Exterior Water Service Line Coverage
$7.95/mo
$23.85/qtr
$95.40/yr
HomeServe, residential sewer insurance available to town homeowners
Ken-Ton Bee
HomeServe, residential sewer insurance available to town homeowners
By Stephanie Zawadzki
September 21, 2022
The Town of Tonawanda has endorsed HomeServe, a nationwide service provider specializing in home repair insurance.
Letters informing homeowners about the insurance program were mailed on Aug. 31.
In part, the letter states, "Many homeowners are not aware that repairs to the exterior water service or sewer lines that run between your home and the public utility connection are the responsibility of the homeowner." The letter not only informs homeowners about their responsibility but also the town’s partnership with HomeServe.
"We have aging water infrastructure all over the Northeast and unfortunately that can become costly for municipalities and homeowners alike. This program will help defray the cost of expensive repairs that homeowners are otherwise responsible for, helping families plan and protect themselves for the future," said Shannon Patch, town councilwoman.
The partnership between the town and HomeServe allows homeowners to enroll in a plan that insures them for any damage to these water and sewer lines. There is no obligation for homeowners to enroll. Coverage is optional at the homeowner’s expense. "It just like having homeowners insurance" said Patch.
Regardless of what caused the damage to water and sewer lines – whether it be from neglected drain care, climate, changes in soil conditions or corrosion – homeowners are held responsible.
In the event of major damage to these pipes, the cost of repairs can range between $5,000 and $7,000, or more. Coverage from HomeServe can save homeowners thousands of dollars in repairs.
If enrolled in the plan, applicants will receive around-the-clock access to an emergency repair hotline, and in an emergency, a plumber will be dispatched to identify and fix the problem, causing no inconvenience to the homeowners.
There are two plan options that homeowners can choose from: exterior water service line coverage at $4.49 per month and exterior sewer/septic line coverage at $7.49 per month. Both plans can be bundled at a monthly rate of $10.78. Payments will be made directly to HomeServe.
Homeowners interested in applying are invited to enroll no later than Wednesday, Oct. 5. They can complete and mail in the application form that was attached to the letter they received, or apply online at www.coveragebyhomeserve.com/.