When most people think about homeowners’ insurance, they picture protection for their house, personal belongings, or maybe a tree falling on the roof.
But what about the things you can’t see—like the utility lines buried beneath your yard?
That’s where Underground Service Line Coverage comes in. This small but powerful endorsement can be added to your homeowners policy to help cover unexpected (and expensive) repairs to the buried utility lines that connect your home to essential services like water, sewer, electricity, gas, and internet.
Let’s break down what it covers, why it matters, and how it could save you thousands.
🚧 What Are “Service Lines,” Exactly?
Most homes have multiple underground utility lines. These may include:
- Water and sewer pipes
- Electrical lines
- Gas or propane lines
- Internet, cable, or data lines
- Drainage or geothermal systems
If one of these underground lines fails—due to age, corrosion, tree roots, ground shifting, or other causes—you’re typically responsible for the repair, not the utility company. And trust us: digging up a yard to repair a broken sewer line isn’t cheap.
🛠️ What Does This Coverage Include?
Underground Service Line Coverage provides financial protection for:
- Repair or replacement of damaged buried lines
- Excavation and labor costs are needed to access those lines
- Landscaping repairs (lawns, trees, driveways, etc.) if damaged during excavation
- Temporary housing (loss of use coverage) if your home becomes uninhabitable due to a covered event
- Expedited repairs or temporary fixes to reduce disruption
- Environmentally friendly replacements, like more efficient piping, up to 150% of the normal replacement cost
All of this is subject to your policy’s limits and deductible, which are clearly listed in your declarations page.
🚫 What’s Not Covered?
As valuable as this endorsement is, it’s not a blanket fix for every underground issue. Common exclusions include:
- Septic systems (like tanks and leach fields)
- Water wells and well pumps
- Sprinkler system motors and heads
- Damage caused by fire, flood, lightning, or earthquakes
- Blockages or low pressure without physical damage
- Contamination cleanup or removal of hazardous materials
And while service line failures can be caused by wear and tear, freezing, root invasion, or rodents, they must result in physical damage (like a leak or rupture) to be covered.
🧾 What’s the Cost?
Adding this coverage is surprisingly affordable—often less than $100 per year, depending on your insurer and coverage limits. Considering that repairing a broken water or sewer line can cost $3,000 to $10,000 or more, the peace of mind is well worth the small premium.
👷♀️ Who Should Consider Adding It?
We recommend Underground Service Line Coverage for:
- Owners of older homes, where pipes and wiring may be aging
- Homes with mature trees near utility lines
- Homes with private service lines not maintained by the city
- Anyone who wants to avoid unexpected out-of-pocket costs for buried repairs
If you’re unsure what’s buried in your yard—or whether you’re responsible for it—we’re happy to help you figure it out.
📞 Let’s Talk About Protecting What’s Underground
This endorsement isn’t automatically included in most homeowners’ policies, but it can be easily added. At Crunelle Insurance, we’ll walk you through your options and make sure you have the protection that’s right for your home—and your budget.
👉 Have questions or want a quote?
Give us a call at (614) 888-8124 or contact us online to review your current policy and see if Underground Service Line Coverage makes sense for you.
💬 Still Not Sure?
Talk to one of our agents today. We’re here to help you protect every part of your home—inside, outside, and underground.The peace of mind is well worth it.
