What they are, who's responsible, and how to know when something's wrong.
Every home depends on four invisible lifelines buried underground: water, sewer, gas, and electrical. These are your exterior service lines - the pipes and cables that connect your home to public utility systems in the street.
Most homeowners never think about these lines until something goes wrong. When it does - a sewer backup, a water main break in your yard, a corroded gas line - the bill can reach thousands of dollars. Unlike the lines on the street side (owned by the utility company), the lines on your property are entirely your responsibility.
The problem? Standard homeowners insurance typically excludes exterior service line failures. That's the coverage gap Lineguard was built to close.
Click Here to view complete limits of liability and any exclusions.
The average homeowner spends $1,000–$4,000 out of pocket on a sewer line repair — with no warning and typically no insurance coverage.2
Water service lines have an estimated lifespan of 70–100 years.5 Millions of U.S. homes have lines that are decades past their prime.
In older U.S. neighborhoods, a significant portion of homes still have clay tile or cast iron sewer laterals — both susceptible to root intrusion, cracking, and collapse.6
Every home connected to public utilities has some or all of these lines running underground on your property.
Freshwater supply - street main to your home
What It Does: A pressurized pipe carrying clean drinking water from the municipal water main into your home's plumbing system. Typically made of copper, galvanized steel, PVC, or - in older homes - lead.
Common Failure Causes:
Warning Signs:
Click Here to view complete limits of liability and any exclusions.
Wastewater from your home to the public sewer main
What It Does: A gravity-fed pipe that carries all wastewater and sewage from your home's drains and toilets to the public sewer main. Common materials include clay tile (older homes), cast iron, ABS plastic, and PVC.
Common Failure Causes:
Warning Signs:
Sewer repairs are often the most expensive due to excavation requirements.
Click Here to view complete limits of liability and any exclusions.
Natural gas supply from street main to your meter
What It Does: Carries natural gas from the utility's distribution main to your gas meter, which is typically located at the foundation of your home. From there, interior lines distribute gas to your appliances - furnace, water heater, stove, and dryer.
Common Failure Causes:
Warning Signs:
If you smell gas, leave the premises immediately and call your gas utility's emergency line and 911.
Click Here to view complete limits of liability and any exclusions.
Power supply from street to your electric meter
What It Does: The exterior electrical service line (also called the service lateral or service entrance) carries electrical power from the utility's distribution lines to your electric meter. In older neighborhoods, this is an overhead line; in newer developments it is buried underground.
Common Failure Causes:
Warning Signs:
Never touch downed or damaged power lines. Contact your utility company immediately.
Click Here to view complete limits of liability and any exclusions.
Most homeowners assume either their utility company or their homeowners insurance covers service line repairs. In most cases, neither does. Here's where the responsibility actually lies.
Property lines and responsibilities vary by municipality. Contact your local utility for specifics. Click Here to view complete limits of liability and any exclusions.
These red flags may indicate a service line problem - don't wait to investigate.
A sudden increase in your water or gas bill with no change in usage is often the first sign of a leak underground.
An unusually wet, marshy, or sunken area in your yard - especially in a straight line toward the street - is a classic water or sewer leak indicator.
Low water pressure, flickering lights, or partial power loss affecting multiple fixtures simultaneously can indicate a service line problem.
Hissing near the gas meter, gurgling drains, sulfur/rotten egg odors, or the constant sound of running water when nothing is on - investigate immediately.
Cost ranges represent national averages and may vary based on location, pipe material, labor rates, and extent of damage. All figures are for informational purposes only.
Get covered today with straightforward, affordable coverage - before your lines become your problem.
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