Service Line Coverage for Sewer & Water Lines | Duluth MN

What it is

An endorsement, not a policy.

Service line coverage is an add-on to a homeowners policy. It is not a separate product you buy somewhere else, and in most cases it is not included in the policy you already have. It has to be requested and added, the same way sump pump and water backup coverage is added.

The thing that catches people out is who stands behind it. The endorsement often sits on your carrier's policy but is underwritten by a specialist. Hartford Steam Boiler, part of Munich Re, is the largest and sells through partner insurers. So the name on your homeowners declarations page and the name handling the service line claim can be two different companies. That is normal, not a sign something is wrong.

What it is written around is the buried line you are responsible for, generally the run from the house out to the connection at the main.

Why this matters in Duluth specifically.
A great many homes here are on clay tile, cast iron or Orangeburg, laid decades ago. Unlike a roof, where insurers ask the age before they will write coverage, we are not seeing the same questions asked about the age of a sewer line. Homeowners with the oldest lines are generally still able to add the endorsement.

$10k

Common limit

$25k offered by some carriers

~$500

Typical deductible

Varies by form

$20-50

Commonly published annual cost

Not a quote

Standard policies that include it

It is an add-on

Figures above are what carriers and underwriters publish as typical. Terms differ by carrier, state and form, and your policy language is what controls. Treat these as a starting point for a conversation with your agent, not as what you will be offered.

The shape of it

What these endorsements generally do and do not reach.

Every form is written differently. The pattern below is common across carriers, and every line of it is worth confirming against your own policy rather than assuming.

Commonly covered

✓The buried sewer or water service line the homeowner is responsible for

✓Repair or replacement of the failed line itself

✓Excavation and the restoration of what had to be dug up to reach it

✓Wear and deterioration, which most of a homeowners policy specifically excludes

✓Some forms extend to electrical and data lines on the same property

✓Some forms include additional living expense if the home cannot be occupied

Commonly excluded

×Anything already failing before the endorsement was added

×Septic systems and storm drains, on a number of forms

×The portion of the line the city rather than the homeowner is responsible for

×Damage from named perils already covered elsewhere, such as fire or flood

×Neglect, and damage the homeowner caused deliberately

×Interior plumbing, which is a different part of the policy entirely

The mix-up worth clearing up

Water backup coverage is a different thing.

Plenty of homeowners believe they are covered for a sewer problem because they added water backup coverage at some point. The two are not the same, and carrying one does not give you the other.

If your line fails and sewage comes back up into the basement, water backup coverage is the part that addresses the mess inside the house. It does nothing about the pipe in the yard that caused it. Service line coverage is the part written around the pipe.

Water backup coverage

Addresses damage inside the home when water or sewage backs up through a drain. The flooring, the drywall, the contents. Does not repair the buried line.

Service line coverage

Addresses the buried line itself, plus the digging and restoration needed to get to it. Does not address what the backup ruined inside the house.

They are bought separately. A homeowner can carry both, either, or neither.

Our part in it

What we hand the adjuster.

We do not file your claim and we are not party to it. What we do is give the adjuster the documentation they ask for, in the form they ask for it, because we have been through this process many times and know what gets sent back for more information.

The written estimate

Itemised, with the scope and the method we are recommending and why.

The pipe material

Clay tile, cast iron, Orangeburg, PVC. The camera tells us before we dig.

The approximate age

Estimated from the material and the era of the house.

The diagnosis

What has failed, where along the run, and what is causing it.

The camera footage

For a sewer line, the adjuster sees the same thing you saw on the screen.

The camera inspection that produces all of this is free, with no charge and no obligation, whether or not there turns out to be a claim and whether or not you hire us for the work.

Find out where you stand

How to check, in about ten minutes.

You do not need us for this part and there is nothing to buy from us at the end of it. It is worth doing whether or not you currently have a problem, because the one thing every version of this coverage excludes is a failure that was already underway.

Pull your declarations page

It lists every endorsement on the policy. Look for wording like service line, buried utility line, or underground service line. If it is not named there, you very likely do not have it.

Call the agent, not the 1-800 line

A local agent can tell you in one call whether the endorsement is available on your policy and what it adds to the premium.

Ask about water backup separately

They are different endorsements. Ask about both by name so you know which, if either, you carry.

Ask what is excluded

Specifically whether pre-existing conditions, septic and storm drains are carved out, and which portion of the line the form treats as yours.

Why an agent is usually glad you asked.
The conversation an agent does not want to have is the one where a homeowner calls with a failed line and finds out there was an inexpensive endorsement available that nobody mentioned. Asking the question costs nothing and the answer is useful either way.

Knowing which part of the line is yours

These endorsements are written around the portion you are responsible for maintaining. Where that boundary sits can differ between cities, and a shared line changes the picture again.

Shared sewer lines, who owns them and who pays
Lead water line replacement, what it involves and who pays

Grants and cost-share programs, separate from insurance

Insurance is one route. It is not the only one.

Duluth, Superior, and the surrounding region run more than 30 programs that help homeowners pay for sewer and water line repair. Grants, cost-share, and zero percent deferred loans that you do not repay monthly.

30+ programs in this region
Up to $20,000 in grants and free coverage
0% deferred loan options

Step 1 of 4

Where is your property?

What needs repair?

Do you own the property?

Most programs require owner-occupancy.

Approximate household income?

Used only for income-based eligibility.

Or browse all programs

Questions

Service line coverage, answered plainly.

Is service line coverage the same as water backup coverage?

No, and this is the most common mix-up. Water backup coverage applies to the damage inside the house when water comes back up through a drain. It does not pay to repair the pipe outside that caused it. Service line coverage is the one written around the buried line itself. Some homeowners carry one, some carry both, and they are purchased separately.

