Do You Know What’s Under Your Yard?
You insure the house you can see—but what about the pipes and wires underneath your property? Underground service lines bring essential services into your home and carry waste away. A damaged line can require excavation, repair, replacement materials, and landscaping restoration.
What Is a Service Line?
A service line is generally piping or wiring that connects your home to a utility or service. Depending on the policy, examples may include water pipes, sewer pipes, electrical wiring, fuel lines, telephone lines, cable or data lines, and other eligible underground connections.
Aren’t Utility Companies Responsible for These Lines?
Not always. Responsibility can depend on where the damage occurs and who owns that portion of the line. For certain underground lines located on your property, you may be responsible for repair or replacement.
How Can an Underground Service Line Be Damaged?
Depending on the policy, covered causes may include tree-root invasion, corrosion, rust, freezing, mechanical breakdown, electrical damage, accidental excavation, collapse, external pressure, or other listed causes. The specific policy language determines whether a loss is covered.
Underground Water Line Example
Imagine the underground water pipe running from the street to your home develops a break beneath your front yard. A contractor must locate the damage, excavate the yard, replace the pipe, refill the excavation, and restore landscaping. Excavation and restoration can cost as much as, or more than, the pipe itself.
What Can Service Line Coverage Include?
Depending on the policy, coverage may help pay for excavation, repair or replacement of damaged eligible service lines, landscaping restoration, and certain other expenses associated with a covered service-line failure. Limits, deductibles, covered causes, and eligible lines vary.
Is Underground Service Line Coverage the Same as Sewer Backup Coverage?
No. Sewer and drain backup coverage generally addresses covered damage when water or sewage backs up into your home. Service line coverage generally covers physical damage to an eligible underground service line. A single event could potentially involve both types of coverage, depending on the circumstances and policy.
Is Service Line Coverage Worth Considering?
Consider the utility lines running underneath your property and what it could cost to excavate a yard, driveway, walkway, or landscaping to reach one. Homeowners with mature trees, older properties, aging underground piping, or long service-line runs may have particular reasons to review this coverage.
Have Questions About Underground Service Line Coverage?
Oberryman Insurance Agency can help you review your homeowners policy, determine whether you currently have underground service line coverage, and explore available options.
Call Oberryman Insurance Agency at 703-986-0468 to request a homeowners insurance review.
Insurance coverage, eligibility, limits, deductibles, exclusions, endorsements, and availability vary by insurance company, policy, property, state, and individual circumstances. This article is provided for general informational purposes and does not modify or replace the terms of an insurance policy. Please review your policy and contact a licensed insurance professional regarding your specific coverage needs.
