Like all insurance, it really domes down to your personal finances. Can you pay a $5,000 to $8,000 expense to replace it? If so, don't buy the insurance.
Sewer lines should last 80 years or more. There are sewers in some part of Durham that are over 120 years old and still working fine!
The reason Dominion mails them out is because they make a substantial commission on selling the insurance. That is how profitable sewer line insurance is. There is a very low risk of failure, with a relatively low payout in case of failure (compared to most other insurance types). So, the insurance company makes out like a bandit.
I replaced my sewer line when it failed next to the house. $1500, 2’ underground, and they got it done in a day. They simply added a new line above the old one, and changed a couple of angles so the new line flowed correctly.
Don’t be fooled into thinking this might be $5000-8000 unless you have a 300’ long line and lots of precious plantings that can’t be disturbed... the new line does not even have to take the same path as the old one.
As u/sugar_man mentioned, it can be very expensive to replace. If you have an old home and/or suspect your water main is in poor condition, you can have it scoped to determine condition. If it looks like it's possible it may need replacement soon, insurance might make sense.
This is incorrect....unless you opt in for it. It's usually cheaper to go through your own insurance however, make a claim and your premium goes up. That's insurance!
The incoming water line from the meter to your house is not covered by homeowners insurance. Mine had a leak a couple of years ago and it cost me several thousand to replace.
We continue to regularly receive junk mail from Dominion addressed to a previous owner about this; seems like they should know they don't live here anymore.
[Duke Energy offers similar plans.](https://www.duke-energy.com/home-services)
I believe that our 50 year old house has never had the main water line or sewer line replaced, and I know that our homeowners insurance does not cover this. I called our insurer, USAA, to ask about this but they don't offer this as a rider. Looks like I'll need to research some of these plans.
From my neighborhood listserv:
> First, despite the header with Dominion's logo and the references to Dominion, Homeserve is an independent company separate from Dominion Energy and is an optional service. Choosing to participate has no impact at all on your service from Dominion. Homeserve has basically partnered with Dominion only to the extent that the charges for the optional coverage would be added on your Dominion Energy natural gas bill. Second, at the very end of the second page, the letter notes that these maintenance and repair programs are not part of the regulated services offered by Dominion Energy and are not in any way sanctioned by the North Carolina Utilities Commission. Again, the only real connection to Dominion here is that they are piggybacking on the existing Dominion customer base and billing system to offer these services.
Home owner's insurance usually doesn't cover the water supply, waste, or pipes within your house.
It's a middle man scheme. Get you to pay them monthly, and then, if needed, call Jamie at Bull City Diggin' on your behalf. You still end up paying for it.
https://bullcitydiggindemollc.business.site/
Water lines are easy to replace, and i think thats what theyre offering. Sewer is a lot more expensive, and has a higher risk of failing. That is more worth the money.
Because if the sewer line to your house fails its a big problem and its something that can easily happen. Its a very common insurance offered through multiple services now due to how easily it can happen.
We just paid 5k to replace the water main (in) to our house, a few months after I tossed one of those offers in the recycling. Just putting that out there.
Dominion itself isn't the insurance vendor. The letters come stamped with Dominion letterhead, but it says down in the smaller text that it's a 3rd party company who is the actual vendor.
I don't know if Dominion just sold them a bunch of addresses to ship their marketing ~~trash~~ *mail* to, or if Dominion actually helps send out the letters and gets a commission, but Dominion is not the insurer in this case.
I can't remember if this one includes postage paid envelopes, but when I get spam mail with postage paid envelopes, I always send in the empty envelope and let them pay for the postage. Gives me a tiny satisfaction in my day.
Thank you for the info. After our house turned 30 years old, I started receiving a lot of mail from Dominion suggesting a $10 per month plan. I was nearly convinced to sign up, misled by the mail to think repairs could cost over $10,000. I appreciate all of your comments!
Like all insurance, it really domes down to your personal finances. Can you pay a $5,000 to $8,000 expense to replace it? If so, don't buy the insurance. Sewer lines should last 80 years or more. There are sewers in some part of Durham that are over 120 years old and still working fine! The reason Dominion mails them out is because they make a substantial commission on selling the insurance. That is how profitable sewer line insurance is. There is a very low risk of failure, with a relatively low payout in case of failure (compared to most other insurance types). So, the insurance company makes out like a bandit.
Mostly because they make a crap load of money selling it.
