What Will Insurance Cover When My Sump Pump Fails or Overflows?
In the event your sump pump fails all together or can’t keep up – are you covered?
Many standard home insurance policies do not cover damages caused by overflowing from a sump pump or backing up through sewers and drains in your home’s basement.
Check to see if you have the right kind of coverage – especially if your basement is finished!
We most frequently hear of such damaging losses during the peak storm and wet seasons. In some cases, homeowners lost power with no battery-powered back up sump pump installed or their sump pump was clogged because the regular recommended maintenance was not performed.
Regardless of the cause, the situation can be tragic and VERY frustrating.
We spoke with Matthew Meyer, a Kansas City Area Insurance Agent with Farmers to learn a little more detail about what homeowners should be asking for to ensure they are protected.
Most Common Claim Type
Claim wise, Matt shared with us that basement water claims are one of the most common types of claim in the Kansas City Area. By opting in to the appropriate endorsement coverage for your home, regarding your sump pump – you will be covered regardless of the cause for damage. Some of the most common scenarios are the sump pump lost power during a storm, being over-loaded because of other exterior drain issues or being clogged by debris.
Varying Coverage Options
Again, this is an optional endorsement coverage that many homeowners do not know to ask about. Since it is optional, homeowners may select the amount of coverage they wish to have. Depending on if your basement is finished and the type of furnishings and types of belongings you store there, coverage may range from as low as $5,000 too upwards of $25,000+. Additional premium cost could range from as low as $40 per year to $120+ per year – again, depending on the amount of coverage that is necessary for your home’s scenario.
Good Option To Consider For Unfinished Basements Too
It’s a clear decision why homeowners with finished basements should seriously consider this coverage – but what about a homeowner with an unfinished basement? Because homeowners can specify their desired amount of coverage, it is highly recommended to get the minimum endorsement coverage. In the event of a sump pump or drain back-up, this coverage will cover things like water removal, mold mitigation and not to mention damaged property that could have been stored there.
Battery Back-up Discounts
Matt also mentioned that many home insurance providers will offer a break or discount of sorts for homeowners who have taken the added precaution of installing a battery back-up sump pump!
Take action to protect your Kansas City home.
You have options now! Before you get in a more frustrating situation when water is flooding your basement, take these simple measures to make sure you are protected.
- Perform regular sump pump maintenance – at least annually, preferably the change of each season.
- Install a battery powered back-up sump pump in case your home’s power goes out during a storm.
- Contact your home insurance to ensure your policy covers damages caused sump pump overflow and other drain & sewage backups in your home.
For more information regarding sewage and drain back-up endorsement coverage, please contact Matthew Meyer.
Matthew Meyer
Farmer’s Insurance
913-209-9442
http://www.farmersagent.com/mmeyer2
