National Water Company Advises That Uninsured Pipes Buried Outside Homes Could Cost Homeowners Thousands

SEATTLE, March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent survey released by Bankrate.com found that 81% of homeowners were aware flooding is not covered by regular homeowners insurance. Many also have heard earthquakes require special coverage. Yet homeowners may not know that there are other types of damage that are not covered by most policies. One such exclusion in traditional home coverage is buried out in our yards. The repair or replacement of water and sewer lines that service the home are generally not covered by your home insurance policy.

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"Every year we see families that have had a water or sewer line fail in their yard costing them thousands in unexpected expenses. Most homeowners are completely unaware of their liability and do not give their underground service lines a second thought. However, as homes in the greater Northwest continue to age service line failures and costs will only go up," says Jeff Johnson of National Water Company (NWC).

Johnson says traditional home policies only cover the water and sewer damage caused by a backup, but will not pay for the repair of the pipe itself. If the problem is outside the home obstacles such as driveways, landscape features, patios, sidewalks, and in some cases extreme depth can make repairs very expensive. Having insurance for this just makes good sense.

That is why Johnson and National Water Company have worked with Lyndon Southern Insurance to offer water and sewer line coverage specifically for that gap in homeowner's coverage. He says the average replacement costs for water or sewer lines can run from $1,792 to $4,961.  NWC offers policies with protection to cover up to $5,000 per utility line through its office, and through a network of independent insurance brokers and AAA Insurance of Washington (please see policy restrictions on our website).

Johnson points out that utility lines can break for all kinds of reasons: invasive tree roots, ground shifting, poor installation, aging pipes, corrosive soil, and seasonal changes. Johnson says homeowners should be mindful of what might be happening underground.

"Homeowners should also familiarize themselves with their current homeowner's policy to ensure they are covered for those incidents that can't be avoided," explained Johnson.

Johnson says homeowners can learn more about water and sewer line protection, by visiting www.nationalwatercompany.com or calling 1-800-790-3201.  Also, AAA members can contact AAA of Washington by calling 1-877-222-4678 for more information.

For media inquiries, please contact Jeff Johnson of National Water Company via email or 509-765-4824.

Read more: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/insurance/things-home-insurance-wont-cover-1.aspx#ixzz3U5tpiRWX

Source: National Water Company

SOURCE National Water Company

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