The weather is changing. Is your home insurance keeping up?
For Ontario homeowners, severe weather is no longer something we only think about when a major storm is in the forecast. Heavy rainfall, flash flooding, damaging winds, hail and ice storms are becoming increasingly important considerations when it comes to protecting your home—and understanding your insurance coverage.
In 2025, severe weather caused more than $2.4 billion in insured damage across Canada, making it the tenth-costliest year on record. And 2026 is continuing to bring significant weather events. In June and July alone, severe storms and flooding across Ontario and Quebec caused hundreds of millions of dollars in insured damage.
Your Home Faces More Than One Weather Risk
When people think about weather-related home damage, they often picture a tree falling on the roof or hail damaging the shingles. But water is another major concern.
Heavy rainfall can overwhelm drainage systems, causing water to enter basements or back up through sewers. Overland flooding can occur when surface water accumulates or bodies of water overflow. These are different risks—and they aren’t necessarily covered in the same way.
Sewer backup and overland flood coverage are typically optional, meaning homeowners should not assume they automatically have protection simply because they have a home insurance policy. Coverage availability and limits can also vary depending on the property and insurer.
That’s why understanding your policy before the next storm is so important.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Home?
Insurance is an important part of your protection plan, but prevention matters too.
Before the next major storm, consider:
Check your eavestroughs and downspouts. Make sure they’re clear of leaves and debris and directing water away from your home’s foundation.
Inspect your roof. Look for damaged or missing shingles and have problems addressed before they become bigger issues.
Protect your basement. If you have a sump pump, make sure it’s working properly. A backup power source can also be worth considering during severe storms.
Review your trees. Dead or damaged branches can become dangerous during high winds and storms. Consider having potentially hazardous branches professionally assessed and removed.
Keep valuables off the basement floor. Important documents, electronics and other valuables can be vulnerable if water enters your home.
Create a home inventory. Photos, receipts and a current list of your belongings can make the claims process easier if you experience a significant loss.
Don’t Assume You’re Covered
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners can make is waiting until they have damage to find out what their policy covers.
For example, sudden and accidental water damage from an indoor plumbing failure may be covered under a home policy, while sewer backup or overland flooding may require specific optional coverage. Water entering through a roof opening caused by wind may be covered, while damage resulting from ongoing maintenance issues may not be.
Every home and every policy is different.
Your Insurance Review Shouldn’t Wait for the Forecast
Weather may be unpredictable, but your insurance review doesn’t have to be.
Take a few minutes to speak with your insurance broker about the risks your home may face. Ask whether you have appropriate coverage for sewer backup, overland flooding, wind, hail and other weather-related risks, and make sure your coverage limits still reflect the cost of rebuilding your home and replacing your belongings.
Don’t wait until the next storm is on the radar to discover a gap in your coverage.
Ready for a Home Insurance Checkup?
Contact us today for a review of your home insurance. We’ll help you understand what you’re covered for, identify optional protections that may be available for your home and make sure your policy continues to meet your needs.
Because when the weather changes, your insurance conversation should change with it.
