5 Questions to Ask Clients About Their Home's Water Protection

Key Takeaways

• These questions identify the gap between perceived and actual protection

• Maintenance status matters more than equipment presence

• Age and neighborhood type create different risk profiles requiring different coverage approaches

• Most clients have significant knowledge gaps about their own protection systems

Less than 1% of Canadians maintain their backwater valves regularly, yet 50% of flood payouts involve sewer backup. These five questions reveal whether your clients have actual protection or just the illusion of safety.

Question 1: "Do you have a backwater valve, and when was it last cleaned?"

Assessment Focus Most homeowners cannot locate their backwater valve or recall any maintenance. This device serves as the last barrier against sewer backup, but only when properly maintained.

Red Flag Responses:

• Unknown valve location or presence

• No maintenance history or records

• Last cleaning over 12 months ago

• Previous owner claims without verification

Coverage Implications: Unmaintained backwater valves may void sewer backup coverage even with proper endorsements. Insurance assessors routinely check valve condition during claim investigations.

Question 2: "How old is your home and neighborhood, and what type of sewer system serves your area?"

Risk Stratification Framework:

High-Risk Indicators:

• Construction before 1940 in urban areas

• Heritage districts or "old town" designations

• Properties near original municipal water sources

• Combined sewer system areas (approximately 23% of older urban zones)

Moderate-Risk Indicators:

• Post-1950s separated systems

• New developments connecting through older infrastructure

• Areas experiencing rapid population growth

Assessment Value: System type determines backup probability, contamination severity, and recovery complexity.

Question 3: "Have you experienced any basement moisture, foundation cracks, or previous flooding incidents?"

Early Warning Recognition: Previous water intrusion indicates existing vulnerabilities that compound during backup events. Foundation issues create multiple entry points beyond the primary sewer connection.

Documentation Importance: Prior incidents may affect coverage eligibility or require specific policy endorsements. Early identification allows proper coverage structuring before problems escalate.

Question 4: "What's your home's distance from the street and elevation relative to neighbours?"

Physical Risk Factors: Properties within 10-15 feet of municipal sewer lines face higher backup probability and faster contamination spread. Lower elevation relative to surrounding properties increases severity during area-wide events.

Critical Understanding: Sewer backup differs from surface flooding. Even elevated properties connect to municipal systems that can fail, sending contaminated water up through basement drains. Areas that are not considered a flood zone can still be flooded due to sewer system failures.

Question 5: "Do you have proper sewer backup coverage, and do you understand the coverage conditions?"

Coverage Gap Identification: Standard homeowner policies exclude sewer backup unless specifically endorsed. Many clients assume they have coverage that doesn't exist.

Critical Conditions:

• Separate endorsement requirement for sewer backup coverage

• Maintenance obligations that affect coverage validity

• Coverage limits often inadequate for $43,000 average claims

• Higher deductibles typically apply to sewer backup claims

Risk Assessment Matrix

Highest Risk Combinations:

• Pre-1940 home + unknown valve status + no sewer backup coverage

• Any property + unmaintained valve + inadequate coverage limits

• Lower elevation + older infrastructure + no recent professional inspection

Immediate Action Items:

• Properties without known protection require professional assessment

• Unmaintained systems need immediate cleaning and inspection

• Coverage gaps require policy modifications before incidents occur

The Protection-Coverage Connection

These questions reveal the relationship between physical protection and insurance coverage. Proper coverage requires both appropriate policy endorsements and maintained protection systems. One without the other creates significant vulnerability.