So I am going back and forth about a sewer line protection plan my utility offers. They changed the verbage a bit for their exclusions of coverage. Amoung them is this statement:

EXCLUDED: repairs or service to Outside Sewer Lines due to conditions that are not adversely affecting the flow of sanitary waste, including, but not limited to, bellies or slight separations in pipe joints;

............

What do you make of that statement? 'Slight separation in pipe joint'. Do you interpret that to mean if a tree root is growing thru a joint at a hub, that would be excluded? How common are bellies and how are they diagnosed with the camera? Couldn't they just say every clog is caused by a belly?

Bottom line, does this look like a sweeping general excuse not to give coverage?

Depending on the pipe material, it could be roots, a belly, or failure of the piping. It looks like they exclude anything that does NOT impede the flow of water, at least until it causes a stoppage.

Thanks for clarifying that HJ

who determines what the standard for "slight" is?
an opening is an opening. even a "slight" opening will let ground water into the municiple treatment system. this is unacceptable piping inside a building. why would it be acceptable outside a building?

They are saying it is "acceptable" because it would not impact the "flow" of the water, which seems to be all they are worried about, NOT infiltation or exfiltration.

Heres the coverages latest verbage. What other holes do you guys see in this?

(I apologize if its bad ettiquete to post this long winded stuff).




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Outside Line — Sewer Covered Parts/Service The Plan covers clearing of a blockage or clog and repair or replacement of a broken Outside Sewer Line. The Outside Sewer Line must have a clean out access point; no clean out access will be installed by Company. Our obligation is limited to the cost of authorized repairs or replacement for any covered Outside Sewer Line up to a maximum, aggregate limit of $4,000 during each one-year term of this Agreement. If a public sidewalk, public driveway, or public road is to be cut, excavated and repaired, this Agreement provides an additional limit of $4,000 for a public sidewalk, public driveway or public road opening. Only expenses associated with cutting, excavation and otherwise repairing the affected portion of the public sidewalk, public road opening or public driveway are paid under this separate limit. The cost of permits, if any, for the services performed under this Agreement shall be applied to your Agreement coverage limits. An additional $500 per contact year is reimbursable for landscape restoration. This additional limit, if applicable, does not add any additional coverage to the basic $4,000 limit to clear or repair a blockage of your Outside Sewer Line.

Exclusions and Limitations Exclusions include, but are not limited to: common waste branch lines; any damage to the inside of your home, including personal property, due to the backup of your Outside Sewer Line; movement of any working or non-leaking sewer lines, sewer meters or pipes; updating non-blocked Outside Sewer Lines to comply with code, law or ordinance requirements or changes thereto; repairs or service to Outside Sewer Lines due to conditions that are not adversely affecting the flow of sanitary waste, including, but not limited to, bellies or slight separations in pipe joints; removal of debris or obstacles needed to access and clear or repair a blockage of your Outside Sewer Line; service to any Outside Sewer Line not connected to a public sewer system or your septic tank; floor drain; any Outside Sewer Line not owned by you or damage related to the backup of sewers and drains caused by sewer main lines; clogged or blocked lift stations, pumps or any other mechanical devices connected to your Outside Sewer Line; any storm-water line connected to the Outside Sewer Line or the sewer main line; damage to the Outside Sewer Line that is caused, directly or indirectly, by you, a third party, or a natural disaster; service lines owned by the municipality/utility or connected to a commercial facility or multi-family homes; shear offs of the Outside Sewer Line at the foundation; replacing trees or shrubs or repairing private paved, asphalt and/or concrete surfaces or structures; grinding pumps; any system upgrades including but not limited to: municipal code changes, installing clean out, pipe linings, and fixing a belly/sag in line; repairs to walls, ceilings or any surfaces inside your home necessary for Company’s service providers to access and repair your Outside Sewer Line; repairs to any interior pipes. 2

I didn't read all the details of your insurer but State Farm told me that they don't cover any damage to outside sewer lines unless you can prove it was a sudden event which would exclude tree roots, settling, corrosion, etc. My agent said they wrote the policy so they can avoid excavation at all costs. Sounds like your plan is a bit more generous.

It looks like anything besides a 'normal' blockage or complete destruction of your line isn't covered. Honestly, I would simply have the line video inspected. If the line is in good shape, don't bother with the insurance; it doesn't pay for any damage inside, blockages inside the house, or the floor drain that will probably be clogged with backed up waste. Save the money and spend it on a quality drain service that will get the line cleared and guarantee the work. If the line is in bad shape, nearly to the point of collapse, it may be worthwhile to get. If this is a rental, it would be worthwhile to have the price of drain cleaning in the lease agreement, as well as a release of liability for damages resulting. Landlords that cover a portion of the first cleaning tend to have more responsible tenants than those that either cover all or none of the service in my experience.

i strongly agree with my friend from MO..
locate and hire a reputable sewer cleaning company. have them clean the main every year if you want. have the main camered and then make an intelligent decision based upon the video and the recommendation of the sewer company.
remember, insurance companies have no conscience. they make their money from paranoia..

How much is this so called "insurance"?

Seems to me that the so called insurance excludes everything you might need it for!

It does cover snaking the line and Orangeburg pipe, which are the two most common reasons for taking around here.