover it only if you bought a water or sewer backup endorsement.

Flood is its own category. The Maryland advisory notes that homeowners policies generally don’t cover flooding. Flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program works differently. FloodSmart, the program’s consumer site, says damage from a sewer backup is covered if the backup is a direct result of flooding, and not otherwise. It defines a flood as excess water on normally dry land that affects two or more acres or two or more properties.

Backups and floods can happen together, and that’s where things get tricky. The Minnesota Department of Commerce says some backup endorsements pay even when there’s flooding, while others exclude a backup that happens at the same time as a flood. It adds that some insurers deny all damage if flooding directly or indirectly caused the failure.

What water backup coverage is

Water backup coverage is an add-on to a homeowners policy. You pay an extra premium for it. Insurers give it different names, such as “sewer backup,” “water backup,” or “water back up and sump overflow.” What it covers varies from company to company, so the wording in your own policy matters most.

To see what the wording can look like, here’s one example. It’s a single insurer’s form, not a standard that every company uses. Auto Club (AAA) posts an older homeowners endorsement form called “Water Back Up and Sump Overflow” (form CO 04 95, edition 03 06). It covers water that backs up through sewers or drains. It also covers water that overflows from a sump, even if the overflow comes from a breakdown of the sump pump. Your own policy may read very differently.

A few features are common:

• Its own limit. The backup add-on usually has its own dollar cap, separate from your main coverage. The AAA example form, for instance, pays “up to” a set amount and doesn’t raise your other policy limits. The Maryland Insurance Administration notes that most companies offer several limit options. There’s no single standard amount, so check your declarations page.
• A deductible. A deductible is what you pay out of pocket before the policy pays, as the NAIC explains. Some backup endorsements set their own. The AAA example form uses $500 or your policy deductible, whichever is greater. Yours may differ.
• A negligence condition. The AAA example form covers only loss not caused by the negligence of anyone insured under the policy. That’s one more reason to fix known drain problems quickly.

What’s often not covered, even with the add-on

Even with water backup coverage, some costs usually fall on you. Knowing them up front can save you a nasty surprise:

• Fixing the pipe or drain. The Maryland Insurance Administration says the endorsement covers the damage the water causes, but most policies won’t pay to repair or replace the pipe or drain. The same is generally true for a burst pipe.
• The sump pump itself. The AAA example form says its coverage doesn’t apply to the loss of the sump pump or related equipment caused by breakdown. Under wording like that, the water damage may be covered while the new pump is on you.
• Damage from flooding. The Minnesota Department of Commerce warns that a sewer or sump pump endorsement doesn’t mean you have flood coverage. As noted above, some endorsements also exclude a backup that happens during a flood.
• Clearing the clog. Don’t assume the plumber’s bill for snaking or jetting the drain is part of the claim. Ask your insurer first.

Ask your adjuster which parts of the bill fall under the claim. Keep the plumber’s invoice either way. A plumber’s note on what caused the backup can help show the insurer what happened.

Stay safe around sewage

The CDC says never to turn power on or off, or use an electric tool or appliance, while you’re standing in water. If sewage is involved, it says to wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and goggles, and to keep children and pets away until cleanup is done.

A sewage backup fact sheet from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, posted online by the Virginia Department of Health, adds a few more basics:

• Never touch raw sewage with bare hands, and wash your hands right after.
• If you have a backup, don’t flush the toilets.
• Wash and disinfect any cut or scrape that touches sewage right away.
• Never mix bleach with ammonia. It makes a dangerous gas.

What to do, step by step

1. 1

   Stop the flow

   Ask everyone to stop using water. Every flush or load of laundry sends more water into a line that can’t drain. If the sump pump has failed and you can reach it without stepping into water, check whether it lost power.

2. 2

   Make the right first call

   If your home is on Boise city sewer, call Public Works at 208-608-7200. The City of Boise asks people to call right away about sewer backups, overflows, or raw sewage on the ground. Outside Boise city limits, call your own city or sewer district. For a clog in your own line, call a plumber.

3. 3

   Document everything before cleanup

   Take wide photos of each room and close-ups of the drain, the water line on the walls, and damaged items. A slow video walk-through helps too. The Minnesota Department of Commerce suggests photographing the damage and giving your agent a home inventory.

4. 4

   Report it to your insurer

   The NAIC says to contact your agent or insurance company as soon as possible. Follow up in writing, and write down your claim number and everyone you speak with. Our guide to filing a water damage insurance claim in Idaho walks through the process.

5. 5

   Limit the damage, safely

   The NAIC notes that you’re required to protect your home from further damage, and it gives cleaning up water from a backed-up drain as an example. Minnesota adds a key point: take reasonable steps, but don’t put yourself in danger. Save receipts for anything you buy.

