Common Winter Home Insurance Claims and How to Avoid Them
Homeowners insurance claims tend to vary by the season. While some home issues, such as theft or flooding, can happen at any time of year, others, such as frozen pipes or ice dams, occur almost exclusively during the winter. Read on to learn more about some of the most common winter home insurance claims and how to avoid making them.
Understanding the Risks
Winter weather can be hard on people’s homes. Pipes freezing over can lead to water damage. Ice dams can form on roofs and gutters. Fire becomes more of a hazard due to heating systems. Winter storms can cause their own problems, such as falling tree limbs.
Preventing Frozen Pipe Claims
Quick drops in temperature and poor insulation can cause pipes to freeze over during the winter. To prevent this common home insurance claim, keep your pipes protected. Insulate your pipes properly to avoid allowing exposure to the elements. Seal cracks and gaps in the walls or foundations to prevent letting the winter air into your home. Keep the interior temperature of your home consistent. If the outdoor temperature dips below freezing, allow faucets to drip.
Mitigating Roof and Gutter Issues
When an ice dam forms on your roof, it prevents water from flowing off your roof, which can cause it to leak into your home. Clogged gutters can have a similar effect. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent this occurrence. Start with the attic, adding proper insulation and ventilating the attic to maintain its temperature. Clear snow off of the roof as soon as you can do so safely, and clean your gutters and downspouts regularly.
Fire Safety Measures
Fires are most common when the weather is the coldest. This is because heating systems that haven’t been used for the rest of the year can have unseen issues. Make sure these systems, even space heaters, are inspected regularly and monitored while in use. Avoid overloading circuits and using faulty circuits when it comes time to decorate for the holidays. At all times, be sure flammable materials are kept away from your home and handled safely.
Winter Storm Damage Prevention
There’s no way to guarantee that a winter storm won’t cause damage to your home, but taking steps like trimming tree branches, securing outdoor furniture and clearing driveways during storms can put you one step ahead. Be sure to keep emergency supplies and contact information on hand in case something does happen to your home during a storm.
Having up-to-date home insurance becomes more important than ever when the temperatures drop for winter. Find home insurance coverage options from over 50 top-rated carriers in less than 5 minutes today, and be sure with Nsure.
