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Water Damage Insurance
Water and flood damage can be a huge headache for Canadian homeowners. It’s the leading cause of property damage in Canada, and whether it’s a flooded basement or a major leak, having the right coverage could help save you from a lot of stress and expense.
What is home insurance and what does it cover?
Home insurance is a type of insurance coverage that helps financially protect your house and your belongings against the loss of damage resulting from a variety of risks. It can help with the cost of repairs or replacement for damage that's covered by your policy, as well as providing liability coverage.
Your coverage details depend on your policy, so it's important to carefully review the terms of your policy to see what's protected and what might need additional coverage.
You can learn more about what your home insurance covers here
Is water damage covered by insurance in Canada ?
You may be wondering if your home insurance covers water damage. If you're insured with us, yes! The standard TD Insurance home insurance policy covers specific types of water damage. However, if you're interested in having water damage coverage beyond what your policy currently provides, you can also purchase additional coverage to enhance your policy’s base coverage.
What does comprehensive water damage coverage mean?
When people talk about comprehensive water damage coverage, they’re usually referring to a broader coverage for water damage that isn't covered under their base home policy. To get more comprehensive coverage for water damage, you can purchase additional water damage coverage to give you protection against a wider range of water-related incidents.
Is water damage covered by TD Insurance?
To some extent, yes! Your home coverage with us includes protection against sudden and accidental water damage caused by events such as (but not limited to):
- Heating system rupture
- Plumbing system rupture
- Sprinkling system rupture
- Discharge or escape of water from a hot water tank, dishwasher, or other domestic appliances
- Escape of water from a public watermain that carries drinking water
One important thing to keep in mind, however: If your home is going to be unoccupied, it's important that you check in with us. Depending on your situation, your home may be considered vacant . This would impact your current coverage, so by letting us know, we can provide guidance on the coverage that's best suited for a vacant home.
What types of additional water damage coverage can I purchase?
There’s a lot that home insurance can do to financially protect you from water damage, but having additional coverage can help protect you in a wider range of scenarios. The following table outlines the types of additional water damage coverage TD Insurance offers:
Extended Water Damage Coverage |
Above Ground Water Coverage |
Ice Damming and Roof Drain Back-up Coverage |
|
|---|---|---|---|
What It Covers |
Focuses on situations related to below ground and surface water that are not covered by home insurance. Coverage against sudden and accidental water damage, including flooding caused by*:
*Some exclusions may apply. |
Coverage against sudden and accidental water damage caused by*:
*Some exclusions may apply. |
Coverage against the sudden and accidental water damage caused by ice dams. Ice dams happen when melting snow freezes along the edge of your roof, creating a dam which forces water under your shingles and into your home. With Ice Damming and Roof Drain Backup protection, you'll have coverage against sudden and accidental water damage caused by*:
*Some exclusions may apply. |
Example Scenario |
If a sewer backup causes raw sewage to come through the drain in your floor, forcing you to stay in a hotel while your home is being restored, Extended Water Damage protection will ensure you’re covered. |
If you leave a window open at home and a sudden rainstorm causes water damage to your floor, walls and belongings, you could be covered with the Above Ground Water Endorsement. |
If ice damming occurs and water enters your roof causing damage to your home and you need to relocate, additional living and repair expenses would be covered and are included in the endorsement limit. |
Is this 'add-on' coverage under a Home Insurance Policy? |
Add-on is automatically included as part of your premium, subject to eligibility. |
Add-on is optional, subject to eligibility. |
Add-on is automatically included as part of premium, subject to eligibility. |
Is this 'add-on' coverage under a Condo/Tenant Insurance Policy? |
Add-on is optional, subject to eligibility. |
Add-on is included in home policy. |
Add-on is included in home policy. |
Unfortunately, water damage is the most common cause of property damage in Canada,1 a "claim to fame" that isn't likely to change in the near future. Recent research into the effects of climate change predicts an increase in extreme rainfall events2 such as heavy rain, and in 2023 alone, water-related damage made up the majority of insured extreme weather and catastrophic claims made that year.3
Adding additional water damage coverage to your home policy can give you that extra bit of confidence that comes from knowing you have protection for a wide range of typical water damage losses.
What is overland flood insurance and what does it cover?
Are you looking exclusively for "flood insurance" which isn't listed in the table above? The term “flood” is often used to loosely describe any accumulation of water, regardless of the source, so what you may actually be looking for is overland flood insurance.
Overland flood insurance is generally an add-on to your standard home insurance policy. It can be beneficial to have in case of heavy rainfall or overflows from bodies of fresh water. With TD Insurance, you'd need to have Extended Water Damage coverage added to your home insurance policy in order to be protected from flood-related damage.
If you're an existing TD Insurance customer and you encounter water damage to your home or belongings, please contact us so we can review your TD Insurance policy coverage and potentially start a claim. You can also:
- Start a claim via the TD Insurance Mobile App or review and manage your coverage online with MyInsurance.
- Get in touch with a TD Insurance Advisor to review your coverage or a TD Insurance Claims Advisor to start a claim.
Not a TD Insurance customer yet? Get your free TD Insurance Home Insurance quote
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The content on this page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Coverages described herein may be subject to additional eligibility criteria, limitations and exclusions. In the event you make a claim, potential indemnification is also subject to the receivability of the claim and the type of coverage you bought.
In the case of conflict between the content on this page and your policy wordings, your policy wordings shall take precedence.