Is Your Home Ready for Winter?





Old Man Winter will soon be unleashing his full fury. Is your home ready for the onslaught of snow, ice and cold winds? If not, the time to prepare is now, before the first storm strikes and your home suffers significant damage from the freezing temps and winter conditions. To help families and businesses protect themselves against winter risks and enjoy the season, below you will find some tips that can help your family prepare for risks and hazards that may come during the winter months.

Typical homeowner’s insurance policies protect against winter-related disasters such as burst pipes, ice dams, wind and damage caused by the weight of ice or snow. But you can save yourself a huge headache and probably higher insurance premiums by acting now to head off these winter-caused damages. Check with your agent to verify coverage.

Snow or ice is the fifth leading cause of homeowners’ insurance claims. Also, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), the average homeowners’ claim for water damage and freezing is a whopping $5,531. Follow these tips to protect you and your home from serious financial liability:

Prevent Ice Dams — An ice dam is caused by the ice buildup at the lower edge of a sloped roof near the gutter. It starts when the interior heat of your home escapes through the attic and melts the snow or ice on the roof. The water runs down and refreezes at the roof’s edge. Over time, ice builds up and blocks water from properly draining off the roof. With no place to drain, the water seeps under the roof shingles and into your attic and the inside walls of your house, causing serve damage that can ultimately lead to mold and other problems.

  

To prevent ice dams, remove leaves, sticks and other debris from gutters or install gutter guards (available in most hardware home stores) that will prevent debris from getting in the gutter and interfering with drainage. You should also keep your attic no more than 10 degrees warmer than the outside temperature and well ventilated. The cooler the attic the less likely that ice and snow will melt and refreeze on the roof. Also, keep your attic floor well insulated so the heat stays in the house instead of escaping through the roof.

“Watch Out for That Tree!”—Trees and branches weakened by snow, ice and wind can snap and seriously hurt a person on your property as well as cause serious damage to your home or car. Trimming trees and removing dead branches can help prevent serious damage and injuries.

Roof Care and Repair—High winds, snow and ice can damage a roof. Check the structural ability of the roof to sustain unusually heavy weight from the accumulation of snow and ice. After a heavy storm check for water stains in the attic and on any overhangs. Lastly, repair or replace split or loose shingles and fix any leaks.

Pipe Dreams… and Nightmares—First, the bad news: Frozen or broken water pipes disrupt hundreds of thousands of American lives every winter. Pipes located in attics, outside walls and crawl spaces are most susceptible to freezing in cold weather. To prevent bursting pipes take these preventive steps:

• Keep the inside temperature of your home at 65 degrees or warmer.
• Wrap heating tape and/or standard insulation around pipes wherever possible.
• Look for pipes with cracks or leaks —they freeze first.
• Keep cabinet doors open during cold spells to allow warm air to circulate around pipes (particularly in the kitchen and bathroom).
• Leave faucets on at a slow trickle; use this step especially when the plumbing runs through unheated or exposed areas.
• If you’re leaving your home for several days, turn off the water completely and drain the pipes, or keep water dripping through one or two faucets, as moving water prevents freezing. However, if you are leaving your home for an extended period of time, plan to turn the water off. It also helps to have someone check your home every day while you are gone.
• If your pipes do freeze, quickly shut off the water and immediately call a plumber.

Prevent Personal Injuries—Homeowners are liable for any injuries that occur on their property. Keep kitty litter, sand or rock salt on hand to sprinkle over frozen driveways, walkways or sidewalks. Additionally, ensure that your outdoor steps and guardrails are in good repair to prevent injuries from falls on ice.

  

Here are a few more tidbits to help you prepare to protect your family this winter:

• Have your heating system inspected by a certified technician to ensure that it is working properly.  Doing so could prevent more costly repairs and a couple cold nights.
• Check your smoke detectors to ensure they are working properly. Also, buy a carbon monoxide detector if you don’t already have one.
• Have your house’s chimney checked and cleaned, if necessary, to minimize fire hazard.
• Drain and shut off outside water spigots.
• Turn off portable or space heaters before going to bed or leaving your home.
• Never use heaters that burn kerosene or similar fuels in the home. They could ignite a fire and cause a build-up of carbon monoxide gases.
• Store combustible materials away from furnaces, fireplaces and portable heaters. 

Contact your local SBS Insurance Agent today to make sure that your home is fully protected against everything that Old Man Winter will dish out this coming winter. We will review your homeowners insurance policy with you and will recommend any necessary additions to your insurance coverage.