Get Sewer Back-Up Insurance Coverage for Your Home

Sewer back-up insurance can be added to whichever type of home insurance policy you have, whether that be comprehensive, broad or basic.

While it’s common for water damage to be listed as one of the perils your insurance will cover, this refers specifically to a sudden, accidental escape of water from an indoor system such as plumbing, heating and air conditioning. For example, if a pipe bursts in your home, you’re likely to be covered. 

On the other hand, flooding and the damage caused by it are what insurance companies call ‘uninsured perils.’

To be covered for damage caused by a sewer drain back-up, you need insurance coverage for that specific peril. This is possible through the addition of an endorsement to your policy. 

Because of how common flooding is becoming across Canada, the RATESDOTCA quote tool assumes that you want flooding protection. In other words, by default, the free quotes you receive will include sewer back-up coverage as well as overland and groundwater protection. 

When you add sewer back-up coverage to your policy, you’ll be covered for damage caused by sewage water entering your home. This usually happens when a nearby stormwater system is overwhelmed. With nowhere to drain, stormwater will come up through toilets and drains and end up damaging the surrounding area.

When you apply for free quotes on RATESDOTCA, the tool will assume that you’d like to add sewer back-up protection to your house insurance as well as protection against overland and groundwater flooding. 

You can opt out of those additional coverages, but we recommend that, at a minimum, you consider getting sewer back-up insurance – particularly if you live in a low-lying area or potential floodplain. 

As more and more Canadian homeowners contend with the effects of severe weather, we believe that increasingly sewer back-up insurance is a necessary coverage.  

Home insurance carriers distinguish between different types of flooding. 

While coverage for protection against sewer back-up as well as for overland, groundwater and tidal flooding is available, you have to confirm that it’s a part of your policy since it is not an automatic feature of most comprehensive policies. 

The quote tool on RATESDOTCA assumes that you want flooding protection. It’s added to the premium unless you opt out of it. 

When you’re shopping for a policy or considering whether to renew with your current insurer, it’s important to understand the different types of flooding coverage because basic coverage won’t protect you in most flooding scenarios.

For example, if your basement floods during a thunderstorm, an insurance adjuster will try to determine how the water entered the home: whether it came up through the toilet and drains, or, if it entered the basement from outside. 

You’ll benefit from having sewer back-up and overland flooding protection, respectively, and you have to purchase these in addition to your base policy. 

When you get free quotes at RATESDOTCA, you’ll be asked whether you’d like to add a water protection package. Selecting ‘yes’ will add overland, groundwater and sewer back-up coverage to your home insurance policy. 

Water damage is a named peril in many home insurance policies. It refers to damage from an unexpected and sudden overflow of water from within the home. For example, if a pipe bursts and damages your home, you’ll be protected. 

If, however, the pipe bursting was predictable – for example, it froze while the heat was turned off when the temperature was below freezing— it’s unlikely that you’ll be covered. 

In contrast, sewer back-up refers to water backing up into the home when a nearby stormwater system is overwhelmed. Homeowners may notice that a toilet or basement drain is overflowing. 

Yes, generally speaking, it’s worth getting sewer back-up coverage. While you’ll receive a slightly higher quote for a policy that includes it, the cost of repairing damage from a flood is likely to expensive. 

Homeowners whose properties are several thousand metres above sea level and not likely to experience flooding from sewer back-up may not consider the coverage worthwhile. 

Unfortunately, as more and more Canadians experience the effects of climate change, it makes good sense to customize a home insurance policy with extra flood coverage. 

If you’ve opted to add any type of flood protection to your home insurance policy, be aware that some carriers have a sewer back-up coverage limit. In other words, there’s a cap on how much they’re willing to payout. 

Before you commit to a specific coverage, be sure that it aligns with the value of your home and likely costs in the event of damage. 

The size and value of your home are important factors in determining any coverage limit you might get for sewer back-up protection. 

You’ll want to consider the square footage of the space that could be damaged by a back-up and the associated repair costs. 

If a provider has a coverage limit, consider purchasing more coverage so that you don’t end up in a scenario where your repair costs are greater than the coverage limit. 

On its own, your condo insurance policy won’t have sewer back-up protection built into it. For maximum protection, you’ll need to add it.

While this may not seem necessary because the building’s insurance will kick-in to protect your unit in the event of a flood, consider that it might not afford you full protection – particularly if you’ve updated your unit. 

Any additional coverage may cost slightly more, but it’s likely to be a comfort to you in the event of damage. 

Generally speaking, no. Your landlord’s homeowner’s insurance will cover costs for damage from sewer back-up. 

However, their coverage won’t cover the cost of replacing your contents. 

Your own tenant insurance policy will, and, is also likely to cover the cost of additional living expenses if you’re unable to remain in your rental during repairs.  

Because of how many Canadians are now affected by flooding, more and more municipalities are recommending that homeowners take proactive steps to prevent sewer back-up.

Installing a backwater valve and a sump pump in your home can significantly reduce the likelihood of flooding.

Some municipalities have rebate programs in place to persuade homeowners to install these tools.

Other steps that homeowners can take other preventative steps, including:

• Avoid flushing any non-biodegradable materials, including disinfectant wipes, which have become a popular tool during the COVID-19 pandemic for preventing the spread of germs.  
• Monitor what goes down the drain, avoiding grease which can coat pipes as well as food debris.
• Have the pipes examined, particularly if water is bubbling up in sinks or in the toilet.
• Landscape the property surrounding your home with grass and gardens which absorb rainwater rather than cement which cannot.
• Make sure any water coming from the house during a storm is being channelled a substantial distance away from the foundation and that of any nearby structure.