Planning to install a backwater valve, sump pump or other basement flood protection? Toronto expanded its Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program on May 1, 2026. Eligible properties can receive up to $6,650. Read the City’s announcement.

This is a City of Toronto program. It does not automatically apply across the GTA. Owners in Markham, Richmond Hill and other municipalities should check their own city’s programs.

Know the dates

The expanded amounts apply to eligible work completed on or after November 12, 2025, with applications generally due within two years of the installation or service. Earlier work remains subject to the old amounts and one-year application window. Check current program conditions.

The maximum is not a guaranteed cheque

Eligible costs receive up to 80% reimbursement, subject to these caps:

• One plumbing assessment: $500
• Backwater valves: $1,600 each, maximum two
• One sump pump: $2,250; battery backup: an additional $300
• Foundation drain connection severance and capping: $400

Each category has a lifetime property limit. Approval and annual funding also apply. Do not build the maximum subsidy into your renovation budget as guaranteed income. Amounts and eligibility.

Check before work starts

Applicants must be registered owners of eligible single-family, duplex, triplex or fourplex homes in Toronto. Contractors and subcontractors need the appropriate City business licence when doing the work. Backwater valves require a building permit and inspection. Retain itemized paid invoices, completion dates and required photographs or assessment forms. Other conditions concern previous subsidies, downspouts and amounts owed to the City. Use the complete application checklist.

Ask a qualified professional which measures suit your property before comparing proposals. A subsidized device is not a solution for every source of water entry. Proper installation, operation and maintenance matter too.

Review the insurance alongside the equipment

A subsidy is not insurance, and installing equipment does not guarantee a premium reduction. Groundwater, overland flooding, sewer backup and indoor plumbing incidents may be treated differently. Check whether sewer backup and overland flood coverage have been added, together with their limits, deductibles and exclusions. IBC’s water damage guidance.

Keep installation and maintenance records. Tell your broker about the improvements and ask whether coverage should change or any discount criteria are met.

A-Z Insurance can help review the water damage protection in your home policy. Call 905-707-2929 or email info@azinsure.ca. The City decides subsidy eligibility and approval; recheck its official page before applying.

Cold weather calls for extra attention to plumbing near exterior walls, garages and other chilly areas. Before a faucet stops running or a stain appears, locate the shut-off valves, prepare outdoor plumbing and check the heating system.

Every home needs measures suited to its equipment. A thermostat setting, faucet cover or dripping tap cannot guarantee that pipes will stay unfrozen.

Start with outdoor taps and hoses

From a safe position, check whether garden hoses have been disconnected and identify the type of outdoor faucet installed. Systems with an interior isolation valve may require a specific shut-off and drainage sequence. Frost-resistant fixtures also need preparation according to their instructions. Toronto recommends disconnecting hoses, closing the appropriate outdoor supply and allowing it to drain. Toronto’s pipe-freeze prevention guidance

Do not unscrew a small valve cap simply because it looks like a drain. If the arrangement is unclear, corroded or leaking, or you cannot confirm proper drainage, ask a plumber. A suitable protective cover may supplement the process; it does not replace drainage, repairs or correct operation.

Check conditions around indoor pipes

Pay attention to the water meter, exterior-wall pipework, cabinets and garages. Have inadequate insulation or cold-air entry investigated. Never seal combustion-air or exhaust openings as part of draught proofing.

Where heat must be maintained, use settings appropriate to the building, professional advice and policy requirements. A range such as 15–18°C is not a universal safe setting. The room containing the thermostat may be warmer than concealed plumbing.

Opening cabinets near pipes can help warm air circulate. First secure cleaning products from children and pets. If a section has frozen before, have the cause investigated rather than relying on the same temporary response each cold spell.

Should you leave a tap dripping?

Some municipal water services recommend a controlled flow for specific vulnerable service pipes. That is not a universal instruction for every household. Ask the local utility or a qualified plumber whether it applies, how it should be done, when to stop, and what drainage and water-billing issues to consider. Do not leave taps running unattended as a substitute for a freeze-prevention or home-care plan. Ottawa’s guidance for vulnerable water-service pipes

If a tap stops running, investigate before applying heat

The problem may be inside the house, in the service pipe or with municipal supply. Check for utility notices and observe safely for signs of freezing or leakage. Contact a plumber or the water utility if the location is unclear, the affected pipe is concealed, or damage is visible.

Never use a torch, open flame or intense heat on a frozen pipe. Do not use electrical equipment in wet conditions. A split may become apparent during thawing or after service returns, so restored flow is not the end of the check. Toronto recommends a licensed plumber if you cannot locate or resolve the frozen section. Toronto’s frozen-pipe response guidance

If water is already leaking

• Keep people away from hazards; call 911 for an immediate threat to life
• Close the appropriate water supply only if the valve is safely accessible and you know how to operate it
• Do not enter water, operate panels or start pumps if electrical equipment may be affected; contact the utility and a Licensed Electrical Contractor
• Call a plumber, notify your insurer promptly, and document damage and mitigation when safe

An apparent power outage does not prove floodwater is electrically safe. ESA advises professional assessment of water-affected electrical systems. ESA’s flood-safety guidance

How does insurance treat frozen pipes?

Coverage for a sudden escape of water after freezing depends on the cause, exclusions and any heating, absence or vacancy conditions. Ask separately about the pipe repair and resulting property damage. A burst does not automatically make every cost payable. Square One’s consumer guidance also describes restrictions on frozen-pipe claims, including precautions while away. Square One on frozen pipes and insurance

For an extended absence, review inspections, heating and any professional drain-down arrangements separately. A neighbour looking at the house from outside may not satisfy the policy. Where damage has occurred, hidden moisture and restoration also need attention.

