Ground water damage and sewer back-up
Home insurance that works for you
Do you have enough coverage for ground water damage?
Protection against Ground water damage and sewer back-up (excluding flood caused by the overflow of a body of water) (found in Endorsement 16c) is one of the most important types of home insurance coverage you can get. Do you know what’s down in the basement and how much it’s worth? And would you have enough coverage in the event of water damage?
Replacement cost
- Do you have a finished basement?
If your basement is fully furnished and decorated, you want enough insurance to cover all the contents if water damage occurs. - Do you have new furniture, a home theatre, tools or other valuable items? Take the time to estimate and inventory the value of your belongings.
Renovation costs
How much would it cost to repair your basement? On top of materials (e.g., flooring), remember to think about drying, disinfecting, cleaning and renovations.
Do you need additional coverage for ground water damage?
Contact one of our agents at any time to talk about additional insurance coverage.
What causes water damage in basements?
- Sump pumps can break and the water in retention tanks can overflow, damaging items in basements
- Heavy rain can cause municipal sewers to overflow, which could then cause water to back up through toilets, showers, washing machines or floor drains
- Heavy rain can cause ground water build-up that seeps in through basement windows
- Tree roots can grow into and clog foundation drains, causing water to seep into basements through the foundation
How to prevent water damage
- Direct gutter runoff away from the house
- Make sure the ground around your house slopes away so that water doesn’t accumulate
- Repair any cracks in the foundation
- Make sure the plumbing system in your basement includes:
- At least one fully functional backwater valve
- A water discharge pump connected to a retention tank
Other water damage prevention tips
Prevent water damage and save on your home insurance! Learn more about our water damage prevention discounts.
Learn more
Learn more about water damage and how you can prevent it in Weathering Change.
For more information on how to protect your home, talk to one of our prevention advisors at By phone:1-800-463-6416.
Also ask about our flood insurance coverage.
Take advantage of our water damage coverages and prevention advice for complete peace of mind with our water damage solutions.
See how you can save!
The text on this page is for information only and does not constitute or replace advice provided by experts. All inspections should be conducted safely and, if required, by skilled professionals.
The Personal assumes no liability in connection with the use of this information.
Information to have on hand when getting a quote
Information to have on hand when getting a quote
To get a home insurance quote, you'll need the following information about your property:
- Date you want your insurance to start
- Number and description of any past home insurance losses (type of loss, year)
- Home’s year of construction
- Ground floor surface area (excluding the basement)
- Year the entire roof was replaced
- Type of exterior siding (brick, stone, vinyl, aluminum)
- Heating systems (electricity, gas, dual energy, wood-burning stove)
- Information about the fuel oil tank (type, year)
- Information about the electrical panel
- Year the water heater was installed
- Information about your above ground pool (size, year)
- Security systems in the home
- Name and contact information of your mortgage lender
- Banking information for pre-authorized debit payments
Information to have on hand when getting a quote
Information to have on hand when getting a quote
To get a home insurance quote, you'll need the following information about your property:
- Date you want your insurance to start
- Number and description of any past home insurance losses (type of loss, year)
- Home’s year of construction
- Ground floor surface area (excluding the basement)
- Year the entire roof was replaced
- Type of exterior siding (brick, stone, vinyl, aluminum)
- Heating systems (electricity, gas, dual energy, wood-burning stove)
- Information about the fuel oil tank (type, year)
- Information about the electrical panel
- Year the water heater was installed
- Information about your above ground pool (size, year)
- Security systems in the home
- Name and contact information of your mortgage lender
- Banking information for pre-authorized debit payments
Information to have on hand when getting a tenant insurance quote
To get a tenant insurance quote, you'll need the following information about your unit:
General information
- The date you want your insurance to start
- Number of apartments in the building
- Security system in your unit, if applicable
Insurance history
- Number and description of any past home insurance losses (type of loss, year)
If you qualify to buy your tenant insurance online, you will also need the following information:
- Banking information for pre-authorized debit payments
Information to have on hand when getting a quote
Information to have on hand when getting a quote
To get a home insurance quote, you'll need the following information about your property:
- Date you want your insurance to start
- Number and description of any past home insurance losses (type of loss, year)
- Home’s year of construction
- Ground floor surface area (excluding the basement)
- Year the entire roof was replaced
- Type of exterior siding (brick, stone, vinyl, aluminum)
- Heating systems (electricity, gas, dual energy, wood-burning stove)
- Information about the fuel oil tank (type, year)
- Information about the electrical panel
- Year the water heater was installed
- Information about your above ground pool (size, year)
- Security systems in the home
- Name and contact information of your mortgage lender
- Banking information for pre-authorized debit payments
Information to have on hand when getting a quote
Information to have on hand when getting a quote
To get a home insurance quote, you'll need the following information about your property:
- Date you want your insurance to start
- Number and description of any past home insurance losses (type of loss, year)
- Home’s year of construction
- Ground floor surface area (excluding the basement)
- Year the entire roof was replaced
- Type of exterior siding (brick, stone, vinyl, aluminum)
- Heating systems (electricity, gas, dual energy, wood-burning stove)
- Information about the fuel oil tank (type, year)
- Information about the electrical panel
- Year the water heater was installed
- Information about your above ground pool (size, year)
- Security systems in the home
- Name and contact information of your mortgage lender
- Banking information for pre-authorized debit payments
Information to have on hand when getting a quote
To get an auto insurance quote, you’ll need the following information for you and any other drivers you want to insure:
- The date you want your insurance to start
- Information about all the vehicles you want to insure (year, make, model, odometer reading)
- Current auto insurance provider
- Information on driving violations for each driver(number and type)
- Information on past claims for each driver (number and type)
Information to have on hand when getting a quote
To get a home insurance quote, you'll need the following information about your property:
- Year of construction
- Type of exterior siding (brick, stone, vinyl, aluminum)
- Heating sources (electricity, gas, dual energy, wood-burning stove)
- Total ground floor area (excluding the basement)
- Year the roofing material was last fully replaced
- Security systems in the home
Information to have on hand when getting a tenant insurance quote
To get a tenant insurance quote, you'll need the following information about your unit:
General information
- The date you want your insurance to start
- Number of apartments in the building
- Type of business in the building
- Floor you live on
- Amount of insurance for your belongings
- Current insurance provider
- Security systems in your unit
Insurance history
- Number and description of any past home insurance losses (type of loss, year)
If you qualify to buy your tenant insurance online, you will also need the following information:
- Banking information for pre-authorized debit payments
Information to have on hand when getting a condo insurance quote
To get a condo insurance quote, you'll need the following information about your property:
General information
- The date you want your insurance to start
- Name and contact information of your mortgage lender
- Year of construction
- Number of units in the building
- Type of business in the building
- Floor you live on
- Amount of insurance for your belongings
- Current insurance provider
- Security systems in your condo unit
Insurance history
- Number and description of any past home insurance losses (type of loss, year)
If you qualify to buy your condo insurance online, you will also need the following information:
- Banking information for pre-authorized debit payments