Everything You Need To Know About Shelter Insurance’s Drainage System Endorsement

If you own a home, you likely carry homeowners insurance to protect against damage from events like fires or storms. But many standard policies exclude coverage for one major risk – flooding.

Shelter Insurance offers an optional endorsement called the Drainage System Endorsement to fill this gap. It provides coverage for water damage from drainage system backups.

Below we’ll explain what the drainage system endorsement is, what it covers, how much it costs, and whether it’s worth adding to your Shelter Insurance homeowners policy.

What is Shelter’s Drainage System Endorsement?

The drainage system endorsement is an add-on to a Shelter Insurance homeowners policy that provides protection for:

• Damage caused by water backup from sewers, drains, or sump pumps
• Costs to tear out and replace parts of your home needed to repair the drainage system

It covers damage to the structure of your home as well as personal property inside.

Backups from public sewers or drains as well as backups from systems on your property like sump pumps are included.

Key Coverages and Limits

The Shelter drainage system endorsement includes the following coverages and limits:

• Up to $5,000 for tearing out and replacing parts of the structure to repair the system
• Up to policy limit for structure damage (typically replacement cost)
• Up to policy limit for personal property damage (typically replacement cost)
• $500 maximum for any one sump pump, sump pump well, or related equipment
• $1,000 maximum for any one ejector pump, sewage ejector pump, or related equipment

No deductible applies unless otherwise noted on your policy declarations page.

What Risks Does the Endorsement Protect Against?

There are several common ways a home drainage system can back up and cause costly water damage, including:

• Sewer line clogs – Tree roots, grease buildup, pipe cracks, or collapses can obstruct the main sewer drainage pipe.

• Sump pump failures – A power outage, mechanical failure, or overflowing sump well can cause your sump pump to stop working.

• Heavy rain – Extreme weather events can overload drainage systems.

• Municipal sewer backups – Clogs or issues with city sewer mains can back up into homes.

• Floodwaters – Rising flood waters can back up and overload drains.

In each of these scenarios, water has nowhere to go but up, which can lead to overflows out of drains, toilets, and sinks that damage walls, floors, furniture, and more.

The Shelter Insurance drainage system endorsement provides peace of mind that damage from these types of backups will be covered.

What Does the Drainage System Endorsement NOT Cover?

While the endorsement covers an extensive range of drainage system risks, there are some key exclusions to be aware of:

• Surface flooding – Damage from water entering through windows, doors, or openings is not covered. Only water that backs up and overflows from a drainage system is included.

• Groundwater -backups from rising groundwater entering through basement walls and floors are excluded.

• Off-site systems – Damage from backups in city sewer mains or neighborhood system components are generally excluded. Only backups originating on your property are covered.

• Wear and tear – Gradual deterioration or corrosion within drainage system components is not covered.

Reviewing the full endorsement language with your agent will ensure you understand any other exclusions.

How Much Does the Drainage System Endorsement Cost?

The exact cost for adding Shelter’s drainage system endorsement will depend on factors like your home’s location, value, and claims history.

On average though, expect to pay $40 – $100 per year for this added coverage.

To get a free, personalized quote, talk to your local Shelter Insurance agent. They can provide pricing options tailored to your property.

Is the Endorsement Worth the Extra Cost?

Shelter’s drainage system endorsement provides affordable peace of mind for around $3 – $9 per month.

For homes at risk of sewer backups or sump pump failures, this coverage can end up saving you thousands in repairs if disaster strikes.

Here are some factors to consider when deciding if it’s worth the added expense:

Home Location – Homes in low-lying areas or neighborhoods with older municipal systems are at higher risk.

Basement Layout – Finished basements with drywall, furniture, and valuables have more to lose.

Prior Issues – If you’ve had any past backups, you’re likely to face them again.

Drainage System Age – Older pipes increase chances of cracks and clogs.

Value of Belongings – How much would it cost to repair or replace your furnishings and possessions?

For most homeowners, the drainage system endorsement offers valuable financial protection well worth the small annual investment. And you can cancel the coverage at any time if you move or determine the risk has diminished.

How To Add the Endorsement to a Shelter Policy

If you already have Shelter Insurance – either as part of a bundled policy or for homeowners coverage only – follow these steps to add the drainage system endorsement:

1. Contact your Shelter Insurance agent directly to discuss your current policy.

2. Specify that you want to add the “drainage system endorsement” to expand your existing coverage.

3. Your agent will provide a price quote and make the coverage changes.

If you do not currently have a Shelter Insurance policy, you can add the endorsement as you get a new homeowners quote. Discuss your needs with an agent and they’ll create a customized policy.

Key Takeaways About the Shelter Drainage System Endorsement

Shelter’s drainage system endorsement fills a key gap in standard homeowners policies by covering damage from sewer and drain backups.

Key highlights:

• Covers backups from on-site drainage systems
• Pays for damage to home structure and belongings
• Provides up to $5,000 for repairs
• Available on Shelter Insurance homeowners policies
• Provides peace of mind starting around $3/month

Consider adding this valuable protection if you’re at risk for drainage system backups. And discuss any other home insurance questions with your local Shelter Insurance agent.