The Hartford offers pumped-up coverage for septic contractors

HARTFORD, CONN. – With an estimated 26 million septic systems serving U.S. residences, there’s a considerable amount of work in the pipeline for septic contractors. However, until now, septic contractors haven’t had an all-lines insurance solution that would cover all of their business exposure from design and installation to the rental of portable toilets.

To address this need, The Hartford Financial Service Group, Inc. now offers a comprehensive insurance program specifically for septic contractors. While some policies provide coverage for pumping or portable toilet rental, The Hartford’s program is the first to address the exposures of the entire industry, including design, installation, inspection, service and repair, as well as pumping and portable toilet rental.

“One in five housing units in the U.S. have septic systems, which means that a lot of contractors are involved in inspecting, servicing and installing systems, said Deborah Bibbins, vice president of The Hartford’s Captive & Specialty Programs. “These contractors need an insurance program that addresses the specific exposures they face, such as errors and omissions (E&O) coverage for the various services they provide.”

The Hartford’s program offers comprehensive property, general liability, commercial auto, workers’ compensation and umbrella coverage for septic contractors of all sizes. The program also features specialized coverage options to address specific exposure areas including:

• Design and Installation E&O coverage to protect against potentially costly errors in the design or installation of septic systems.

• Inspection Service E&O to protect septic contractors who inspect and certify septic systems, often as a condition of a home sale.

• Extra Expense coverage for cleaning tanks and pumpers due to unintentional handling of hazardous waste.

• Mechanical Breakdown coverage to protect against loss to property caused by fire or explosion.

• Auto Pollution Endorsement that provides coverage for septic pumping or portable toilet cleaning operations.

With 97% of septic systems located in rural or suburban areas, agents in those areas can serve as a valuable resource for septic contractors, who tend to be smaller businesses looking for a trusted insurance advisor who can guide them in addressing their insurance and risk management needs.

“Many contractors have coverage gaps and don’t even know it,” said Bibbins. “As more septic contractors turn to inspection services as an additional income source during the construction slowdown, agents can play a critical role in ensuring that these contractors have the appropriate protection for these new aspects of their business.”

Through its Captive & Specialty Programs unit, The Hartford offers tailored insurance programs designed to address the needs of small, midsize and large risks that may involve risk sharing with various types of partners, have a higher-hazard exposure or require specialized underwriting on a guaranteed cost structure. The company offers customized programs for a range of industries, including arborists, alarm installation, specialized truck equipment and pool and spa contractors. Each program is supported with dedicated underwriters and knowledgeable claim and loss control staff.

To learn more about The Hartford’s program, septic contractors should ask their insurance agent to contact The Hartford at 800/533-7824. Agents and brokers who would like to learn more about The Hartford’s captive and specialty program capabilities should visit www.thehartford.com/program-business.