Who’s Responsible for the Sewer Line Repair and Replacement From My Home?

The good news is that most homeowners’ insurance policies cover sewer line damage. The unfortunate news is that many property owners are unaware of who is accountable for the maintenance and replacement of their sewer pipes.

One thing you should do is check to see if your home is connected to a public or private sewage system. This can be tricky because municipalities or other government entities own some personal lines. In contrast, others may be held by a private company under contract with the government to provide service to residents in an area.

There are two types of sewer lines:

Public sewer lines: These pipes are owned by your city or town. The city is responsible for maintaining these pipes, which is why you pay your property taxes.

Private sewer lines: These pipes are owned by your homeowner’s association (HOA). The HOA is responsible for maintaining these pipes, which is why you pay a monthly HOA fee.

Two different parties may be responsible for sewer line repair and replacement: the homeowner or the local government municipality. In some cases, both are responsible for paying for the repairs, but only one party is responsible for paying for them in other instances.

How to Tell if the City is Responsible

If your area does not have a private sewer system, then it means that your city will be the one responsible for repairing and replacing any damaged lines. You can check out if your area has a private method or not by looking at your water bill or contacting local government officials. If your location does not have a remote system, then contact your local government agency to make sure they are aware of any damage in your neighborhood to send someone out right away.

How to Tell if the Homeowner is Responsible

If you don’t live in a city that owns and operates its sewer system, your local government may still step in when there’s an emergency such as flooding or sewage backup in your home. In this case, they might offer assistance with clean-up costs but not necessarily with repairs or replacements unless they feel it’s necessary because of public health concerns related to an ongoing problem with their infrastructure.

If you’re still having trouble with your sewer line and can’t figure out who is responsible for the repair or replacement costs, here are some things to keep in mind:

Check your homeowner’s insurance. Your homeowner’s insurance may cover damage from a sewer backup. Check with your agent before hiring a plumber or someone else to remedy the problem. You can also double-check with your local government agency to see if the main sewer line belongs to your municipality. 

Need Help with Sewer Line Repair and Replacement?

Sewer line repairs and replacements should not be put off. There is a greater risk of catastrophic damage if you wait too long to take action, which might cost thousands of dollars to fix.

At New Flow Plumbing, we are confident that we can help you with your sewer line repair and replacement by providing solutions that will work for you and your unique situation. Contact our team today and let us get started on your sewer line needs or any other plumbing project you have in mind.