Methodology & sources

No black boxes. Here's exactly how each tool works and what it's built on. Insurance figures were last reviewed 2026-07-06; refresh periodically.

Coverage verdict

The verdict encodes the standard HO-3 boundary: the buried service line is covered only when broken by a sudden named peril (vehicle, explosion); the common causes — tree roots, wear, corrosion, freezing, earth movement — are excluded. A service-line endorsement restores coverage for those excluded causes; a sewer-backup endorsement covers interior backup damage but not the pipe. The tool routes each cause to the right outcome and shows representative policy language.

Is an endorsement worth it?

Expected-value: expected annual payout = failure probability × (repair − deductible, capped at the limit), compared to the premium. Failure probability starts from a ~0.7%/yr base (city permit + insurer claim data) and is scaled by home age, pipe material (PVC vs clay/cast iron/Orangeburg), nearby trees, and hardscape. We also show the break-even failure probability.

Should I file a claim?

Net benefit = payout (loss − deductible) minus the multi-year premium surcharge (annual premium × increase% × the shorter of your horizon or the surcharge duration). The tool also flags the CLUE-report cost, which isn't measured in dollars.

Repair cost

Per-linear-foot ranges by method, plus surface restoration (open-cut only), hardscape, cleanout, and permit add-ons: cost = per-foot × length × regional index (+ add-ons). Output is always a low–high range with a line-item breakdown and a three-method comparison — never a single false-precise number.

Why ranges, not exact numbers

Sewer pricing genuinely swings with depth, soil, access, and contractor. Anyone quoting one exact number sight-unseen is guessing. We publish ranges so you can recognize a fair quote — and flag one that isn't.