Most homeowners don’t realize that they are responsible for the repair or replacement of the underground piping and wiring, such as sewer lines, electrical lines and data communication lines that run between their home and the public connection. The cost of repairing or replacing the underground service lines is not covered by a standard homeowners policy. This can be quite costly when you have to include not only the repair or replacement, but also the excavation and repair costs to damaged outdoor property.

Service line failure is defined as physical damage that results in a leak, break, tear, rupture, collapse or arcing of a covered service line. The damage can be caused by external events or environmental conditions such as tree root invasion, deterioration, freezing and electrical wiring.

The good news is that some Homeowners carriers are now offering an endorsement or additional coverage that can be added to your Homeowners policy. The average cost is about $40 per year. This coverage generally has a separate deductible of $500, and there is a Per Occurrence limit - typically $10,000.