• Home
  • Get A Quote
  • Customer Service
  • Claims
  • Report Your Claim
  • Carrier Contact
  • Pay
  • Refer a Friend
  • About Us
  • Location Map
  • Employee Directory
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
Call Us Call or Email Us Today
Client Center Login
  • Home
  • Quote
  • Coverages
    • Automobile
    • Business & Commercial
    • Flood
    • Health
    • Homeowners
    • Life
    • Renters
    • Umbrella
    • Watercraft & Boat
    • Windstorm
  • Service
    • Customer Service Portal
    • Customer Service Forms
  • Claim
    • Claim Information
    • Report a claim to the agency
    • Report a claim to the carrier
    • What to do after an accident
    • What to do if there's a fire
    • What to do if there's a flood
    • What to do to after a loss to your home
    • Prepare for hurricane season
    • Water Damage -Act quickly
    • what to do a power outage
  • Pay
  • Resources
    • Employment Center
    • Blog
    • Important Links
    • Secure Area
    • Insurance Glossary
    • Join Our Newsletter
    • Insurance Carrier Contacts
    • First Home Insurance checklist
    • Video Tips
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Employee Directory
    • Testimonials
    • Location Map
    • Refer a Friend
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Homeowners Insurance HOME Read More
Auto Insurance AUTO Read More
Renters Insurance RENTERS Read More
Business Insurance BUSINESS Read More
Life Insurance LIFE Read More
Watercraft Insurance WATERCRAFT Read More
Home > Blog > What is water back up coverage ?
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2013

What is water back up coverage ?

Houston home insurance

 

Water back-up is one of the more confusing coverages in homeowners’ policy. It involves more than back-up, as overflow is mentioned in some of the coverages. But what is a back-up, and how is it different from an overflow or a discharge? All these things come in to play when there is a water loss, and what causes the back-up or overflow may make a difference in whether or not there is coverage.

First let’s look at definitions. A back-up is an accumulation caused by a stoppage in the flow; something prevents the water from continuing down its path, so it is forced to reverse direction and go back the other way. A collapsed drain pipe can cause a back-up; water can no longer proceed down its normal course and is forced to change direction. A blockage can cause a back-up; the blockage prevents the water from going forward, and the water has to reverse itself.

An overflow is when the water exceeds its boundaries; the space is filled to capacity and water then spreads beyond its limits. A tub left running creates an overflow. The tub can no longer hold the water running into it, so the water overflows onto the floor and surrounding area.

A discharge is a flowing or issuing out; water coming from a pipe. A leaking pipe discharges water from the hole in the pipe; it is not a back-up or an overflow, it is simply water issuing from a pipe at the wrong spot.

Discharge or Overflow?

The ISO HO 00 03 provides coverage for water damage that is the result of a discharge or overflow of a plumbing, heating, air conditioning, or household appliance if it is on the residence premises. This covers pipes that leak behind walls, floors, or ceilings; washing machines and dishwashers that overflow, toilets that overflow, or storm drains off premises that overflow due to high rains or floods. It is important to note that a sump, sump pump or related equipment, or a roof drain, gutter or downspout or similar equipment is not considered a plumbing system or household appliance. A discharge or overflow caused by a storm drain, water, steam, or sewer pipe  is covered as well if it is off the premises.

The coverage is for repair of the damaged property—the walls, floors, tiling, and carpet, areas that got saturated and need to be repaired or replaced. Even the tear out of a wall, for example, to get to a leaking pipe is covered. What is not covered is the leaking pipe itself; a pipe leak is often caused by simple wear and tear or age of the system, and that is a maintenance item. However, even if the insured is hanging a picture and pokes a hole in a brand new home and new pipes, the damage to the pipe is not covered. The exclusion for damage to the item causing the loss is all encompassing, and has no exceptions.

