No matter how you look at it, rain, snow, water … can be a real problem for homeowners and therefore a real problem for their insurance companies. It used to be that fire was the biggest concern for losses on a homeowner's insurance policy, but now water losses are quickly passing fire as the biggest concern for property insurance losses.

Why do you care? Because, if there are more losses due to water, that means the cost of home insurance is on the rise. Protecting yourself from losses in the first place, is one way you can take action. Past water losses can result in higher rates, restrictions on insurance protection, or even denial of coverage, not to mention the annoyance and cost associated with clean up, and loss of property that is irreplaceable.

I came across a site on the City of Ottawa website that I thought might be of interest to our clients. It is a discussion of Protective Plumbing Devices and Grants that are available to residents of the City of Ottawa.

Protecting plumbing methods can range from the installation of sump pumps and reconfiguration of footing drainage to the installation of an approved full-port backwater valve on the building's sanitary drain connected to the main City Sewer. The City of Ottawa's "Residential Protective Plumbing Program" can provide financial assistance toward a portion of the costs of the installation of protective plumbing for some eligible property owners.

For more information, please see the city of Ottawa website, and more specifically the, "Grants for Protective Plumbing Devices Section".

Also of interest, take a look at our facebook article, "Flood, sewer backup, ground water, OH MY!"