Don’t let unwanted water in your basement turn into a costly mess

While spring showers bring May flowers, they can also bring unwanted water into your basement or cause water backups through your sewers or drains. These can be costly and messy to clean up.

The basic homeowner’s insurance policy doesn’t include coverage for water back up and sump pump discharge or overflow coverage. Kim Bechler, senior personal lines underwriter will explain why water back up and sump pump discharge or overflow coverage is necessary. Without this coverage, you would have to pay for the damage to your home and/or personal property out of pocket.

Who should buy Water Back up and Sump Pump Discharge or Overflow coverage?

Homeowners, condo owners, and renters may want to purchase this endorsement to protect themselves from a loss that occurs to their home or to their personal property from either sump pump failure/overflow or water backing up through drains.

What type of losses would be covered under this coverage form?

Backup through sewers or drains and overflows or water discharged from a sump pump or related equipment would be covered.

If this type of loss occurs and you have the Water Backup and Sump Pump Discharge or Overflow endorsement on your policy, you would be protected against loss to your home and/or your personal property up to the coverage limit you purchased.

Why is it important to add this coverage to your policy and purchase an adequate limit?

Many homes have finished basements and are used for additional living space. The cost to clean and repair could be a financial strain. By adding this coverage to your policy, you can decrease or eliminate the financial strain you could face if a loss occurs. Most carriers offer different coverage limits and some even allow you to pick a deductible that will work for your needs and budget.

How can you prevent a water back up or sump discharge or overflow from occurring?

As a homeowner, there are simple things you can do to help prevent a loss from occurring. A few common tips include, but are not limited to:

• • • Installing a battery backup on your sump pump or installing a backup generator in your home in case your power goes out during a storm.
    • Installing a second sump pump if your home is in a wet area and your sump pump goes off regularly.
    • Making sure you install the correct pump size and that it’s installed properly.
    • Testing your sump pump if you haven’t heard it run recently. Maintenance is the key to preventing sump pump failure.

Even if you take actions to prevent a loss, it doesn’t mean you won’t have one. Protect your home and personal property by contacting your independent insurance agent to make sure you have adequate coverage.