Along with damaging property, basement flooding can cause long-term health impacts to you and your family. The Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) provides info on key areas that may require attention to reduce the risk of basement flooding to your home.

There are some easy and free things that you can do to reduce the risk that your home is flooded:

• Never pour fats, oils and grease down your drains!

• Reduce home water use during heavy rains.

• Keep the storm sewer grates on your street clear of yard waste, leaves, garbage, ice and snow.

• Clean and maintain your eavestroughs and downspouts at least once a year.

• Store anything expensive, valuable or irreplaceable upstairs.

These are some initial steps to prevent basement flooding. However, if you have had water in your basement in the past then you need take more significant steps to protect your home.
Before you start making any changes make sure to:

• Talk to your local municipality through public works, utilities or building departments.

• Talk to your insurance broker to find out what types of water damages are covered under your policy.

• Get a plumber to conduct a survey of your home.

After you’ve had the chance to speak with your municipality, insurance broker, and service professional, you could also potentially invest in:

• Disconnecting your weeping tile and installing a sump-pump.

• Installing a backwater valve in accordance with your local municipality.

• Cleaning and maintaining your sewer lateral pipes.

• Installing basement window wells.

It’s important to have the right insurance coverage whether you rent or own your home. Call an OTIP insurance broker today at 1-833-494-0085 to get a quote for home insurance. If you have questions about your current home insurance policy, call 1-833-615-9329.



If you’re looking for more information on how you can protect your home, check out the “Protect your home from basement flooding” booklet.