What Is Underground Service Line Coverage?

This month's water bill appears to be unnecessarily high. A closer inspection reveals a break in your subsurface water pipe. Your front yard must be excavated to reach the cause of the damage and conduct substantial repairs, leaving you with a big trench, exposed piping, and a hefty expense.

Sadly, this might be the case for any homeowner. Underground utility lines bring water, garbage, heating, cable, and internet to your residence. Leaks, breaks, tears, ruptures, or collapses can quickly damage these subsurface pipes or cables, necessitating expensive repairs and interfering with daily life.

What responsibilities do I have?

Legally, homeowners are responsible for maintaining service lines between their residences and the property line. In addition, most homeowners' insurance policies do not cover damage to service lines, so you are financially responsible for any damaged connections between the street and your home. This could result in tens of thousands of dollars in repairs.

Fill in the gaps in service line coverage.

Like most homes, you may have gotten mailers from utility companies detailing coverage options. And, like most homeowners, you may be uncertain about the type of protection you require. Frequently, these contracts are limited in scope, cover only one service line, and are a costly alternative to insurance coverage options.

Adding underground service line coverage to your homeowner's insurance is a smart solution to bridge this coverage gap and ensure your future protection. The endorsement provides coverage for charges such as excavation, pipe and wire repairs and replacements, additional living expenses, and landscape repairs. Some carriers even offer additional incentives if you replace your equipment with eco-friendly or energy-efficient enhancements.

You cannot always prevent damage to your service lines, but you can take the essential precautions. Including service line coverage in your homeowner's insurance can ensure that you are fully protected and close the coverage gap for service lines.