Preventing Water Damage in Your Home

preventing water damage in a home sump pumpWater damage is the number one reason for insurance claims in Canada. The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) estimates that water damage claims cost Canadian insurers approximately $1.7 billion annually – and sump pump failure is a leading cause of residential water damage.[1]

How do sump pumps fail?

  • Older sump pumps can become clogged with dirt and debris.
  • Most pumps only have an estimated lifespan of about ten years.
  • When the power is out, traditional sump pumps can not operate.

Having a battery back-up or generator connected to your sump pump are excellent options to help prevent water damage in the event of a power outage; however, even these extra safety measures are not infallible. What if:

  • The generator fails to turn on during a power outage.
  • The battery back-up is dead.

Unfortunately, the only time you will know when your sump pump is not working is when it is too late; the effects of which could be devastating for a homeowner.

The best action to help prevent sump pump failure and water damage in your home is two-fold:

1)     Ensure you have an industry leading, superior sump pump system installed in your home.

2)     Have your sump pump system serviced annually by a professional.

While sump pumps are not a home appliance that requires a lot of our attention on a daily basis, ensuring they are in excellent working order is essential to help keep your basement dry.

If you would like to learn more about our sump pump systems, please click here.

If your sump pump is due for yearly maintenance, or if you have questions, please give us a call.  1-800-638-7048


[1] http://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/ca/news/flood/sump-pumps-may-be-source-of-water-claims-brokers-say-46186.aspx

About the author

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Ben Bates
Ben Bates lives in the Chatham-Kent area and has been involved in the basement, crawl space and foundation industry since 2008. He has a passion for improving homes the right way and knows what it takes to waterproof, encapsulate or stabilize homes in Ontario. He assists with over 900 projects per year.

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