Guide to Water Service Line Insurance

Whether you live in a newly-built house or own a property that’s several decades old, you never know when an unexpected event could damage your home. That’s why it’s imperative that homeowners invest in a high-quality home insurance policy.

Having home insurance increases the chances that you’ll be financially protected if a sudden, unexpected event (often referred to as a risk or peril) damages or destroys your home.

However, home insurance policies aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution; for instance, you’ll need to purchase optional forms of coverage, like water service line insurance, if you want extensive protection for your home.

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If you’re not familiar with water line service coverage, you’ve come to the right place. Continue reading to learn more about water service line coverage in Canada.

What is water service line insurance and why should you consider adding it to your home insurance policy?

Water service line coverage is an optional form of coverage that isn’t automatically included in standard home insurance policies in Canada.

If you add water service line coverage to your policy, you can be financially protected from a wide range of water service line issues, like compromised or broken piping. If an unexpected issue with one of your water service lines takes place, your home insurance company will cover all (or a portion) of the related repair or replacement expenses.

Many insurance brokers recommend water service line coverage because it helps fill in the coverage gaps in a standard policy. 

Additionally, as a homeowner, you’re responsible for dealing with damaged or completely broken water service lines on your property (which can be an expensive ordeal). So, unless you’re comfortable covering the costs out of pocket, we suggest adding water service line coverage to your home insurance policy.

What causes of loss are covered by water service line insurance in Canada?

Water service line coverage can cover your expenses if the cause of your loss is the result of the following:

• Wear and tear
• Pipe damage caused by tree roots
• Corrosion or rust
• The weight of animals, people or construction equipment
• Mechanical issues

Certain home insurance companies, like Aviva, offer additional protection to policyholders who invest in service line insurance. Speak with your Surex insurance broker for more details.

What does service line coverage insurance cover if you experience a loss?

The following expenses can be covered if you experience a loss related to a broken or damaged water service line:

Excavation costs

Your home insurance company can cover all or a portion of the expenses related to excavating your damaged water service lines (for repair or replacement purposes).

Loss of use-related expenses

Your home insurance company can provide fair rental value and additional living expenses if your home is rendered uninhabitable due to the water service line damage.

Temporary repair-related expenses

If you have water service line insurance coverage included in your home insurance policy, your home insurance company can cover all or a portion of temporary repair-related expenses.

Outdoor property-related expenses

Your home insurance company can cover expenses related to the following exterior components of your property:

• Trees, plants, shrubbery, etc.
• Walkways
• Driveways

Speak with your Surex insurance advisor to learn more about what is and isn’t covered by water service line insurance.

What is the average cost of home insurance service line coverage in Canada?

Adding water service line coverage to your home insurance policy is a relatively inexpensive way to financially protect your home.

The cost of water service line coverage varies from provider to provider, so we can’t tell you exactly how much you’ll need to pay for this optional form of coverage. Furthermore, many home insurance companies have different pricing/coverage amount options for policyholders, which makes it even more challenging to pinpoint the exact cost.

That being said, we know that Aviva charges policyholders roughly $30 per year for $10,000 of water service line coverage and approximately $50 per year for $25,000 of coverage. However, these pricing options are subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions, etc., stated in your home insurance policy.

What are some other forms of optional coverage you can add to your home insurance policy?

Water service line insurance is one of many optional forms of coverage that you can include in your policy. Some examples of other common forms of optional coverage include earthquake coverage and overland flood coverage.

Earthquake coverage

Certain Canadian provinces are more prone to earthquakes than the rest of the country. Homeowners that live in these parts of Canada should consider speaking with a Surex insurance advisor about adding earthquake coverage to their home insurance policies. 

Earthquake coverage protects your home, and the contents of your home if an earthquake damages or destroys your property.

Overland flood coverage

If you live near a large lake or active river, you know that floods are commonplace throughout Canada, especially in the spring. Homeowners that live near a body of water may need to add overland flood coverage to their policies, but in most cases, it’s an optional form of coverage. This coverage though, is one that every person should consider, not just if you live near a body of water.  With climate change our country is seeing more and more flash flooding from rainfall.  When the ground cannot absorb the water fast enough, that pooling water can enter our homes.  Flood insurance protects against this as well

Overland flood coverage protects homeowners from water damage that results from:

• Rainfall
• Rising levels in nearby bodies of water 
• Melting snow, ice, etc.
• Water from an overflowing dam

How can policyholders add water service line insurance to their home insurance policy?

The easiest way to add water service line coverage to your policy is by reaching out to your Surex insurance advisor.

Surex works with a wide variety of top-rated home insurance companies in Canada, including Aviva. Whether you’re looking to amend your policy with optional coverage or simply have a question about your policy, our talented team of advisors is here to help.

Save up to 25% on home insurance coverage when you shop with Surex

At Surex, our main goal is to help Canadian policyholders like you find the best insurance for your needs and budget.

Want to start saving on home insurance?

Contact your personal Surex insurance advisor today to get started. We can provide you with quality insurance quotes from the best insurance companies in ten minutes or less.

Don’t forget to ask your Surex insurance advisor why you should consider bundling multiple insurance policies with the same provider (the savings can be as high as 25%!).