When you buy a new home in New Orleans one major concern is the plumbing because water damage is one of the most common insurance claims on a homeowners insurance policy
Some common water damage claims after you buy a home
- A busted water heater damages your flooring
- The toilet or clothes washer will no longer drain
- Busted pipe inside a wall damages a room
There are few things you can do to protect your bank account after you buy a new home from a water damage claim
SERVICE LINE UTILITY INSURANCE
This coverage can be added to a homeowners insurance policy or a rental property insurance policy for as low as $5 a month
This will cover the replacement of the underground plumbing line that sends water to and from your home
When this pipe collapses water can no longer flow in and out of your home
Toilets don’t work
Showers don’t drain
Washing clothes will no longer be an option
What will Service Line Insurance Coverage actually cover?
Standard exclusions of coverage under a homeowners insurance policy don’t apply
You can get coverage for the cause of damage below
- Rot
- Wear and Tear
- Corrosion
- Collapse
- Rust
- Deterioration
- Tree root intrusion
- Freeze
- Animal Damage
YOU GET REPLACEMENT COVERAGE FOR THE ITEMS BELOW
- sewer line
- water piping
- ground piping to a heat pump
- drain lines
- underground power lines or electrical wiring
- communications or data transmission lines
- natural gas piping
The new Service Line Underground Utility Coverage is now available in New Orleans with our new Homeowners Insurance program and we include the coverage on all our policies if available from the insurance company
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON’T BUY THIS COVERAGE?
Without this endorsement a common claim that happens is when an underground pipe collapses due to tree root root intrusion or wear and tear
The resulting damage such as water back up (if you have this endorsement) is covered but replacement of the pipe itself is not covered and excavation costs are also excluded
What is the average cost of these claims without the endorsement?
The average cost to repair these sewer lines including excavation can average $7500
What is the deductible on Service line insurance coverage?
The coverage will be subject to a $500 deductible which more than likely will be less than your all other perils deductible
Now you can get coverage to pay for pipe replacement, excavation costs and outdoor property that is damaged as a result
This coverage is available on homeowners insurance and landlord rental property insurance policies from a select group of insurance companies
Not all insurance companies offer this endorsement
The endorsement will provide coverage up to 10,000 of damage
PLUMBING INSURANCE FOR A NEW HOME PURCHASE IN NEW ORLEANS
You can buy a plumbing protection plan from Homeserve as an added protection after you buy a home or even ask the seller the buy one year of coverage as low as $20 a month if you have any concerns about the plumbing in the house
Homeserve will cover
- Locating the blockage or collapse
- Excavation to expose pipe
- Pipe replacement or repair
- Repair or replacement of seals and joints
- Unblocking
- Fitting external valves
- Fusing
- Welding
- Pipe cutting
- Backfilling of areas disturbed by repairs
- Leaking supply pipe to hot water heater
- Repair/replace burst interior water pipe
- Unblocking an overflowing toilet or sink due to clogged drains
- Leaking wax seal
- Blocked drain
Home Warranty plans will focus on appliances and heating a/c systems and their plans can cost about $50 a month
Homeserve will offer many options to choose from if you have more concerns than plumbing but a stand alone plumbing protection plan for $20 a month may be something to consider for your new home purchase
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM PLUMBING ISSUES
- Make sure your homeowners insurance policy has the service line endorsement
- Buy the Plumbing and Drainage coverage plan from Homeserve
At FM Agency Group we are the best New Orleans insurance broker to help you get the coverage you need to protect what you have
If you want more information about the new Service Line Utility Enhancement Endorsement just complete our quick form and we will review the insurance companies in New Orleans that offer this important and inexpensive protection