Service line coverage is a type of insurance coverage that covers unforeseen costs related to the damages caused by service lines on your property. These service lines include phone and cable lines, power lines, and water and sewer pipes. If ever these service lines get damaged due to one issue or another on your property, this insurance coverage covers repairs and replacements.
This covers all excavation expenses, underground piping, and wiring repairs. Every homeowner is responsible for the underground service lines on their property. This insurance coverage handles all payments and protects your finances to prevent making payments for repairs out of pocket. By extending your homeowner insurance coverage to cover the service line, you do not need to worry about unexpected expenses related to damages. Service line coverage covers every expense, irrespective of what service line is damaged.
Why Do I Need Service Line Coverage?
Just as mentioned earlier, every homeowner is responsible for service lines on their properties. If ever these lines get damaged, you are responsible for the replacements and repairs, not the service provider. These expenses are not always expected, and they are not covered under your regular homeowner life insurance policy. Because of this, you need to get this coverage on your insurance policy to cover these expenses if they ever occur.
What are the Types of Service Lines Covered?
Meanwhile, Service lines are underground pipes, power lines, and cable lines made to serve the community. The following are some examples of service lines covered under this insurance coverage.
- Steam piping.
- Drainage.
- Water pipes.
- Sewer piping.
- Electrical wiring and power lines.
- Cable and telephone lines.
- Fuel lines.
- Waste disposal.
These service lines are most often underground, and they may be damaged in the following instances:
- Ground freeze.
- Landscaping accidents.
- Wear and tear.
- Collapse from aboveground weight.
- Also, Freezing or frost heave.
- Corrosion or rust.
- Tree or other root invasion.
- Rodents.
- Mechanical breakdown.
- Also, Artificially generated electric current.
- Lastly, the external force from excavation.
Because of this, you may have to pay for expenses related to service line damages to your property. However, these events are also covered under your service line insurance coverage.
What Is Not Covered?
Just like there are different things covered by the service line insurance coverage, there are some things not covered by this insurance coverage. Examples of things that are not covered include:
- Fuel tanks.
- Septic systems and private wells.
- Water well-related damages.
- Wiring or piping that is not connected and ready for use.
- Piping or wiring that runs through a body of water.
Service line insurance coverage does not cover the expenses for damages to these things. Instead, you will have to make payments for them out of pocket.
What Does Service Line Coverage Cover?
If the service line on your property gets damaged by an event that is listed under your policy, your service line insurance coverage on your homeowner insurance policy will cover related expenses to the damages caused. This will cover the cost of repairs and replacements for damaged service lines. The following are some of the things that are covered:
- Additional cost for temporary repairs and replacements of service lines.
- Extra living expenses and rental values.
- Also, damage to communication or data transmission.
- Required costs for repairs and replacements of damaged service lines.
- Also, damage to underground service lines on your property.
- Lastly, outdoor damages to your property due to a damaged service line.
What is covered depends on what is stated in your policy. However, service line coverage will not cover damages not listed on your policy.
How much does It cost?
Different factors are considered when insurance costs are determined. These factors can affect the cost of your service line coverage, making it quite high. However, service-line insurance costs vary by insurance company. To know how much your insurance will cost, you will need to contact your insurer to find out how much it will cost to get this coverage on your homeowner insurance policy.
Does the Service Line Covered by my Policy need to be on my Property?
It is mandatory for the damaged service line to be on your property to be covered. The service line insurance coverage will not cover service line damage outside of your property.