The policy specifically excludes water that overflows from sumps, sump pumps, or related equipment or water that backs-up through sewers or drains. However this is where a lot of losses occur; sump pumps may fail or be unable to handle the flow of water during a severe storm or flood, and sewers or drains may back-up due to a stoppage in the flow. Overflows are excluded for sumps because that is a common cause of loss; the sump cannot handle the volume of water it receives. For example, if the drain backs up and overflows because of heavy rainstorms, that is not covered under the policy.

To provide coverage for this occurrence there is the Water Back-up and Sump Discharge or Overflow endorsement, HO 04 95. This provides $5,000 of coverage for back up through a sewer or drain or overflow or discharge of a sump, sump pump or related equipment, even if the equipment suffers a mechanical breakdown. For example, the sump pump motor burns out and the basement floods; there is $5,000 of coverage for that damage. The coverage is for water or waterborne material, so coverage is provided for damage caused by items floating in the water. This coverage does not, however, increase the limits of liability for coverages A, B, C, or D in the homeowners’ policy. This takes the problem of defining back-up or overflow out of the equation of certain losses, since the endorsement provides the coverage that is excluded in the main policy itself.

Water, whether it be from pipes, sewers, sumps, or floods, is one of the bigger issues in homeowners policies. There is a lot of confusion surrounding what is and is not covered. Once you consider the definition of the terms, you are on your way to understanding the coverage. As always, policy language rules the day. 

Christine G. Barlow, CPCU is an associate editor with FC&S, the premier resource for insurance coverage analysis. She has an extensive background in insurance underwriting. She may be reached at cbarlow@nuco.com. Additional information about FC&S Online is available at www.NationalUnderwriter.com.

 

 

Posted 4:44 PM

Tags: water back up coverage, houston home insurance, houston insurance, katy home insurance, cypress home insurance, woodlands home insurance, independent insurance agency
Share |


No Comments


Post a Comment
Required
Required (Not Displayed)
Required


All comments are moderated and stripped of HTML.

NOTICE: This blog and website are made available by the publisher for educational and informational purposes only. It is not be used as a substitute for competent insurance, legal, or tax advice from a licensed professional in your state. By using this blog site you understand that there is no broker client relationship between you and the blog and website publisher.
Blog Archive
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012

  • houston insurance(432)
  • houston home insurance(353)
  • home insurance(328)
  • auto insurance(225)
  • houston auto insurance(212)
  • independent insurance agent(207)
  • katy home insurance(184)
  • insurance(169)
  • renters insurance(138)
  • cypress home insurance(121)
  • woodlands home insurance(109)
  • flood insurance(108)
  • spring home insurance(107)
  • katy auto insurance(103)
  • katy insurance(91)
  • independent insurance(87)
  • independent insurance agency(70)
  • houston flood insurance(55)
  • spring auto insurance(55)
  • cypress insurance(49)
  • woodlands auto insurance(47)
  • home insurance houston(42)
  • insurance agent(40)
  • woodlands insurance(39)
  • best insurance(37)
  • home insurance agent(33)
  • spring insurance(32)
  • life insurance(28)
  • cypress auto insurance(26)
  • home insurance katy(25)
  • houston renters insurance(25)
  • home insurance woodlands(24)
  • business insurance(23)
  • auto insurance agent(22)
  • springwoods village insurance(19)
  • magnolia home insurance(18)
  • home insurance spring(18)
  • umbrella insurance(18)
  • water damage(17)
  • jewelry insurance(16)
  • auto insurance houston(15)
  • health insurance(15)
  • liability insurance(14)
  • best insurance agent(14)
  • identity theft(13)
  • boat insurance(13)
  • hurricane season(12)
  • katy flood insurance(11)
  • windstorm insurance(10)
  • homeowners insurance(10)

View Mobile Version
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Blog
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Carriers
Facebook Logo

Resources

Home About Us Get a Quote Customer Service Refer A Friend Contact Us

Contact Us

  • 11999 Katy Freeway Suite 635
  • Houston TX 77079
  • P: 281-558-2210
  • Email Us
© Copyright. All rights reserved.
Powered by Insurance Website Builder