Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Sump Pump Failure?

Find out how you can protect your home from a sump pump breakdown with this guide. Get an insurance endorsement to get coverage on sump pump failure.
Written by Cheryl Knight
Reviewed by Carrie Adkins
For homeowners with a basement, moisture can be a problem.
In fact, more than
60% of homeowners
in the U.S. have some type of moisture in the basements or crawl spaces. In order to prevent the buildup of moisture, many homeowners install a sump pump.
The bad news is, sometimes sump pumps fail and basements flood. Will your homeowners insurance pay for the water damage of a flooded basement or other damages incurred by sump pump failure?
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Does homeowners insurance cover sump pump failure?

For a standard homeowners insurance policy, the simple answer to that question is "no." On many policies, water damage or a flooded basement from a sump pump failure, overflow, or
sewer backup
is considered an
uncovered peril
. Fortunately, you have some options when it comes to a failing or inadequate sump pump.
For some homeowners, it’s as simple as adding a secondary or backup sump pump.
Why invest in an additional pump? Because it doesn’t take much water to cause thousands of dollars of damage to a home. Damages can include flooded basements that result in
personal property
being destroyed, electrical problems that create power outages, and mold and mildew problems that make your home uninhabitable–the list goes on!
So why take that chance? In addition to a backup sump pump, you can also opt for what's called an insurance endorsement.
Key Takeaway: Standard home insurance won't cover sump pump failure. But you can try insurance endorsement, getting a backup pump, or both.

What is an endorsement for sump pump failure?

An endorsement, also known as a rider, is an adjustment made to your insurance policy to provide coverage for an excluded peril, in this case, a sump pump failure or water backup. And while you pay more money on your policy for the endorsement, you’re now protected if your sump pump fails and you need water backup coverage.
Just like with the rest of your insurance policy, if your sump pump fails or water backs up and floods your basement, you’ll have to pay a deductible first before your insurance company will start to pay out.
Depending on your insurance company, you might be able to lower or eliminate the deductible for the sump pump endorsement, but this will raise how much you pay on your policy each month.

What does a sump pump failure/water backup endorsement cover?

If your sump pump does fail or you
have a water backup
in your home, the endorsement will cover any damage to your home and your personal possessions affected by the backup.
Keep in mind that the endorsement won’t cover anything if the backup occurred because of negligence on your part. You can also usually choose more coverage to cover the cost of replacing a broken sump pump.
The endorsement won’t cover the cost of hiring a plumber and the installation of a new sump pump if needed. In addition, if you have to move out of your home while the problem is fixed, the endorsement won’t provide coverage for that, although you can add additional water backup coverage that pays for this cost.
Key Takeaway: Endorsement will cover damage to your home and possessions caused by pump failure or water backups. However, it normally won't apply to extra costs or to damage caused by negligence.
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When should you replace a sump pump?

Replacing a sump pump before it fails is a great way to ensure that your home remains protected, even if you have purchased water backup coverage. But how do you know when you need to replace your sump pump? Here is some important information about knowing when your sump pump might be on its way out.
Loud Noises: If your sump pump starts making loud noises, then chances are it might be getting ready to break down. At the very least, have a repairman inspect it. Maybe they will discover a fixable repair. If not, they can tell you if it needs replacing.
Constantly Running: Sump pumps aren’t designed to run constantly. If yours is, it’s an indication that something is wrong. A sump pump that is
constantly running
is also a strong indicator that your pump is too small for the job and might need to be replaced with a bigger unit.
Sump Pump Age: Also, sump pumps that have been in your home for over 10 years should be replaced. Wear and tear will start to have a toll over time, and the older your pump is, the greater likelihood it’ll start to act up or break down.

FAQs

Does homeowners insurance cover water damage from sump pump failure?

Basic homeowners insurance will almost never cover water damage from sump pump failures, so make sure you have a backup sump pump or an insurance endorsement.

What do I do if my sump pump fails?

First things first, you need to be safe. Make sure electricity to your basement is turned off before you head down. When you do go down, open windows to let air circulate (if it's not raining) and use wet vacuums and mops to try to dry up as much water as possible.
If water damage is intense or there's too much water to dry yourself, you will need to contact a professional water damage service.
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