By Danielle Shearer
Understanding the Benefits of Utility/Service Line Coverage Through Your Insurance Provider
Many homeowners rely on essential utility lines—such as water, sewer, gas, and electricity—to keep their homes comfortable and functional. While these lines are critical, they are also vulnerable to damage from aging, tree roots, shifting ground, and other hazards. Repairing or replacing damaged utility lines can be expensive, and many are surprised to learn that standard homeowners insurance policies typically do not cover these costs. That’s where utility line or service line coverage comes in.
What Is Utility Line/Service Line Coverage?
Utility line or service line coverage is an optional addition to your homeowners insurance policy that protects you from the high costs associated with repairing or replacing damaged underground utility lines that run from your home to the street. This coverage typically includes water pipes, sewer lines, electric lines, natural gas pipes, and sometimes communication lines, covering both the cost of excavation and restoration of landscaping.
Why Opt for Coverage Through Your Insurance Policy?
Many utility companies offer their own service line protection plans. However, there are several compelling reasons why adding utility line coverage to your existing homeowners insurance policy is often a better option:
1. Comprehensive Protection: Insurance-based service line coverage is usually broader in scope than utility company plans. It can cover multiple types of utility lines in one policy, whereas utility company offerings may be limited to only one type, such as water or sewer lines. This means greater peace of mind for homeowners who want protection beyond just one service.
2. Pricing: Adding the endorsement to your current homeowner’s policy is typically much more cost effective than purchasing a plan through a utility company. Also, you avoid paying for multiple separate plans for each utility line.
3. Convenient Claims Process: When you add utility line coverage to your homeowners policy, you deal with a single insurer for all claims, streamlining the process and reducing confusion. Utility company plans often require you to navigate separate claims channels, which can lead to delays and less coordinated repairs.
4. Higher Coverage Limits: Insurance-based service line endorsements often offer higher coverage limits than utility company plans. This means you are less likely to face out-of-pocket expenses if damage is extensive, such as when a line breaks under a driveway or in a landscaped yard.
Choosing to add utility line/service line coverage to your homeowners insurance policy puts you in control, offering enhanced protection, better pricing, convenience, and value. Before purchasing a plan through your utility company, contact our team to learn more about the benefits and options available to you. Investing in the right coverage now can save you time, money, and stress when the unexpected occurs.
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services proudly provides real estate, mortgage, title, and insurance services across 14 states. As the largest family-owned and -operated real estate brokerage in the United States, Howard Hanna operates more than 500 offices with 15,000 sales associates and staff. Recognized as the most innovative brokerage, Howard Hanna provides solution-based programs and platforms to empower their agents to provide more resources for homebuyers and home sellers, resulting in their agents achieving a sales success rate that is 53% higher than agents at the top 1000 brokerages nationally. Since 1957, Howard Hanna has helped agents build the skills and experience needed to thrive in the ever-changing landscape of real estate. Learn more at www.HowardHanna.com.
