Sewer Backup Insurance: What's Covered and What Isn't

A sewer backup is one of the worst kinds of water damage. The water is contaminated, the cleanup is extensive and, for many homeowners, the claim is denied because they never added backup coverage. If sewage is already in your home, Reestorian can connect you with a local provider for sewage backup cleanup in Littleton. This guide explains how coverage works so you can check your policy before it happens.

This is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Your policy wording and your insurer decide coverage. Talk with your agent.

Does homeowners insurance cover sewer backup?

Usually not. The City of Littleton notes that standard homeowners and flood policies typically don't cover sewer backups or sump pump overflow. Triple-I agrees that sewer and drain backup isn't automatically covered: some policies include it, but many don't. The Colorado Division of Insurance suggests buying sewer backup coverage separately.

The fix is simple and usually inexpensive: add a water backup endorsement to your homeowners or renters policy.

What does sewer backup insurance cover?

Limits vary widely. Triple-I says limits are set by each insurer. A low limit can run out quickly in a finished basement, so ask what yours is.

Is the city responsible for sewer backup?

In Littleton, usually not. The City of Littleton explains:

• The property owner owns and maintains the service line, the pipe from the house to the main, including the part under the street or right-of-way. The city cites City Code 7-5-24E2 and 7-5-2.
• City crews clear blockages in the main lines, but they can't clear a service line. The homeowner hires a plumbing or sewer contractor for that.
• If the main is blocked, contact the City of Littleton Public Works Department right away.

If you live outside Littleton city limits, your sanitation or water and sanitation district may have its own rules. Check with them.

What causes sewer backups?

The City of Littleton lists these common causes:

• Blockages from grease, roots, hair and solids such as diapers, feminine hygiene products and wipes
• Pipe breaks or cracks, including damage from tree roots
• Pipe deterioration in older lines
• Vandalism, such as objects dropped into manholes

The city also notes that homes built since the early 1980s likely have plastic service lines, though that doesn't guarantee there won't be problems.

How to file a sewer backup claim

1. Stop using plumbing so you don't add more water to the line.
2. Document the damage. The City of Littleton advises photographing the property and belongings before and after, itemizing losses and keeping all receipts.
3. Contact your insurance agent right away.
4. Call a plumber to clear or inspect the line, and keep the invoice. A camera inspection report can help show the cause.
5. Arrange professional cleanup. Sewage is contaminated water, so porous materials it touched usually have to go.
6. Ask about loss of use coverage. The city notes it may help pay for lodging, food and living costs if the home is uninhabitable.

Under C.R.S. § 10-4-110.8, a Colorado insurer must send you a copy of your policy, including declarations and endorsements, within three business days of your request. That's the fastest way to confirm whether you have backup coverage and what the limit is.

How to prevent sewer backups

The City of Littleton recommends:

• Pour grease into a container and throw it away instead of down the drain
• Flush only toilet paper. Put all wipes, including "flushable" ones, plus paper towels, diapers and feminine products in the trash
• Consider replacing an older service line with plastic pipe to reduce root intrusion
• Don't connect sump pumps, French drains or other flood control systems to the sewer

A plumber can also tell you whether a backwater valve makes sense for your home, and a video inspection shows the condition of an older line.

Cleanup after a sewer backup

Colorado public health guidance calls for waterproof boots, gloves and eye protection, and lists items to discard after a sewer backup, including mattresses, upholstered furniture, foam items, books, stuffed animals, baby toys, contaminated food and wall-to-wall carpet. For disinfecting hard surfaces, it recommends 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach per gallon of water, and it warns never to mix bleach with ammonia. Larger backups are best handled by professionals. See Category 1, 2 and 3 water for why sewage needs special handling.

Related reading: Learn why sewage is handled as Category 3 water, and what else your policy may or may not cover in homeowners insurance and water damage in Colorado.

When should you call a sewage cleanup professional?

Call a professional when:

• Sewage reached carpet, drywall, furniture or a finished room
• The backup covers more than a small area of bare concrete
• Sewage sat for more than a few hours
• Anyone in the home is very young, elderly or has a weakened immune system

Sewer backup in Littleton? Call (928) 394-5135 to reach a local sewage cleanup provider.