Sewer/Water Backup Sump Overflow insurance

[Turin39789]

Do you have it?

Crawlspace or Basement?

When we looked at a house with a basement we were definetly going to get the rider, nwo we have a crawlspace and two ins agents are including it on their quotes while I a third I personally know says it is not necessary on a crawlspace home. I know we aren't going to have a sump overflow, but I imagine the sewer could still invade the house.

Thoughts?

 

[lupi]

City sewer, no basement. Have it cause they offered it for something like a $.50 rider.

 

[Ausm]

Yeah but it will only cover a sewer back up if it happens on the third week of the 3rd day at 3 o'clock every month.

 

[Turin39789]

Yeah but it will only cover a sewer back up if it happens on the third week of the 3rd day at 3 o'clock every month.

from experience?

 

[JEDI]

Nationwide sewage backup policy rider:
$5k coverage ($1000 dedcutible)- so max pay if $6000 worth of dmg
CHEAP- $15/yr extra

but i have no idea if it's a waste of $ like those death insurance riders that pay off mortgage if you die.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I would get it.

I recently had a localized sewer backup (my own main pipe blocked somehow) and I caught it in time. No damage done, but I shiver every time I consider what could of happened if I did not noticed it and went to bed then took my shower then next morning. That also made me consider how a sewer backup from the city sewage could suck badly as there's nothing you can do but watch gallons and gallons of sewage pour into the basement.

I am strongly considering installing a backflow valve after watching youtube videos of sewer backup. Not that it would have saved me in my localized backup, but still, the peace of mind that it will protect me from a city sewer backup is worth it.

I have plenty of server backups that I want, but sewers, I rather not have backups.

 

[skyking]

look in the street in front of your house, the alley behind your house. Find the manholes labeled "sewer", it will be cast right into the lid.
Is the lid lower than the lowest floor of your house?
If so ,you don't need to worry. The manhole will back up first.
If it is higher than your house should have a backflow preventer installed at the first cleanout outside.

 

[Red Squirrel]

look in the street in front of your house, the alley behind your house. Find the manholes labeled "sewer", it will be cast right into the lid.
Is the lid lower than the lowest floor of your house?
If so ,you don't need to worry. The manhole will back up first.
If it is higher than your house should have a backflow preventer installed at the first cleanout outside.

That's a good point, though in most cases it will be higher unless there is a hill and the house is on the top. Now what can suck is being at the bottom of a hill, then it means even the city sewage pipe is probably higher then your house's basement. If something backs up lower then your house you're in for a very crappy situation.

My parents house is actually at the bottom of a hill, the street goes up maybe 2 stories high after their house. At one point their sump did not have a P trap and it used to always smell like sewage at certain times of the year till they got fed up and got a pro to check it out.

Not sure how city plumbing works to prevent sewer backup when houses are lower then the sewage pipe though, wonder if there is some sort of backflow valve right at the pipe that enters the main line. Guess as long as the main pipe is flowing freely and is not full it's not a problem for houses around. These tend to be large cement pipes that can fit a car, so they are at maybe 10% capacity at any given time, I'm guessing.

Though this does beg a question, what would happen if everybody in a city flushed their toilet at the same time?

 

[skyking]

Redsquirrel, you are guessing.
Re-read what I posted and don't try to apply anything to it. The nearest manhole is the one that matters, It does not matter where you are on a hill or in a valley.
I have installed the mains, manholes, side sewers, backflow devices for the last 20 years or so.
I'm not guessing.