5 ways to protect your home from water damage

Home flood protection

Ways to protect your home from water damage

Most of us are looking forward to warmer weather, but snow melting and spring storms will increase the risk of flooded basements and other water damage to your property. Overland flooding costs the Canadian economy more than any other hazard we face and, while municipalities are trying to reduce local impacts of the impending flood season, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has warned that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency responders may have reduced resources.

This means you need to be specially prepared to protect yourself, your loved ones and your home, and other assets from potential water damage.

5 ways to protect your home from water damage

1. Ensure you and your family know about your emergency plan (create one if you don’t have one already), how to evacuate your home and where you keep your emergency kit. 
 2. Obtain home insurance with flood coverage. Talk to your insurance broker about the flood risk in your community and additional steps you can take to protect your property. 
 3. Install a backwater valve, sump pump, and backup pump and ensure it’s in working order. 
 4. Put sealant around basement windows and ground-level doors; ensure your floor drain and storm drains near your home aren’t obstructed.
 5. Check that your roof is draining properly and downspouts aren’t blocked and directed away from your home.  

Types of water damage

There are many types of water damage and each of them is covered differently depending on how and from where the water entered your home. Let’s learn more about water damage types.
1.   General Water Damage – This is usually covered under the standard home insurance policy. If clean water enters your home, then this is included in general water damage for example waterline breaks, frozen pipes, etc.
2.   Sewer Backup – When sewer drains back into your home due to clogging in the sewer line, excess rain, or an outdated sewer system then it falls under the sewer backup category.
3.   Overland Water – This category includes the water damage that is done by excessive rainfall, river flooding, melting snow, etc. This coverage does not include coastal water or seawater. 

What does your home insurance policy cover?

The IBC offers the following advice: 
 1.      Home insurance policies can differ depending on your insurance provider. Talk to your insurance broker about your specific policy coverage. 
 2.      Overland flooding that causes water to overflow onto dry land and results in damage is not generally covered in home insurance policies in Canada. 
 3.      Water damage in a basement due to a sewer backup is only covered if specific sewer backup coverage has been purchased. 
 4.      In certain circumstances, homeowners who are unable to return home due to insurable damage are entitled to additional living expenses (this coverage is generally not available if an evacuation happened due to overland flooding). 

Why should you get water damage coverage?

There are many reasons why you should go for water damage coverage. The first & foremost is repairing your home can be a costly affair. Your carelessness can lead you to have more pressure on your pocket for example mold issues can be the result of your ignorance. It is always easier to protect things beforehand than to struggle later. Contact us today to protect your home/condo from any type of water damage.

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