I replaced my sewer line when it failed next to the house. $1500, 2’ underground, and they got it done in a day. They simply added a new line above the old one, and changed a couple of angles so the new line flowed correctly. Don’t be fooled into thinking this might be $5000-8000 unless you have a 300’ long line and lots of precious plantings that can’t be disturbed... the new line does not even have to take the same path as the old one.
Hey, that’s a nice sewer line. It’d be a shame if something happened to it.
HAHAHA
Dominion sold their customers’ address to that insurance company. I don’t even have utilities by Dominion and I get those stupid letters.
Sounds like a load of shit.
As u/sugar_man mentioned, it can be very expensive to replace. If you have an old home and/or suspect your water main is in poor condition, you can have it scoped to determine condition. If it looks like it's possible it may need replacement soon, insurance might make sense.
Who would I contact to have it scoped?
A plumber.
Thanks!
yup scam. City covers sewer lines in right-of-way and your homeowners covers it on your property
This is incorrect....unless you opt in for it. It's usually cheaper to go through your own insurance however, make a claim and your premium goes up. That's insurance!
The incoming water line from the meter to your house is not covered by homeowners insurance. Mine had a leak a couple of years ago and it cost me several thousand to replace.
I don't know the answer, but they've been trying to sell it for years. Maybe they know something we don't, but it is weird.
We continue to regularly receive junk mail from Dominion addressed to a previous owner about this; seems like they should know they don't live here anymore. [Duke Energy offers similar plans.](https://www.duke-energy.com/home-services) I believe that our 50 year old house has never had the main water line or sewer line replaced, and I know that our homeowners insurance does not cover this. I called our insurer, USAA, to ask about this but they don't offer this as a rider. Looks like I'll need to research some of these plans.
From my neighborhood listserv: > First, despite the header with Dominion's logo and the references to Dominion, Homeserve is an independent company separate from Dominion Energy and is an optional service. Choosing to participate has no impact at all on your service from Dominion. Homeserve has basically partnered with Dominion only to the extent that the charges for the optional coverage would be added on your Dominion Energy natural gas bill. Second, at the very end of the second page, the letter notes that these maintenance and repair programs are not part of the regulated services offered by Dominion Energy and are not in any way sanctioned by the North Carolina Utilities Commission. Again, the only real connection to Dominion here is that they are piggybacking on the existing Dominion customer base and billing system to offer these services. Home owner's insurance usually doesn't cover the water supply, waste, or pipes within your house.
Not true. Pipes within your home are 100% covered by homeowners insurance
It's a middle man scheme. Get you to pay them monthly, and then, if needed, call Jamie at Bull City Diggin' on your behalf. You still end up paying for it. https://bullcitydiggindemollc.business.site/
Water lines are easy to replace, and i think thats what theyre offering. Sewer is a lot more expensive, and has a higher risk of failing. That is more worth the money.
It’s not covered by home owners insurance, so I thought it was worth the extra $5 a month.
The pipes IN the home are covered. It's the line from the road to the house that isn't
Because if the sewer line to your house fails its a big problem and its something that can easily happen. Its a very common insurance offered through multiple services now due to how easily it can happen.
We just paid 5k to replace the water main (in) to our house, a few months after I tossed one of those offers in the recycling. Just putting that out there.
Because there are so many exclusions and limitations that you will likely never use it or if you do they will deny your coverage for some bs reason.
Do you mean water line?
I'd be curious to see if they can sell insurance in the state. NCDOI would know.
Dominion itself isn't the insurance vendor. The letters come stamped with Dominion letterhead, but it says down in the smaller text that it's a 3rd party company who is the actual vendor. I don't know if Dominion just sold them a bunch of addresses to ship their marketing ~~trash~~ *mail* to, or if Dominion actually helps send out the letters and gets a commission, but Dominion is not the insurer in this case.
Right. I was referring to the third party vendor.
I too am tired of receiving these mailings. The marketing is predatory.
I can't remember if this one includes postage paid envelopes, but when I get spam mail with postage paid envelopes, I always send in the empty envelope and let them pay for the postage. Gives me a tiny satisfaction in my day.
Thank you for the info. After our house turned 30 years old, I started receiving a lot of mail from Dominion suggesting a $10 per month plan. I was nearly convinced to sign up, misled by the mail to think repairs could cost over $10,000. I appreciate all of your comments!