When winter does a number on your pool, BBQ, fence, or garden furniture, are you covered?

News
Published on April 5, 2019

Many regions of Quebec got more than their share of snow this year. And once that blanket of white starts melting away, there can be unpleasant surprises underneath. A broken patio table, a collapsed shed, a crooked fence, a cracked pool, a cedar hedge crowding out the neighbours. What a pain! But is it covered by your insurance?

If it’s on your property, it’s covered

“Whenever something on your property gets damaged—from the weight of the snow, for instance—you’re generally covered if you have an all-risk home insurance contract,” explains Suzanne Michaud, Vice-President, Insurance, at CAA-Quebec. However, in the case of an aboveground pool, depreciation may apply, i.e., you’ll receive less money that it would take to replace the pool.

Could you have been more careful? Shovelled a bit more? It doesn’t matter. Your insurance should cover you anyway.

To claim or not to claim, that is the question

Before you submit a claim, consider the deductible amount (usually between $300 and $500 for home insurance) and the impact on your premium, which could go up. “Generally speaking, it’s not a good idea to submit a claim for damage under $1,000,” says Michaud. It’s really best you talk to your insurer, who can help you decide whether it’s better to make a claim or not.

Slip slidin’ away

If an entire piece of your property has shifted over to the neighbours’, that’s something else altogether. Ground movements are not generally covered by home insurance. Same thing for lake or river flooding, unless you have a flood rider on your policy, which not all insurance companies offer.

Water infiltration and sewer backup coverage is also optional. You’ll only be protected if you added a specific rider to your policy to that effect.

What about your car?

And what if your car gets flooded? Or the carport tarpaulin falls on its hood? You’ll be covered by your auto insurance provided your car is insured “both ways” as we say. But once again, you’re best to consider the deductible you’ll have to pay and whether your premium might go up.

Are premiums set to rise?

Insurers are expecting a lot of claims because of the tough winter we’ve had in Quebec, but it’s too soon to know if this will result in rising premiums. One thing’s for sure: climate change is causing more and more natural catastrophes, and insurers will have to adjust.

A pound of prevention…

Checking the roof trusses is a good way to see how the house has held up under all the snow. Look for crooked, detached, or misaligned boards that have moved or been pushed. But remember—this is really a job for professionals, especially if corrective action is required.

After the snow has melted, it’s also a good idea to check the foundations, the roof, all seals, and the exterior sidings and to clean out all window wells, vents, drains, etc.

Of course, it’s even better to take preventive action before winter sets in. The experts at CAA-Quebec Residential Advisory Services offer a complete guide to seasonal home maintenance. Some of the things you need to do in the fall:

  • Make sure there are no negative slopes on your property. Runoff water needs to be directed away from the house, not toward it.
  • Clean out the gutters.
  • Remove any lint or debris that may be blocking pipes and vents (heat pump, air exchanger, drier, etc.).
  • Remove leaves and make sure all window wells are unobstructed, to ensure proper drainage.
  • Check the seals around doors and windows.