6. 6

   Get written estimates

   Ask the plumber and the cleanup company for written estimates, and share them with your adjuster. Minnesota suggests including written estimates as proof of your claim. If you can’t stay in the house and the damage is covered, ask about “loss of use” coverage. The NAIC says it pays some of your extra living costs while your home is being repaired.

Sewage cleanup basics

Not all water damage is the same. Water damage pros sort water into three categories. Massachusetts public health guidance describes Category 3, or black water, as water that contains germs and is highly contaminated. It lists sewage as an example.

That’s why sewage cleanup is stricter than drying out a clean leak. The Connecticut fact sheet says:

• Porous materials that sewage has touched should generally be thrown away. That includes carpets and pads, upholstered furniture, mattresses and pillows, stuffed animals and toys, and cardboard.
• Drywall with a water line should be cut out up to several inches above the line and replaced.
• Hard surfaces should be washed with a detergent solution first and allowed to dry, then disinfected. It suggests a disinfectant labeled as bactericidal, or 1 part bleach to 9 parts water, left on for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Don’t run the furnace blower or central air if sewage got into the ducts.

Before you throw anything away, photograph it and list it for your claim. Ask your adjuster if they need to see it first.

The fact sheet suggests calling a professional in cases like these:

• Sewage has been in a finished living space for more than 24 hours.
• Sewage got into the ductwork of a forced-air system.
• Your insurance will pay for professional cleanup.
• The job is too big or too complex to do yourself.

If you’re hiring a crew, it’s okay to ask questions first. Our guide on how to choose a water damage company in Boise has a checklist you can use on the phone.

Your line or the city’s? How it works in Boise

Where the blockage is can matter for who pays to fix the pipe. For homes on Boise city sewer, Boise City Code 10-2-5-2 says the property owner pays for cleaning, unclogging, maintaining, and repairing the private service line. Repairing the public service line is the City’s job.

The code’s definitions describe the private service line as the part of the sewer within private property or a private sewer service easement. The property owner owns it, and the City doesn’t maintain it. The public service line runs from the connection at the city sewer out to the edge of the public sewer easement, and the City owns it. One catch: owners must also pay to clear rocks, roots, and debris that came from their property and settled in the public part of the line. If you’re not sure where the problem is, call Public Works at 208-608-7200. If a different city or sewer district serves your home, its rules may differ.

What if you think a problem in the city’s line caused the backup? That’s a separate question from your own insurance, and the answer depends on the facts. You can ask the city how to file a claim. Keep in mind that Idaho has a deadline. Under the Idaho Tort Claims Act, claims against a city or other local government generally must be filed with its clerk or secretary within 180 days. The clock starts when the claim arose or reasonably should have been discovered, whichever is later. This is general information, not legal advice. If a lot of money is at stake, talk with an attorney.

In the meantime, report the damage to your own insurer too. Don’t wait to hear from the city first.

If your sewer backup claim is denied

A denial can feel like a door slamming. It isn’t always the end. Here are some common next steps.

• Get the reason in writing. Ask for the exact policy language the insurer relied on. Reasons can include no backup endorsement, a flood exclusion, damage over the backup limit, or a cause the insurer sees as negligence or maintenance.
• Check the cause they named. Did they call it a flood when it was really a clogged line? A plumber’s written report on what failed, and where, can help.
• Check your declarations page. Look for any backup or sump endorsement and its limit. Compare what the denial says to the exact wording.
• Ask the insurer to reconsider. Send a letter with your photos, the plumber’s report, and estimates. Keep copies of everything.
• Contact the Idaho Department of Insurance. If you have questions about how your claim was handled, Consumer Affairs is at 208-334-4319, and the Consumer Hotline is 1-800-721-3272, according to the department’s contact page.

If the insurer pays but the check falls short of the cleanup bill, see our guide on what to do when the restoration bill is higher than insurance pays.

Preventing the next backup

Once things are clean and dry, a few habits can lower the odds of a repeat:

• Keep grease out of the drain. The City of Boise says fats, oils, and grease are the number one cause of clogs, backups, and overflows, and that older Boise neighborhoods are especially at risk. Let grease cool, pour it into a jar or can, and put it in the trash.
• Watch for roots. DC Water notes that tree roots can grow into a sewer line and block it. It suggests planting trees several feet away from the line and having a licensed plumber clean your line at regular intervals.
• Ask about a backwater valve. DC Water says a backwater valve helps keep sewage from the public sewer from backing up into your home. It should be installed by a licensed plumber and cleaned about every six months.
• Back up your sump pump. The City of Ann Arbor suggests a battery or other backup system for the sump pump, and testing sump systems at least twice a year.
• Review your coverage. Ann Arbor also suggests finding out whether water in the basement is covered by your insurance, including different kinds of backups. Ask your agent about water backup coverage and its limit.

Frequently asked questions