Harris Hill is largely newer suburban housing, generally well built, and the failures here are the ones that come with modern construction rather than old foundations.
Finished lower levels are the exposure. A newer house with a fully finished basement has more to lose from a small failure than an older one with a bare block cellar.
What we deal with in Harris Hill homes
Appliance and supply connection failures lead, along with water heaters, and both discharge into finished space. Sump systems matter too, particularly during a fast thaw.
Ice damming affects newer homes less than older ones, and it is not absent. Complex roof lines with valleys and dormers give meltwater more places to back up.
What is worth installing to catch a leak early?
Leak detectors near the water heater, the washer and any second-floor plumbing. They are inexpensive and they turn a discovery-in-the-morning into a phone call at the time it starts.
Does a newer house still need a sump backup?
If the basement is finished, yes. The pump is a single point of failure and it is asked to work hardest during the storm most likely to take the power out.