Water damage and insurance: Are you covered or not?
Your home insurance policy covers you against water damage, but not in all cases. It all depends on what choices you made when you took out your policy—and on what caused the damage. Here are some examples to help you make sense of the various types of coverage available.
Damage caused by an indoor plumbing system or appliance
Your dishwasher drain line bursts while it is in operation:
Covered by the basic “all perils”
Your bathtub overflows coverage in your policy:
Covered by the basic “all perils”
Damage caused by breakage of a public water main
Your home’s aging water inlet pipe breaks, flooding your basement:
Covered if you have the “Water Inlet” endorsement
Damage caused by water seepage
Rainwater seeps through your roof after a violent storm:
Covered if you have the “Above-Ground Water” endorsement
Water from melting snow enters through the foundation walls of the house:
Covered if you have the “Above-Ground Water” endorsement
Damage caused by a sewer backup
After heavy rainfall in your area, the sewers back up:
Covered if you have the “Sewer Backup” endorsement
Damage caused by flooding after a body of water overflows
An ice jam causes the river to overflow its banks and onto your property, then enters your home:
Covered if your insurer offers flood/overflow coverage, you were eligible, and you added the “Overflow of Body of Water” endorsement to your home insurance policy
In some instances, flood victims can also obtain financial assistance under the Quebec Public Security Ministry’s disaster relief program.
Good to know
Has your home sustained water damage? Cleanup by professionals is a must. Read about the various steps involved and the certifications that the company must hold.
Cases of water damage top the list of home insurance claims in Quebec. If you have any questions, talk to your insurer or broker, who will be able to answer them and adjust your coverage if need be. It’s all a matter of risk—and, above all, your tolerance of risk!