Grease Clog Removal Fills Home With Sewage
January 7, 2009 by Gary Sides
On the evening of April 6, 2008, Meg McCormick says three city workers were trying to clear a sewer line in front of her southeast Charlotte house by blasting a grease clog out with a high-pressure hose.
The plan backfired, literally. It forced sewage through the home’s pipes, up through its toilets, throughout the first floor, and down into the crawl space under the house. It lasted 55 minutes.
Over the next few days, the McCormicks spoke with city risk managers, Mecklenburg County environmental engineers, and their homeowners’ insurance carrier. They were distressed to discover that their insurance didn’t cover sewage backups –then again, they’d never considered the possibility.
Four inches of sludge covered the floor. Sewage had leaked into the central air and heat system, and solid waste had collected in the heat ducts. Total estimated sewage? 3,000 gallons.
After a lengthy process, The City of Charlotte agreed to pay for the damages and repairs and for the McCormicks to stay at a hotel for as long as the work lasts.
Such back-ups aren’t uncommon, especially in a city like Charlotte, whose growth threatens to outstrip its infrastructure. Grease clogs are usually the culprits.
BE COVERED: Most homeowners’ insurance policies can be endorsed to add sewer and drain back up coverage for around just $25.00 a year in additional premium.
Homeowners Insurance Rates to Change May 1
December 31, 2008 by Gary Sides
Insurance Commissioner Jim Long signed a settlement agreement with homeowners insurance companies Thursday, allowing rates to increase by an average of 4.05 percent.
The North Carolina Rate Bureau, which represents all of the homeowners insurance companies doing business in the state, had requested a 19.5 percent average rate increase.
Rate changes will vary by territory. Some coastal territories could see increases by as much as 29% while western areas could actually decrease. The changes will take effect May 1, 2009.
“There has been a lot of speculation surrounding this homeowners rate filing, but I feel that we’ve reached a settlement that is fair to both consumers and insurance companies in North Carolina,” Long said in a statement. “No one likes to see their insurance rates go up, but the industry made a strong case for allowing some increases this year. The silver lining is that most consumers won’t see nearly the increases that were initially proposed.”
The settlement also realigns several insurance territories along the coast so that homeowners who live farther inland pay less for insurance. Long said that makes sense because these homes have less exposure to the impact of a hurricane.
The increase will be the first since May 2007, when homeowners insurance rates went up 5.4 percent.