Basement Floods in Toronto 2020 – Things you should know if you are a homeowner

Did you know that flooding is the costlier natural hazard in Ontario? So much so that the provincial government has a Flood Forecasting and Warning program, and provides a live and interactive flood map you can check: https://www.gisapplication.lrc.gov.on.ca/webapps/flood/#ontarioFloodMap

In Toronto, the past 20 years or so, we have experienced several large storms that resulted in hundreds of basement floods and millions of dollars of damage and insurance claims. More and more Toronto residents are looking at adding Overland Water Insurance to their home insurance.

Overland water is an optional coverage and it is not automatically included in home insurance policies. Depending on the provider and plan you have selected, it can cover loss or damage to your home and/or personal belongings caused by fresh water coming in through your windows and doors at ground level. Fresh water comes from rivers or lakes, or it could be the result of heavy rain, spring run-off or melting snow or ice.

2020 has already been a bad year for flooding in Toronto. On July 8^th 2020 Toronto experienced one of the most devastating thunderstorm that ended up being the most expensive natural disaster in Ontario history, as per the Insurance Bureau of Canada. The preliminary estimation of insured property damage is more than $850 million and rising. The report hints that the industry may raise premiums for water damage and overland water insurance.

Things Toronto homeowners can do

• The first thing we recommend is reviewing your home insurance and having a talk with your agent. You need to establish what your water damage insurance covers and if your insurer offers overland water insurance as an add-on.
• Hire a basement waterproofing contractor to do a thorough basement and waterproofing system inspection. Interhome Basement Waterproofing offers inspections that can evaluate the condition of your current waterproofing system, inspect your sump pump and determine if it is working properly, measure your land grading at your property and provide you with recommendations on how to improve your basement waterproofing.
• Repair or replace your weeping tile system. Weeping tiles, or as they are also known as French Drains, are perforated pipes installed at the bottom of your exterior foundation walls and are part of your basement waterproofing. A weeping tile collects groundwater or rainfall and drain it away from the property. The City of Toronto recommends a weeping tile as a preventative measure against basement flooding. See more here: https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/water-environment/managing-rain-melted-snow/basement-flooding/how-to-prevent-basement-flooding/
• The city of Toronto offers a Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program. They can offer up to $3400 for the installation of a backwater valve and sump pump. See if you qualify here: https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/water-environment/managing-rain-melted-snow/basement-flooding/basement-flooding-protection-subsidy-program/

If you need the opinion of a basement waterproofing professional to determine if a weeping tile installation or replacement is the right solution for you then contact Interhome Waterproofing for a free on-site assessment. We are basement waterproofing experts with over 15 years of experience, offering a 25 year guarantee on our work. We serve Toronto and across the GTA. Give us a call today: 416-836-5253