Documenting a Sewer Backup for Your Insurance Claim
A claim goes better when the damage, the timeline and the work are all on record. This page explains what to capture and keep. It is general information, not insurance or legal advice.
Coverage varies by policy
Many standard homeowners policies do not cover sewer or drain backup unless an endorsement has been added, and endorsements differ in what they cover and how much. Renters, landlord and commercial policies each work differently again. The only reliable answer is your own policy and your insurer.
We can't tell you whether a claim will be paid, and this page doesn't try to. What it can do is help you assemble the records that make any claim easier to evaluate.
Before you do anything else
- Make the space safe: stop water use and keep people out. See the first-hour guide.
- Photograph and film before anything is moved or removed, if it's safe to do so.
- Write down the date and time you discovered the backup.
- Call your insurer or agent and ask about notice requirements.
Don't delay urgent safety steps to finish paperwork. Photos taken from a doorway are enough to start.
What to record
Photos and video
Wide shots of the room and close shots of the source, the water line and each damaged item. Take them from a safe distance and include a few showing where the water came from, such as the floor drain or toilet.
A written list
List damaged items with a short description, approximate age and where they were. A room-by-room list is easier to check than a single long one.
Communications
Keep names, dates and notes from every call with your insurer, landlord, property manager or the city, plus copies of emails and letters.
Invoices and scope
Keep the cleanup scope of work and every invoice. The paperwork should describe what was removed and why, so it can be matched to the damage.
Before you throw anything away
Talk to your adjuster about items you plan to discard, especially large ones like furniture, mattresses or appliances. Photograph them first. Contaminated items can be a health hazard, so don't keep them in living spaces while you wait for an inspection. If an adjuster wants to see something, ask where it can safely be kept, such as a garage or outdoors.
Landlords and tenants
Landlord policies and renters policies cover different things. The building generally falls under the owner's coverage, and a tenant's belongings generally fall under the tenant's. Records that separate the two help both sides. See rental and multi-unit cleanup for how shared-building losses are usually handled, and commercial sewage cleanup if a business is affected.
What we can provide
Premier can supply documentation of the cleanup work it performs, including a description of what was done and the invoice for it. We can't say whether your policy will pay, and we don't negotiate with insurers on your behalf.
Related steps
The basement cleanup page describes what a cleanup includes, so you know what to expect on the paperwork. If the source turns out to be the public sewer, the responsibility guide explains how to report it to the city and why that record matters.
Common questions
Does insurance cover the pipe repair too?
Coverage for cleanup and for repairing a private sewer line are often separate. Ask your insurer which parts of a loss fall under which coverage.
Should I call the insurer before cleanup starts?
Yes, when you can. Some policies require prompt notice, and some have requirements about how work is documented. Don't delay urgent safety steps to do it.
What if the backup came from the city sewer?
It can still be a covered loss under some policies, and it's worth reporting to the City of Lakewood as well. Keep a record of what you report and when.
Can you write a letter saying what caused the backup?
We can describe what we found and did on site. Determining cause with certainty may take a camera inspection of the line; see sewer camera inspection.
Questions about your backup?
Call and tell us what happened. We can explain what a cleanup involves so you know what to record.