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Water and Sewer Line Protection Program -- scam or legit?

1:20 PM 02/25/2013

 

dnk

Bedford Stuyvesant, NY

Hi All,
 
Just got a letter from the NYC Department of Environmental Protection exhorting me to begin a protection plan with 3rd party vendor (American Water Resources).  The letter began this way:  "Many New York City homeowners are not aware that repairs to the water and sewer lines that run from their home's exterior to the mains in the street are their responsibility" [no, I definitely wasn't aware of that!!].   The letter goes onto say that aging pipes, tree roots, etc., can cause a break in water or sewer lines and then says, "typical water line repairs cost New York City homeowners between $3,000 and $5,000 while an average sewer line replacement costs between $10,000 and $15,000."
 
The protection program for water & sewer lines costs $12 a month.   Anyone have experience or thoughts?   Is this on the up & up?
 

 

 

Utilities
Plumbers and Plumbing
7 answers
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  • vote

    cmu

    From our block's emails:
    Secondhand experiences: one paid 1k, one 15k and another 25k! (hard to believe)
    One insurance agent says definitely go for it.
    One says 'read the fine print,' no coverage for natural disasters, including sinkholes!
    So, what's the verdict? $144/yr on the surface is not much, but what exactly does it cover? I seem to remember 'no digging under foundation' or something, also.
     

    2:11 PM 02/25/2013 | 0 Votes

     

     

    Comments (1)

    • deancollins

      Brooklyn, NY

      i wonder if the pipe has to break before they will repair.Our co-op is scheduling to replace the sprinkler supply line "in the nearer than later future" due to rust. Wonder if we can insure for "rust" and make a claim in a year or two :)

      9:42 PM 02/27/2013

          

  • vote

    dnk

    Bedford Stuyvesant, NY

    cmu, thanks.   As you said, $144/year doesn't seem bad, but the fine print also looks pretty killer.   I wonder if anyone has experience with having this service replace a water or sewer line for free.
     
    I'm still trying to get my head around the fact that the homeowner is responsible for utility damage that could take place off the boundaries of the property.....

    3:57 PM 02/25/2013 | 0 Votes

     

     

  • vote

    bklnite

    Flatbush, NY

    it's not an outright scam, but I"m not sure whether it's worth doing. There were a couple of previous posts as these mailings have been going out recently.
    http://forum.brownstoner.com/q.../water--sewer-line-insurance

    11:05 PM 02/25/2013 | 0 Votes

     

     

  • vote

    dnk

    Bedford Stuyvesant, NY

    thanks bklnite for pointing that out -- I must have missed that thread

    9:15 AM 02/26/2013 | 0 Votes

     

     

  • vote

    arkady

    Park Slope, NY

    Lawyers I know think the fine print is a killer.  Also, if you have a rental, the costs of repair are deductible.

    9:25 AM 02/26/2013 | 0 Votes

     

     

    Comments (1)

    • eme

      Deductible does not mean you don't pay for it.

      9:33 AM 02/26/2013

          

  • vote

    argylerd

    The cost for either sewer or water main is in the area of $15-$20,000 depending on which side of the street you are on.  You save a little if you're on the sdame side as the fire hydrants.  I went for it because I've seen an increasing number of water and sewer replacements over the past few years for our 100+ houses in the neighborhood.
    The policy seems to cover all work from the city line to the foundation and replacement of sidewalk and street repair as required by the City.  At the current price of $150 a year with the likelihood that within the next 10-20 years either will need replacing, I see it as worthwhile for a century old house.  Evidently the insurer thinks that they can make some money on this if homeowners throughout the City join the pool since newer homes are less at risk of neededing the repair or replacement.  Think of what you're paying for auto comprehensive for a $25,000 car with a deductable and the cost seems low.
    Am I wrong?

    11:26 AM 02/26/2013 | 0 Votes

     

     

  • vote

    curiositykilledthecat

    Brooklyn, NY

    Believe it or not, water main issues were really common in our area right as our streets were getting repaved.  Our condo had to spend about $3,000 to get it repaired...
    As to your question, it's insurance like any other.  Assess the cost vs. potential benefit, weigh against your risk tolerance, and make a decision.

    As for me, I live on the edge (didn't buy insurance for my iPhone, either).

    11:06 PM 02/26/2013 | 0 Votes

     

     

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