A sewage backup insurance claim starts with a call to your insurer the same day, followed by photos of every affected area, a list of damaged property, and receipts for anything you spend to stop more damage. Most standard homeowners policies leave out sewer backup unless a water backup endorsement was added, so read your declarations page first. Emergency Cleanings handles the sewage cleanup and gives you the photos and written scope your adjuster will ask for.
You own the house, and somebody just called you about it. The basement drain pushed up black water overnight, or the downstairs toilet overflowed and kept going. You may be two states away. Now you want to know whether insurance pays for any of it.
Step 1: Check Whether You Have Sewer Backup Coverage
Pull up your policy before you call anyone. Look at the declarations page and the list of endorsements attached to it.
The Insurance Information Institute says most homeowners and business insurance policies do not cover sewer backup unless specific coverage is added to the policy. Michigan’s insurance regulator puts it the same way: water and sewer backup coverage is not automatically covered under a homeowners or renters insurance policy. Florida’s insurance consumer office describes the add-on as an endorsement for water that backs up into the home from a sewer, sump, or drain such as a toilet overflow, and notes it does not cover flood damage.
- Search the policy for “water backup,” “sewer backup” or “sump overflow.”
- Note the coverage limit on that endorsement. Many carry their own cap.
- Check for a separate deductible. The III says one may apply depending on your state.
- If the house is a rental, make sure you are reading the landlord or dwelling policy.
Step 2: Call Your Insurer the Same Day
The NAIC tells homeowners to notify your insurance company right away if you plan to file. Reporting deadlines vary by state and by policy.
- Write down the claim number and the adjuster’s name.
- Ask whether they want to inspect before cleanup starts or will work from photos.
- Ask what documentation they need from your cleanup company.
Step 3: Photograph Everything Before Anything Moves
The III advises taking before and after photos of the affected areas and itemizing property losses. Get the drain or fixture where the water came up and the waterline on the walls.
If you are out of state, ask your tenant or property manager to shoot video walking room to room. A technician from Emergency Cleanings will also photograph the full area during the walkthrough, and you can forward that set to your adjuster.
Step 4: Stop the Damage From Spreading
Policies expect you to protect the property from further loss. The NAIC lists temporary repairs as part of a normal claim and tells you to keep receipts for what you spend.
- Have a plumber clear the line so it does not back up again. Save the invoice and any notes on cause, such as roots, a collapsed lateral or a city main.
- Get sewage cleanup scheduled.
Step 5: Handle Damaged Items the Way Your Adjuster Wants
The NAIC suggests you save damaged items so your insurer can inspect, if necessary. Sewage soaked carpet and furniture are a different story from a dented appliance, so ask your adjuster directly whether photos and a written list are enough before contaminated items go out.
One thing to tell your tenant early. The NAIC is plain that your landlord’s insurance will not cover your personal belongings. Their furniture and clothes go through their own renters policy, if they have one.
Step 6: Get Cleanup Documented for the File
Emergency Cleanings does sewage cleanup and decontamination. Plumbing repair, water damage restoration and rebuilding go to your own vendors. We hand you the photos and records you need to submit with your claim.
A technician arrives inside a 2-hour window, and you get a text with an ETA. They walk the area and photograph it. A Project Coordinator calls with one flat price and the plan, and that price is locked before work begins. Work often starts the same day. When the job is done you get a written scope, before and after photos, and disposal records you can request. You do not have to be on site. Details are on our sewage backup cleanup service page.
Step 7: Submit, Follow Up, and Keep Copies
- Send the adjuster your photos, item list, plumber invoice and cleanup scope in one package.
- Ask for the coverage decision in writing.
- If the claim is denied, ask which policy language they relied on. Your state insurance department takes complaints.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does homeowners insurance cover a sewage backup?
Usually only if a water or sewer backup endorsement was added to the policy. Most standard homeowners policies exclude it otherwise. Check your declarations page or call your agent.
Should I clean up sewage before the adjuster comes?
Call your insurer first and ask. Photograph everything, take reasonable steps to stop more damage, and get the adjuster’s okay in writing before contaminated items are thrown out.
Does Emergency Cleanings bill my insurance company?
No. We give you photos, a written scope and disposal records you can request so you can submit them with your claim.
Does my landlord policy cover my tenant’s damaged belongings?
No. A landlord’s insurance does not cover a tenant’s personal property. Tenants need their own renters policy for that.
If sewage just came up in a house you own, call 888-560-8488. We offer same-day response and a free on-site assessment, and you get a written scope with one flat price locked before any work starts.
