We’ve Got Important News About Protecting Your Service Lines and Home Systems!

If you live in Leominster, then you have probably heard about the two major water main breaks that have occurred over the past few weeks. In case you missed the news, there has been talk of this mess all over local Facebook pages that you can check out.

At Anderson, Bagley & Mayo (ABM), we know that many of our neighbors in the area have been affected. In fact, our very own executive vice president, Rich Bagley, had a minor inconvenience from one of these breaks, and truly empathizes with anyone who has found themselves without water for an extended period or worse experienced any in-home flooding due to these events.

These water main breaks and the resulting damage they have caused, got us thinking… We want to make sure that our clients know that there is a special coverage endorsement that can be added to your homeowners policy, which offers protection, and can save you money, when your home systems or the service lines from the street to your home are damaged or destroyed.

For as little as $35 a year, you can secure Service Line and Home System Protection. This relatively new endorsement is not included in a standard home insurance policy, but important enough that we think every homeowner should consider adding it to their policy.

Service Line and Home System Protection Coverage Explained

This special endorsement offers up to $10,000 (per loss) in additional protection in the case of damage caused to your property by “covered” service lines, such as exterior underground piping and wiring, including permanent connections, valves or attached devices that provide one of the following services to your home:

• Communications, including cable transmission, data transmission, internet access, and telecommunications
• Compressed air
• Drainage
• Electrical power heating, including geothermal, natural gas, propane, and steam
• Waste disposal
• Water

In addition, this extra layer of coverage provides protection, up to $100,000, for damages caused by a sudden and accidental mechanical or electrical breakdown of systems and equipment that generate, transmit or utilize energy in your home such as:

• Central air conditioning
• Boilers, furnaces & heat pumps
• Conventional and solar water heaters
• Radiant floor heating
• Renewable energy systems (such as solar)
• Electrical service panels
• Permanent emergency generators
• Home security monitoring and control devices

Why All Homeowners Should Consider Service Line and Home System Protection Coverage

It should come as no surprise to anyone that our national infrastructure could use some repair. Every four years the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) provide a comprehensive evaluation of the country’s aging infrastructure, and, in 2017, they gave the United States a score of “D+”. Most of our kids would be grounded for that type of report card!

Incidences like the water main break in Leominster are just one example of how all these miles and miles of old pipes, many laid back in the early to mid-20th century, are wreaking havoc on residents of Leominster and around the country. The ASCE reports that Massachusetts alone needs 1.2 billion in drinking water infrastructure improvements.

But, it’s not just the water pipes that are breaking down. You may have noticed that utility companies are working hard across Central Massachusetts to repair the aging electrical systems. In July 2017, the Telegram reported that National Grid is spending $26 million digging up pipes, installing equipment and laying new cables across the region to improve the distribution of electricity and natural gas to homes and businesses.

The ABM team hopes you will never have to deal with damage due to a breakdown in a service line into your home. However, with the ASCE reporting an estimated 240,000 water main breaks happening around the country each year, we strongly recommend that you prepare for the event just in case.

Are you wondering why you would even be responsible for damages that you didn’t cause? What many residents of Leominster, Gardner, Westminster and across North Central Massachusetts may not know, is that the town you live in is only responsible for repairing damages on municipal property, which means that anything that happens beyond the point of connection between the town and your property is your responsibility. Thus, a $35 outlay once a year to secure important safeguards for your home systems and service lines is a great value, especially when you consider how much it could save you in repairs or replacement equipment in the long run.

If you would like more information about Service Line and Home System Protection Coverage, or you’re ready to add it to your homeowners policy, please contact one of our ABM team members today. And, don’t forget to stay up to date on all our tips for homeowners by following Anderson, Bagley & Mayo Insurance on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.

Let us protect what matters most to you. Visit our website or give us a call today to learn more about your insurance options: (978) 534-2800 (Leominster); (978) 632-1098 (Gardner); (978) 874-2921 (Westminster).