Protect your house against water damage and save on insurance

The onset of spring is a welcome reprieve if you are not fans of winter sports or shorter days. But with the warmer weather comes the melting of snow, and much more rain. And whether you are a house owner or renter, all that extra water can cause leaks, flooding, water backup, and overall damage to your house.

Water damage and leaks are the most typical and costliest home disasters. The insurance coverage Bureau of Canada says the average cost to repair a flooded basement can cost $43,000. These sorts of costs can increase very quickly. Protecting your home from water damage will not only help you save headaches – it will save you money on your home insurance too.

How to safeguard your house from water damage

The problem for just about any homeowner or renter when it comes to water damage and mold is the fact that water is sneaky and can originate from almost anywhere in the home. The best ways to control water damage and mold while covering most areas of the house include:

• Removing leaves along with other debris from drains, eavestroughs, downspouts and then any other locations that collect water, to ensure that water to empty properly.
• Extend downspouts a minimum of two metres from your home's foundation.
• Test your sump pump and potentially install several to ensure excess water is drained properly. If at all possible, add a backup power source towards the pump in the event of power failure.
• Install window wells and covers to keep as much water out of the basement and low lying areas as you possibly can.
• If necessary, correct the grading and first step toward your house so that water includes a opportunity to flow and/or drain from the house.
• Reseal your basement with new or upgraded protective membrane.
• Inspect your homes roof, and caulk and seal your windows.

Those suggestions reflect things that can occur when water seeps in externally. In your home, however, you may want to be proactive against other conditions, such as:

• Know in which the main water shut-off in your house is within case a pipe bursts, for instance.
• Ensure appliance hoses and faucets are leak-free. A leak monitor and shut-off system can help prevent serious damage.
• Install emergency pressure release valves in the plumbing system to safeguard against pressure caused by freezing pipes.
• Inspect all showers and tubs that often hold a lot of water and can have small cracks or issues that can cause problems later.
• Store valuables in watertight containers and boxes and furniture away from floor drains.

Water preparedness and residential insurance discounts

Taking certain measures to avoid water damage and mold, like upgrading your roof, waterproofing your basement, installing water shut-off devices, storm-safe windows, or perhaps a water leak detection system, can earn you discounts on your property insurance premiums.

Insurance companies need to know the chance of water damage and mold to your house. If it's minimal because of actions you've taken, you very well may be rewarded by means of cheaper insurance. The discounts you could earn will depend on the job you do to protect your home, but also around the physical location of your house (whether it's found on a highland or lowland, for instance).

When discussing your requirements with insurance providers, be sure that your policy has added coverage for things like flood insurance, sewer backups or “overland” water protection. Shop around and compare rates from different providers to see who offers what at what cost. There are as numerous solutions because there are providers.