Is service line coverage already part of my homeowners policy?

Usually not. It is an optional endorsement, which means it has to be added to the policy. A standard homeowners policy generally excludes buried service lines. The only way to know what you carry is to read your declarations page or ask your agent.

Does the sewer line have to be fully collapsed to qualify?

Not necessarily. These endorsements are generally written around a line that has failed rather than a line that has reached a particular condition, and we have seen claims open on lines that were still passing flow but had a defect causing repeated backups. Whether any specific line qualifies is the adjuster's call on that policy form.

Will it cover a problem that already existed before I added the coverage?

Generally no. Pre-existing conditions are a standard exclusion across these endorsements. This is the main reason the coverage is worth asking about before there is a problem rather than after.

What does it usually cost, and what are the usual limits?

Carriers commonly publish limits of $10,000, with some offering $25,000, and a deductible that is often around $500. Published premiums for the endorsement are commonly in the range of $20 to $50 a year. These are the figures the industry publishes, not a quote. Your agent is the only person who can tell you the number on your policy.

Who underwrites it?

Often a specialist rather than your own carrier. Hartford Steam Boiler, part of Munich Re, is the best known and sells the coverage through partner insurers, which is why the endorsement can sit on a policy from one company while the claim is handled by another. That surprises people, and it is normal.

Which part of the line does it cover?

Generally the portion the homeowner is responsible for maintaining, which in most cases is the run between the house and the connection at the main. Where responsibility sits can differ by city and by whether the line is shared, so it is worth knowing which part of your line is yours before you need to.

Does Contour file the claim for me?

No. The claim is between you and your insurer. What we provide is the documentation an adjuster asks for: the written estimate, the pipe material, the approximate age of the line, what we found and what is causing it, and the camera footage for a sewer line. We have done this often enough that we know the format adjusters want.

Does the coverage pay for lining, or only for digging?

These endorsements are generally written around repairing or replacing the failed line rather than prescribing a method. Where lining is the least expensive way to restore a line, we have seen it approved on that basis. Whether it is approved on a particular policy is a question for that adjuster.

Contour Inc. is a sewer and water line contractor, not an insurance agency, agent or adjuster. Nothing here is insurance advice and none of it is a statement about what any particular policy will pay. Coverage, limits, deductibles and exclusions differ by carrier, state and policy form, and your own policy language is what governs. Confirm anything that matters with your agent or carrier.

What people say

Duluth homeowners who thought their yard was gone.

The thing people say most: they couldn't tell we were ever there.

Contour Inc

5.0

Based on 55 reviews

review us on

Bonnie Summers

6 months ago

Great crew, very professional work, five 🌟 they're there when they say they're going to be there. no excuses, anything goes wrong they fix it. customer service is five star. I would call them to get the job done. I highly recommend them. Had my sewer line replaced. Everything went smoothly. Loved working with this crew/company. They made an ugly situation beautiful once again.

Jill Thunder

7 months ago

Contour was very accommodating with all the home owners insurance issues I had to sort out. They repaired my main sewer pipe (had several cracks in it) with a 50 year warranty liner. Contour's quote was half of ASP as they found a closer access point to the front of the house and inspected all my home pipes determining they were fine and did not need lining. They save people a lot of money by only lining the sq foot of pipes that need it. The crew were very polite and professional. Would definitely recommend and hire them in the future for other services.

Rod Barber

7 months ago

Contour Inc. Was able to fix my sewer in a very timely manner so we could sell our house. They dug it up even in February! Very nice to deal with them.

Patrick Heaslip

7 months ago

From my initial conversation with Jason to my sewerlining appoint with Troy and his crew, Contour was 5 stars across the board. Everyone I spoke to was professional, knowledgeable, and patient throughout the process. They made it easy in addition to quoting a reasonable price. I would highly recommend anyone in the market for a sewerlining to consider their services.

Adam Osterlund

9 months ago

Contour came out and was willing to work with us on a solution that would fix a leak in a very difficult water main leak. They worked quickly, professionally, and cleanly.

They were able to complete the work faster than expected, and did a great job. We really appreciate their flexibility and ability to get the job done!

Leah Holliday

10 months ago

I needed my main sewer line lined. Contour was super helpful and was able to make it work within my budget. Very prompt, professional and got the work completed that same day. Highly recommend 5 stars to this company!!

Sara K

1 year ago

Contour is the best! Everyone treats you like an equal human and they are super knowledgeable at what they do. Brian and Co. were kind and honest from the start and very responsive. Everything was done very well and efficiently. They even came back to check on the project and touch up the blacktop they needed to patch in the alley after the job was completed. (Sewer line repair) Really appreciate you! I look forward to working with you again soon, just hopefully on an elective project and not an emergency. ;)

Charlie Bouschor

1 year ago

This is a very professional company. Not only did they actually return my request for a quote, they did it rapidly. The inspection was very thorough and was easily done. The quote was very fair, and the installation was amazing! The day of install we made room for their work, and when they left, it was cleaner than when we moved all our stuff! The workers communicated with us during the install, there was never a question about anything. Work was professional, and the out come is a sewar line I won't have to worry about again!

Thanks Contour!

Nadine Uremovich

2 years ago

Highly recommended! "Wow!" is the only way to describe Contour. Their crew is honest, knowledgeable, considerate, and dependable. They replaced our sewer and water line in one day. They were meticulous with clean up, too. Great people and a great company!

See what our customers are saying

The insurance most homeowners
do not know they can buy.

An endorsement, not a policy.