Contact A-Z Insurance to review your policy’s requirements. Phone: 905-707-2929. Email: info@azinsure.ca.

This is general prevention and insurance information, not a substitute for an on-site plumbing, electrical or insurance assessment. Follow equipment instructions and site conditions. No measure guarantees prevention or claim payment.

A damaged roof, a broken skylight, a flooded basement and a frozen pipe can all follow severe weather, yet lead to different claim outcomes. Coverage depends on the cause of the loss, the property damaged, your policy wording and any optional coverage purchased.

This guide helps Ontario homeowners understand common misunderstandings. Your policy and the insurer’s assessment determine coverage, deductibles, limits and exclusions.

1. Wind, hail, lightning, snow and ice: what may be covered?

Wind and hail. Many home policies cover wind damage, including trees or debris striking a home and rain entering through openings caused by wind or hail. This does not establish full replacement-cost coverage for every fence, awning or outdoor appliance. Check which property is insured and how a settlement would be calculated. Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC): wind protection

Lightning. Lightning is a commonly insured peril. Your insurer still needs to confirm the cause of damage to appliances or wiring, the applicable coverage and any limitations. IBC: types of home coverage

Snow and ice dams. Damage from snow loading, ice-dam leaks and melting snow entering a home should not be treated as a single coverage category. Some policies cover sudden, accidental ice-dam water damage; others may require additional coverage. Ask separately about roof damage, interior damage and cleanup costs. Routine snow removal is not automatically reimbursable. RBC Insurance: ice damming, IBC: coverage types

2. A wet basement: first identify where the water came from

A sudden indoor pipe or appliance leak. Sudden, accidental leaks from indoor plumbing or appliances are commonly covered water losses. Repairing the failed appliance itself may not be covered.

Sewer backup. This generally requires optional coverage. Do not assume your base policy includes it. Check whether sewer backup appears on your policy, along with its limit, deductible and exclusions. IBC: water damage and flood protection

Overland flooding. Surface water from heavy rain or overflowing rivers and lakes generally calls for checking optional overland water or flood coverage. Insurers use different names and wording. Availability and price depend on risk and underwriting: a high-risk location may face higher premiums, restricted limits or unavailable coverage. Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC): flood coverage

Frozen pipes. During a heating-season absence, your policy may require maintained heat, regular checks or shutting off and draining the water system. Requirements and inspection intervals vary. Confirm them with your broker or insurer before leaving rather than relying on a universal number of days. IBC: water damage and freezing precautions

At renewal, ask: “How does my policy treat sewer backup, overland flooding, groundwater seepage and snowmelt damage?” The label “water coverage” alone is not enough. Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA): questions to ask

3. Other limitations and misunderstandings to watch for

• Maintenance is different from an insured loss. An aging roof, gradual deterioration and routine upkeep generally are not insured. Damage to the roof itself and resulting interior water damage may also be treated differently. Rainfall alone does not establish coverage. FCAC: home insurance, IBC: roofing and premiums
• Valuable items do not all require individual listing to have any coverage. Check the item category, limits and whether additional insurance is needed. Patio furniture, barbecues and yachts are different types of property; watercraft may need separate coverage. FSRA: valuables questions, IBC: coverage types
• A vacation is different from vacancy. “Vacant” and temporarily “unoccupied” have different insurance meanings. Moving out without intending to return, or a gap between tenants, may trigger vacancy restrictions. Being away for more than 30 days does not automatically mean every claim is denied. Disclose the actual occupancy situation in advance and ask whether a vacancy permit or different coverage is required. Intact: vacant home insurance
• Land and earth movement need separate attention. Landslides and other earth movement are generally excluded. Loss of land value is also different from insured rebuilding costs. IBC: excluded perils, FCAC: disaster coverage

4. Reducing damage before and after a storm

Maintain the property. Before winter, check heating, roofing and drainage, and secure outdoor items. If roof snow or ice dams need removal, use an appropriate professional rather than risking a fall. IBC: ice and snow protection

Keep records. Save photos of your home and belongings. After damage, take photos and make a loss inventory when safe, and retain receipts.

Give prompt notice. Report the loss to your insurer as your policy requires and ask your broker for help. Do not postpone notice while gathering all estimates or deciding whether a claim is worthwhile.

Limit further damage safely. Take reasonable protective measures; use professionals for water, electrical or structural hazards. Keep cleanup and emergency-repair receipts. Before non-emergency major repairs, demolition or disposal, confirm the insurer’s requirements. Handle hazardous items safely and document their condition and disposal. IBC: home insurance claim steps

5. Could a claim affect next year’s premium?

It could, but neither an increase nor an unchanged premium can be guaranteed. Personal claims history, the home’s condition, local risks and neighbourhood loss experience can affect an insurer’s pricing. IBC: how home insurance rates are set

For damage close to the deductible, ask your broker about applicable coverage, expected out-of-pocket costs and possible effects on your claims record before deciding. Follow your policy’s prompt-notice and loss-mitigation requirements whether or not you seek payment.

Want to review your home coverage?

Contact A-Z Insurance for home and auto insurance quotes and help checking water endorsements, deductibles and applicable discounts.

Phone: 905-707-2929

Email: info@azinsure.ca

This article provides general information, not a coverage or claim guarantee for an individual policy. Quotes, discounts and coverage are subject to insurer approval. Your issued policy and endorsements govern the actual terms.