Flood and sewer backup insurance claims in Illinois

Basement water can fall under a flood policy, a water backup endorsement or the base policy. We find which one pays, then document and negotiate the claim.

Free Basement Claim Review (630) 297-8136

$0 upfront
Fee from the recovery only
Licensed Illinois public adjusters

Aerial view of a house with a light grey shingle roof, with lumber and a ladder laid along the wooden fence beside the driveway — **Nothing to pay upfront**Our fee is a share of what the insurer pays on your claim.

Where the water came in decides which part of the policy pays

Source	What you saw	Usually pays	What we record
Over the ground	Water entered at doors or window wells after heavy rain.	A separate flood policy	Water line on outside walls, entry points
Up a drain	A floor drain or toilet overflowed with sewage.	Water backup endorsement, to its limit	Drain residue, plumber’s camera report
Sump failure	The pump stopped or the power went out.	Often the same endorsement; wording decides	The pump, outage dates
Inside the house	A supply line or water heater burst.	The base policy (burst pipes)	The failed part, the plumber’s invoice

Two sources in one storm are common. Each part of the damage goes to the line that pays it.

Three ways a basement water claim loses money

Everything is called “flood”We trace the entry point and read the endorsement before anyone accepts a denial.
Sewage priced as clean waterWe price removal of the drywall, carpet and insulation it touched, not just drying.
Stored belongings left offWe list basement furniture, appliances and boxes with you, item by item.

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A flooded basement the owner was told was not covered

Overhead view of a house with a dark grey shingle roof, a white SUV in the driveway and a pool under a blue cover in the fenced backyard

Flood damage · covered

The coverage was there after all

The cause of the water and the policy language settled it, not the first phone call. We handled the claim start to finish.

Cause established
Coverage identified
Claim handled

“…they helped us work around insurance with our flooded basement.” Yaryna Dovhan

All results

Start a free review of your basement claim

Tell us how the water got inAnd what the carrier has said so far.
We read every water clauseFlood, backup and base policy, with their limits.
We document, price and negotiateOur fee is a share of the recovery, never upfront.

Start with four fields

First name *

Last name *

Phone *

Email *

Prefer to write more? Use the full form. We use your details only to review your claim.

Carry a federal flood policy? FEMA’s rules set the clock

National Flood Insurance Program rules, per FloodSmart.gov and FEMA.

Day of the lossReport it and photograph everything before cleanup.
Within 60 daysSigned proof of loss, building estimate, contents inventory.

Basement belongings

NFIP does not cover personal property kept in basements. We check whether your backup endorsement does.

30-day wait

Coverage usually starts 30 days after purchase, so we read the start date first.

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What clients say about working through a claim with us

Highly recommended. State Adjusting Services did an amazing job with my claim. Thank you.

Solomiia BasarabGoogle review · June 2026

What a great experience to work with State Adjusting Services, especially Volodymyr. Thank you for helping me with my insurance claim. Recommend to everyone.

Ника МяуGoogle review · June 2026

Thank you State Adjusting Services for helping me with my claim. Very great team, communication and professionalism. Recommend to anyone. Best in the business.

Артур ГречанюкGoogle review · June 2026

Before you sign: four Illinois rules for public adjusters

From the Illinois Insurance Code.

Coverage first

No adjuster may take a claim whose coverage terms they do not know.

215 ILCS 5/1590(j)(1)

3 adjusters

Before signing, a separate disclosure explains company, independent and public adjusters.

215 ILCS 5/1575(f)(1)

Costs listed

Expenses repaid from the claim come with dollar estimates; new ones need your approval.

215 ILCS 5/1575(b)(2)

You decide

The contract may not give the adjuster power of attorney over your claim.

215 ILCS 5/1575(e)(5)

Questions about flood and backup claims

My agent said flood isn’t covered. Is that the end of it?

Not until someone reads the policy. Water that came up a floor drain or a failed sump may fall under a backup endorsement instead.

I have an NFIP flood policy. What is the deadline?

FEMA asks for a signed proof of loss within 60 days of the loss, unless your insurer sets another timeframe.

Sewage reached the basement. Does that change what gets replaced?

Usually yes. Porous materials sewage touched are removed, not dried, so the estimate must price removal and disinfection.