Sump pumps play a key role in keeping the first floor or basement of your home nice and dry. Without one, you could be prone to flooding that your insurance may not cover because it isn’t caused by a broken pipe. In fact, this brings up the question of whether or not the damage caused by a broken sump pump is covered by insurance.
Is it covered? There are many things to consider before answering that question. Here’s what you need to know.
What is a Sump Pump?
A sump pump is a piece of equipment that helps prevent groundwater from flooding your basement or first floor, if you don’t have a basement. These pumps are located near the source of groundwater and force it into a hole, known as a sump pit. When the water in that pit reaches the designated level, the pump turns on and pushes that water outside and away from the house via drainage pipes.
Note that sump pumps remove groundwater. This is a crucial difference that plays a role in whether or not your homeowner’s insurance covers any damage that occurs from one failing.
How Do Sump Pumps Fail?
Sump pumps need electricity to run. Some may have battery backups, but there are times when even those fail. A broken sump pump won’t remove the water from your home, allowing it to build up in the pit, which then spills over the sides, flooding your house. There are other potential issues as well, like broken parts and damaged machinery, both of which can cause a sump pump to break down. Regular maintenance will help prevent these, but there’s still the potential for a power outage to cause a problem.
Sump Pumps and Homeowner’s Insurance
What happens when your sump pump fails? If you look closely at your policy, you’ll notice that flooding from groundwater is, more often than not, something that your homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover. Many policies cover things like flooding from broken pipes because that water is not considered groundwater. If this is the case with your home insurance, you may have to pay for repairs to the sump pump and the after-flood cleanup out of pocket. Yes, you read that right: your insurance often won’t cover repairs to the pump either.
How can you ensure that this is covered by your insurance? You may need to get a special rider on your policy, especially if you live in a flood zone, that covers these situations. A flood insurance policy, which is a special option that you only qualify for if you live in that aforementioned flood zone, is another way of mitigating your risk.
Contact Spivey Insurance
If you have questions regarding your sump pump, homeowner’s insurance, flood insurance, or anything else insurance related, please reach out to Spivey Insurance. Our highly knowledgeable agents can answer your questions and help you find the best policy for your needs so that your home is protected.