Does Home Insurance Cover Damage to Your Septic Tank?

Because your septic tank is considered a component of your home, it is covered by your homeowners insurance in the event of unexpected damage. Any damage caused by neglect or a lack of maintenance, on the other hand, will not be covered. In this section, we explain the factors that determine whether or not your septic tank is covered by your homeowners insurance.

When does homeowners insurance cover your septic tank?

Most home insurance policies cover "other structures," such as septic tanks, pools, and fences, in the same way that everything else inside your home is — with some exceptions. The types of damage that are actually covered are sudden and severe, implying that the homeowners had no control over them. The following are the 16 most common types of unexpected damage:

  • Lightning or fire
  • Hail or windstorm
  • Damage caused by aircraft
  • Explosions
  • Riots or civil disturbances
  • Smoke damage
  • Damage caused by vehicles
  • Theft
  • Vandalism
  • Falling objects
  • Volcanic eruption
  • Damage from the weight of snow, ice or sleet
  • Water damage from plumbing, heating or air conditioning overflow
  • Water heater cracking, tearing and burning
  • Damage from electrical current
  • Pipe freezing

If any of these events end up causing damage to your septic tank, you should be protected. Unfortunately, the more common causes of septic tank damage do not fall into the above-mentioned categories.

How much is your septic tank covered for by insurance?

Even if the damage is covered by your insurance, many standard home insurance policies cap coverage at 10% of the total value of your home. If your house is insured for $500,000, "other structures" such as your shed, fence, and septic tank may only be covered up to $50,000. However, we recommend that you review your individual policy. Your specific coverage may differ depending on your policy.

Even if it is only 10%, it should cover the costs of repairing or replacing a septic tank. We discovered that people typically pay between $5,000 and $30,000 to replace or repair their tank. You will most likely be adequately insured if you have at least a $300,000 policy.

What damage to your septic tank is not covered?

Many of the most common causes of septic tank damage, according to this article written by a wastewater specialist, can be traced back to human error and a lack of proper maintenance — neither of which is covered by homeowners insurance. Here are a few examples:

  • Flushing chemicals, solids and oils
  • Driving over the tank
  • Not having proper drainage
  • Not taking care of tree roots

Most home insurance policies expressly state that they will not cover any costs that could have been avoided with proper construction and maintenance techniques.

If your septic tank is damaged by a flood or an earthquake, the repair costs must be covered by flood or earthquake insurance, which must be purchased in addition to your standard policy.

However, we strongly advise you to check your own personal policy. The vast majority of policies will adhere to everything listed above, but individual policies may vary depending on where you live and your insurer. If the policy language is difficult to understand, contact your homeowners insurance company so that an agent can go over it with you.

How to take care of your septic tank

Because wear and tear is the most common cause of septic tank damage, followed by human error, you must take precautions to ensure your tank remains healthy year after year. The following are some important steps to take to avoid cesspool damage:

  • There will be no flushing of nonbiodegradable objects.
  • There will be no flushing of cooking oil.
  • There will be no chemical flushing.

Keeping an eye on what you flush can help extend the life of your tank. Objects that do not degrade in the tank cause it to fill up faster, necessitating more frequent pumping. If you allow your tank to overflow too frequently, you increase the risk of clogging the pipes, which can result in a backup.

Cooking oils cause sludge to accumulate, which can clog your system's pipes. Finally, flushing strong chemicals into the system can result in the death of bacteria that break down solid objects. If those objects are not broken down, they can accumulate and cause blockage.

Routine inspections and maintenance will also extend the life of your tank and prevent costly breakdowns. Here are some things to do for your cesspool in the coming year:

  • Once a year, inspect it.
  • It should be pumped once a year.
  • Avoid parking vehicles or placing heavy objects directly on buried system components.