Flooded Basement? Are You Insured?

Many homeowners experience their basement flooding during this time of year, when the snow is melting and May showers are in full force. One of the main reasons a basement floods is the foundation. If you have cracks and leaks in your foundation (common in older homes) this is a way for water to get in. A little crack might not seem like much at first, but once the water has got in, it can eat away at your foundation causing the crack to get bigger and let more water in. Over time it will cause damage to your foundation and cost you money.

Another reason your basement could be flooding is poor lot drainage. If the water on your property is not drained away from your home properly, it could back up in to your home and cause your basement to flood every spring when the snow is melting.

One of the biggest reasons people have basement flooding in the spring is from the snow melting. We recommend shoveling the snow away from your home during the winter months. When the snow is melting all of the water from the snow goes in to the ground and it gets into the foundation of your home, resulting in your basement flooding. If you remove the snow away from your foundation it will prevent flooding or could lessen the effects of it.

If your basement floods not only can it be annoying, it can also cost you a lot of time, and money! If you normally have a damp basement we suggest you put a dehumidifier in your basement to take away from some of the moisture. If your notice cracks in your foundation you can always repair them. It might be costly upfront, but save you money in the long run.

Home policies don’t automatically cover flooding. Flood insurance is something to look into when you are buying a home. You might think you don’t need to buy it if you are not purchasing a home around water. But just because you don’t buy around water does not mean your basement will not flood. We recommend for all homeowners, to think about flood insurance no matter where your home is. Basement flooding is a problem for many homeowners. You may ask yourself why your basement floods every year when the snow melts. In this blog we are going to answer your basic questions about basement flooding, how to prevent and why it happens. Water now accounts for more claims for insurance companies than fire. For that reason, insurance companies have defined water damage very carefully and it is important to understand the differences.

Seepage for example, where water seeps through a crack in the foundation or cement floor is not covered under most policies. Insurance companies consider that the homeowner’s maintenance.
Follow these steps to make sure you don’t have seepage:

Sewer back up can be covered, but it is an option on most policies you should request. At McDougall Insurance we add it to every policy because we think it makes good sense.

Flood coverage, is defined very specifically in most cases as “rising waters” as in a river flooding it’s banks. This is generally not covered under a homeowner’s policy. If you are concerned about the potential of flood, talk to your McDougall broker about what you can do.

Here at McDougall we are real people working for you. And we understand that life gets in the way. This is why we offer many home insurance plans, to fit everyone needs.  If you are unsure about the type of home insurance you need, we suggest you call one of your offices and speak to one of our educated sales people.