Water is a vital part of living on Earth; but it can become a significant threat to your house and other belongings. Water damage is a pretty common issue in Canada. Some of the common causes include frozen pipes, which can burst in winter, sprinkle systems can malfunction, and washing machine pipes may leak. All these can cause major water damage to your home.
According to research, the approximate damage claimed for water damage is about $1198, and these issues can total up to about 20 million dollars a year. Therefore this is a pretty serious and expensive problem for the homeowners.
Your homeowner’s insurance policy might cover costs due to calamities and water damages. Different insurance policies cover different types of water damage. However, knowing what is and is not covered under your policy can be difficult. You can learn more about home insurance in Canada by clicking the following link: surex.com/insurance/home.
Therefore you must understand what your homeowner’s insurance policy covers and whether your insurance is willing to pay for any water damage to your property. In this article, we will discuss the different types of water damage and more about water damage home insurance issues.
Types Of Water Damage Home Insurance Issues That Are Not Covered By Homeowners Insurance
If you’re wondering, “does home insurance cover water damage in Canada?” you may be surprised to learn it often comes down to the context of the issue. If the water damage to your property is not accidental or due to an unexpected event, your home insurance policy will not offer coverage.
For example, if your bathroom water supply pipe leaks over time, the insurance company will not pay for any water damage. This is because it can be proven that this water damage could be easily preventable and was noticeable. Also, your insurance policy will not cover any damage due to flooding, ground seepages, or sewer line backup.
1. Sewage Line Backup
Your homeowner’s insurance policy will not provide any coverage for water damage due to clogged pipes or sewage line backup. If your basement pump overloads, your insurer will not cover the water damage.
But certain insurance companies also offer water backup coverage as an additional add-on plan to offer protection against these incidents. Some other companies might also include this coverage within their standard insurance policy.
2. Flooding
Many standard home insurance policies in Canada will not cover any damage due to flood waters. They will also not cover any water damage due to storms, flash flood damage, overflow of any water body or high tides. To get protection from these natural calamities, you must buy a separate flood insurance policy from your insurer.
3. Damage Due To Lack Of Maintenance Or Negligence
If the pipes in your backyard or your home are leaking over an extended period and the damage is easily visible, your insurance policy might deny coverage. In such a case, your insurance company will consider this negligence or poor maintenance.
Other types of water damage that your homeowner’s insurance policy will not cover are:
- Water damage is due to Earth movements like landslides, earthquakes or mudslides.
- Water damage due to deliberate acts like setting fire or switching heat during the winter.
- Damage from seepage or leaks through the foundation.
Types Of Water Damage That Your Insurance Will Cover
Common types of water damage that your home insurance policy will cover are:
1. Overflow Of Appliances
Commonly your homeowner’s insurance policy will pay for all the damages caused due to an overflow of water from an appliance. However, you will only be covered if the incident is accidental and sudden.
For example, if a piece of clothing somehow blocks the water outlet of your washing machine and floods your laundry room and washroom, your insurance policy will cover the damage. If the water damages other items in your laundry room, your personal property coverage will cover these losses.
On the other hand, your insurance policy will not cover any damage due to the overflowing of your appliances if it is due to negligence or your fault.
2. Extinguishing A Fire
Your homeowner’s insurance policy and personal property coverage will mostly pay for any water damage while extinguishing a fire. For example, suppose there is a fire in your kitchen. In that case, the water used by firefighters damages your living room, destroying the flooring, furniture and other appliances. Your insurance policy will cover the damages. However, if your insurance company notices any sign of negligence leading to the fire, your claim might be denied.
3. Frozen Pipes
Most standard homeowners insurance policies will cover the damages due to fault in plumbing or appliance overflow. Your insurance policy will also cover any water damage from frozen pipelines. You will only be offered this coverage if your property is sufficiently heated at the time of the incident or loss.
For example, if your home is vacant for a longer period and your pipelines freeze, you might forget to turn off the water flow in the pipelines. In that case, your insurer will consider this negligence, and you will not be offered any coverage.
Some other types of water damage covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy are:
- Burst pipes
- Water damage from storms
- Ice dams
- Damage from a leaking roof due to an accident.
Now you know the answer to the question, “can home insurance cover water damage in Canada?”.
How Do You File A Home Insurance Claim For Water Damage?
If you notice mould or a musty smell in your house, you may have major water damage, and therefore you need to act fast.
- Firstly you have to shut up the main water supply.
- Then you must remove your expensive personal belongings from your apartment’s impacted areas.
- Next, you need to immediately contact your insurance company and file a home insurance claim.
- Click photos and videos of all your damaged possessions
- You can make temporary changes on your own, like fixing your door, roof or window, and your insurance company will pay for this.
- If you are staying in a hotel and eating outside, keep the receipts in hand, and your homeowner’s insurance policy might reimburse you for your temporary living expenses.
Water Damage Home Insurance — Endnote
You must ask yourself whether you could have taken precautions or measures to prevent water damage. If there is a negligence case, your insurance policy will most likely not cover any expenses for the water damage. However, if you are in a flood-prone region and you are worried about potential water damage due to a flood, do not waste time and immediately purchase flood insurance.
