Service Line Coverage for New Jersey Homeowners
Protect the Utility Lines That Connect to Your Home
Most homeowners know they are responsible for what happens inside their home. What many do not realize is that they may also be responsible for underground utility lines running through their property.
If a water, sewer or electrical line breaks between your home and the street, repairs can require excavation, new piping and landscaping work. Standard homeowners’ insurance may not cover these expenses.
Service line coverage can help fill that gap.
What Is Service Line Coverage?
Service line coverage is an optional endorsement that can be added to certain homeowners insurance policies. It helps pay to repair or replace covered underground piping and wiring that connects your home to a public utility or private system.
Your responsibility generally begins where the utility company’s responsibility ends. That point varies by utility and location.
What Types of Service Lines May Be Covered?
Depending on the insurance company and policy, coverage may apply to underground:
Water lines
Sewer and drainage lines
Electrical wiring
Natural gas lines
Telephone lines
Cable and internet lines
What Causes of Damage May Be Covered?
Service line coverage may protect against damage caused by:
Wear and tear
Rust or corrosion
Tree root invasion
Freezing
Mechanical breakdown
Electrical breakdown
Blockage
Collapse or rupture
Damage caused by animals
Coverage varies, so it is important to review the specific causes listed in your policy.
What Expenses Can It Help Pay?
A covered claim may include more than repairing the damaged pipe or wire. Service line coverage may also help pay for:
Excavating the damaged line
Repairing or replacing piping and wiring
Labor and materials
Restoring damaged landscaping
Repairing driveways or walkways disturbed during excavation
Additional living expenses if a covered loss makes the home temporarily uninhabitable
Policy limits and deductibles apply.
Service Line Coverage vs. Water Backup Coverage
These coverages protect against different problems.
Service line coverage may pay to repair a damaged underground sewer or water line. Water backup coverage may help pay for resulting water damage inside your home when water backs up through a sewer, drain or sump pump.
Having one does not necessarily mean you have the other. Many homeowners should consider reviewing both coverages.
Is Service Line Coverage Included in Homeowners Insurance?
It is not always included automatically. In many cases, it must be added to your homeowners policy for an additional premium.
Service line coverage may be especially helpful if you:
Own an older home
Have mature trees near underground lines
Have a long driveway or large front yard
Would have difficulty paying for an unexpected excavation and repair
Are unsure where the utility company’s responsibility ends
Review Your Home Insurance With BIS Improved
An underground service line problem can become an expensive repair. BIS Improved Insurance can review your homeowners policy, explain your current protection and determine whether service line coverage is available.
We serve homeowners throughout Morris Plains, Morristown, Randolph, Roxbury, Denville, Parsippany and communities across Morris County and New Jersey.
Contact BIS Improved Insurance today for a homeowners insurance review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does homeowners’ insurance cover a broken sewer line?
It depends on the cause of the damage and your policy. Standard homeowners’ insurance may not cover damage caused by wear, corrosion or tree roots. A service line endorsement may provide coverage.
Does service line coverage pay for water damage inside my home?
Not necessarily. Service line coverage generally addresses the damaged underground line. Water backup coverage may be needed for resulting damage inside the home.
Does the utility company pay for damaged service lines?
Utility companies are generally responsible for their own lines, while homeowners may be responsible for the portion located on their property. The exact responsibility varies by utility and municipality.
Are septic systems covered?
Septic tanks and septic systems are commonly excluded, although coverage varies. Review your policy with an insurance agent.
Coverage varies by insurance company and policy. All claims are subject to policy terms, limits, deductibles and exclusions.