Responsible homeowners must take ownership for issues caused both to and by their homes, including from features they didn’t install themselves. When a major plumbing issue such as sewage line breakage occurs, it can wreak havoc on not only your own home but your neighbors’ homes as well. So what happens if your home’s sewage line busts unexpectedly? Who’s responsible for this mess, anyway?

Luckily a South Carolina independent insurance agent can not only answer this question for you but also help you find the right South Carolina homeowners insurance to keep you protected. They know just the right coverage to guard against sewage line busts and other catastrophes. But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, here’s how homeowners insurance would work in this specific case.

Who’s Responsible If My Home’s Sewage Line Busts?

Sadly, even though you probably didn’t have anything to do with the installation of the sewage line under your home, it’s still your responsibility if it busts. Sewage line busts can wreak havoc on not only your home, but also yards and other structures, and potentially even your neighbors’ property. That’s why having the right homeowners insurance is crucial in case of unexpected disasters like these.

Am I Responsible for Covering Any Damage Caused by the Busted Sewage Line?

Whether you’re responsible for covering the damage depends on the cause of the mess and what type of policy you have. For sewage line busts that stem from plumbing defects, regular homeowners insurance covers the damage resulting from the incident, though it doesn’t pay to repair or replace the actual plumbing.

Sewer backup endorsements can be added to standard homeowners insurance policies, and they’re extremely important for incidents like these. This endorsement would pay for all other sewer backup damage, plus the cost of cleaning up the actual mess. Working with a South Carolina independent insurance agent is the best way to ensure that you have enough homeowners insurance coverage and endorsements to be prepared for sewage line busts.

How Common Are Sewage Line Busts in South Carolina?

Sewage line busts across the country happen more often than you might think. 

Breaks in sewage lines can happen for all kinds of reasons, including changes in the weather. In fact, a fluctuation of only 10 degrees can be significant enough to cause a sewage line bust.

Water damage caused by sewage line busts and other catastrophes is actually among the top risks for homeowners in South Carolina. Check out all of the top risks below.

Top 5 risks for homeowners in South Carolina

1. Hurricanes and tropical storms
2. Ice storms and freezing
3. Burglary and other property crimes
4. Wildfires and residential fires
5. Flooding and water damage

Not only is water damage one of the biggest risks for South Carolina homeowners by itself, but many of the other top concerns can also cause sewage line busts. Hurricanes and tropical storms, as well as ice storms and freezing, can lead to sewage line busts along with numerous other issues. That’s why it’s so important to make sure your homeowners insurance is up to par.

What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover in South Carolina?

South Carolina homeowners insurance, like standard policies across the country, covers not just the physical structure of your home, but many other parts, too. While homeowners insurance can be tailored to meet individual needs, the standard coverage components in South Carolina include:

• Liability protection: Liability coverage provided by homeowners insurance protects you against lawsuits filed by third parties. Coverage reimburses for legal costs, such as attorney, court, and settlement fees.
• Additional living expenses: Additional living expenses (ALE) coverage reimburses you for numerous extra expenses if your home gets rendered temporarily uninhabitable because of a covered disaster. ALE coverage reimburses for costs of hotel rooms, additional gas for commuting to work, meal takeout, and more.
• Dwelling coverage: The dwelling coverage section of your homeowners insurance protects the home’s structure from perils like storm damage, fire, vandalism, etc.
• Contents coverage: The contents coverage section of your homeowners insurance protects your belongings like clothing, knick-knacks, trophy collections, silverware, furniture, etc. from disasters like fire, theft, etc.

Your South Carolina independent insurance agent can help you review your homeowners insurance policy and which coverages it provides.

What Doesn't Homeowners Insurance Cover in South Carolina?

South Carolina homeowners insurance offers a lot of important protections, but it doesn’t cover just anything. Here are a few common coverage exclusions under standard homeowners insurance policies in South Carolina:

Homeowners in South Carolina, a coastal state prone to hurricanes and other disasters that commonly cause flooding, may want to consider adding a separate flood insurance policy. A South Carolina independent insurance agent can also help you address any other areas of concern where your homeowners coverage may be lacking.

Will My Rates Be Affected Even Though I’m Not Responsible for the Bust?

Even if the sewage line bust was actually your fault, luckily homeowners are unlikely to experience an increase in their premiums for a single incident like this. That said, homeowners insurance companies would certainly punish a policyholder if filing a certain type of claim, such as for a busted sewage line, became a trend. The insurance company might also just decide not to renew your policy after its term ended if there were multiple incidents.

Here’s How a South Carolina Independent Insurance Agent Would Help

When it comes to protecting your home against sewage line busts and all other unforeseen incidents, no one’s better equipped to help than a South Carolina independent insurance agent. Independent insurance agents search through multiple carriers to find providers who specialize in homeowners insurance, deliver quotes from a number of different sources, and help you walk through them all to find the best blend of coverage and cost.