If you are a homeowner who has received a dire sounding letter stating that you are not covered by water service line insurance and offering to sell you coverage, you may be wondering if you need this coverage. Your water service line is the pipe that runs from the municipal water main at the street to your home and supplies your home with fresh water. Your water utility is responsible for maintaining the water main, but you are responsible for maintenance and repairs to the water service line between the water main and your home.
Water service lines can rupture or leak and when they do, a water line repair or replacement of the line can cost anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. The first sign of a leaky or broken water service line is usually a mushy area in the yard or an unusually high water bill.
Galvanized or polybutylene water lines tend to deteriorate over time and when these pipes start leaking, it is usually best to replace the entire line. Depending on the length of the line and the type of replacement, expect to pay somewhere between $2,000 and $4,000 for a water line replacement.
If you have copper or PVC pipe, it may be repairable for less than $1,000. With all this in mind, coverage that costs a few dollars a month sounds pretty good, but keep in mind that the majority of water service lines last 20 to 30 years or more without a problem.
If you decide that you need coverage, examine the policy very closely. Some may exclude coverage for thawing of frozen pipes or normal wear and tear or have other exclusions that deny coverage for most causes of broken water pipes. Be sure you are getting the coverage you need before signing on the dotted line.
