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Service Line Insurance: Protect Your Home’s Utility Lines
As a homeowner, you understand the importance of protecting your property from the unexpected. From storms to everyday wear and tear, there are many ways your home’s utility lines can sustain damage.
If you live in New Hampshire, you know that the cold winters can wreak havoc on your pipes, and the trees in your yard can cause significant harm to your power and cable lines. That’s why service line coverage, also known as utility line insurance or buried utility lines coverage, is such a valuable endorsement to consider.
What does Service Line Insurance insure?
Service line coverage helps cover the repair or replacement of damaged utility lines running to your home, such as water pipes, power lines, gas and fuel lines, underground power lines, and service lines for cable, internet and fiber optics. Homeowners often confuse service line protection with sewer backup insurance, but they protect against different types of property damage.
Your policy covers damage from long-term use like corrosion, rust and other everyday wear and tear, damage from trees and tree roots, animals, severe weather and mechanical malfunctions. Remember not all incidents or items are covered, like septic systems or wires passing through or under a body of water. The trusted insurance advisors at Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance can help you identify the risks to your home and build the right coverage for you.
Examples of Service Line Coverage
Here are two examples of how service line coverage could save you from costly out-of-pocket repairs:
Water Main Break: During a harsh winter storm, your pipes freeze, and as things warm up, you notice a break in the water line leading to your New Hampshire home. While your city has crews responsible for repairing any public water lines, it’s up to you to repair the lines that lead directly to your home.
That means paying a plumber to excavate your yard and repair or replace the line. According to Home Advisor, the average cost of a main water line repair can range from $300 to $1500, depending on the extent of the damage. Add in landscaping fees to restore your lawn to its previous condition, and you’re looking at a lofty bill. Fortunately, your service line coverage would kick in, helping save you money on much-needed repairs.
Damage to Underground Wires: Say you’re digging in your yard to plant a tree, but you forgot to call 811 and have your utility lines marked first. While digging, you hit a buried electrical line, causing a power outage to your New Hampshire home.
According to Angi, these repairs must be done by your utility company and cost an average of $1500 to $5000, even before factoring in any landscaping restoration. Without utility line insurance coverage, you’d be on the hook to cover the full amount to ensure the repairs were done safely and property, and power was restored to your home.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Service Line Coverage?
Unfortunately, underground service line coverage is not included in a standard homeowners insurance policy and usually needs to be added as an endorsement. However, it’s an easy endorsement to add.
Just reach out to one of our agents at Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance about your home’s risk, and we’ll guide you on adding the right coverage with the best limits to ensure you’re fully protected.
Keep in mind that because it’s an addition to your homeowners policy, it will increase your premium, and your coverage will likely be subject to a deductible. If your homeowners insurance company doesn’t offer a utility line insurance endorsement, you may be able to add coverage through your utility service provider.
Do I Need Service Line Insurance?
Service line insurance is great coverage for any homeowner to have — after all, you never know when severe weather or even everyday wear and tear could lead to serious and costly damage to your property.
Policy Genius estimates that adding underground service line coverage to a homeowners insurance policy costs around $30 to $40 per year on average, though it varies by state. That’s a small price to pay to protect yourself and your home from unexpected service disruptions and thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs.
Talk to us today at Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance to learn more the about homeowners insurance coverage available to you. You can reach us at 603-431-4020 or by email at insure@portsmouthatlanticins.com.
FAQs About Service Line Insurance
1. What is service line insurance?
Answer: Service line insurance is optional homeowners insurance coverage that helps pay to repair or replace damaged underground utility lines connected to your home. This can include water pipes, sewer lines, electrical wiring, gas lines, and internet or cable lines, depending on the policy.
2. Does homeowners insurance cover service line damage?
Answer: No, standard homeowners insurance usually does not cover damage to underground service lines caused by wear and tear, corrosion, root intrusion, or mechanical failure. Service line coverage is typically an optional endorsement you add to your homeowners insurance policy for broader protection.
3. What does service line coverage include?
Answer: Service line coverage typically includes repair or replacement costs for damaged underground utility lines serving your home, along with excavation, labor, and sometimes landscaping restoration. Covered lines may include water, sewer, gas, electrical, cable, and internet service lines, depending on the insurer.
4. Is service line insurance worth it?
Answer: Yes, service line insurance can be worth it for many homeowners because underground utility repairs can cost thousands of dollars. Since homeowners are often responsible for service lines running from the street to the home, this low-cost endorsement can help prevent unexpected out-of-pocket expenses.
5. Who is responsible for the water line from the street to my house?
Answer: In most cases, the homeowner is responsible for the private water line running from the municipal connection or curb stop to the home. The city or utility company usually maintains public lines only. Responsibility can vary by municipality, so checking local rules is important.
6. Myth vs Fact: My utility company covers all underground line repairs
Answer: Myth. Utility companies generally maintain public utility infrastructure, not the private service lines that connect directly to your home. Fact: If your water, sewer, electrical, or gas line on your property fails, you may be responsible for repair, excavation, and restoration costs.
7. Does service line insurance cover sewer line repairs?
Answer: Yes, many service line insurance policies cover damaged sewer lines, but coverage depends on the insurer and endorsement details. Service line protection is different from sewer backup insurance, which covers water backing up into your home rather than damage to the underground pipe itself.
8. Myth vs Fact: Service line coverage only protects against storm damage
Answer: Myth. Service line coverage often protects against more than severe weather. Fact: Many policies also cover damage caused by corrosion, rust, tree roots, freezing, animal damage, and certain mechanical failures, which are risks standard homeowners insurance often excludes.
9. How much does service line insurance cost?
Answer: Service line insurance is generally affordable, often costing around $30 to $60 per year when added as a homeowners insurance endorsement. Pricing depends on your insurer, location, coverage limits, and deductible, but it is usually far less expensive than paying for a major underground repair yourself.
10. Does service line insurance cover tree root damage?
Answer: Yes, many service line insurance endorsements cover damage caused by invasive tree roots, especially when roots crack or block underground pipes. Coverage details vary by insurer, so homeowners should review exclusions carefully to confirm whether root intrusion is specifically included in their policy.