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The I.I.I. Offers Tips On Protecting
Your Home
Much of the country
periodiaclly experiences severe and sustained cold weather,
with snowfalls interspersed with periods of melting and freezing.
This can inflict considerable damage on homes.
Here are some tips and steps you can take
to make insurance losses less likely during extended severe
weather.Keep sidewalks and entrances to your home free from
snow and ice.
* Watch for ice dams near gutter
downspouts. Keep gutters free of leaves and debris so melting
snow and ice can flow freely. Ice dams can cause water to
build up and seep into your house.
* Keep the house heated to a minimum
of 65 degrees. The temperature inside the walls where the
pipes are located is substantially colder than the walls
themselves. A temperature lower than 65 degrees will not
keep the inside walls from freezing.
* Identify the location for the main
water shutoff in your home. Find out how it works in case
you have to use it.
* Open hot and cold faucets enough to
let them drip slowly. Keeping water moving within the pipes
will prevent freezing.
* If you haven’t already, make sure
all hoses are disconnected from outside spigots.
* If your garage is attached to your
house, keep the garage doors closed. The door leading to
the house is probably not as well-insulated as an exterior
door.
* If ice forms on tree limbs, watch for
dead, damaged or dangerous branches that could break and
fall because of ice, snow or wind and damage your house,
a car, or injure someone walking near your property.
* If you use fireplaces, wood stoves
and electric heaters, watch them closely and make sure they
are working properly.
* Remember to close the flue in your
fireplace when you’re not using it.
* If you have to leave your home on a
trip, ask a neighbor to check the house regularly. If there
is a problem with frozen pipes or water leakage, attending
to it quickly could mean far less damage.
* If you plan to be away for an extended
period of time, have the water system drained by a professional
to keep pipes from freezing or bursting.
A worst-case scenario
* If you discover that pipes are
frozen, don’t wait for them to burst. Take measures
to thaw them immediately, or call a plumber for assistance.
* If your pipes burst, first turn off
the water and then mop up spills. You don’t want the
water to do more damage than it already has.
* Call your agent or company as soon
as you can. An insurance adjuster doesn’t need to see
the spill before you take action. However, he or she will
want to inspect any damaged items.
* Make temporary repairs and take other
steps to protect your property from further damage. Remove
any carpet or furniture that can be further damaged from
seepage.
* Make a list of the damaged articles.
* Save the receipts for what you spend—including
additional living expenses if you must leave your home until
repairs are completed—and submit them to your insurance
company for reimbursement.
Standard homeowners policies will cover most of the kinds
of damage that result from a freeze. For example, if house
pipes freeze and burst or if ice forms in gutters and causes
water to back up under roof shingles and seep into the house.
You would also be covered if the weight of snow or ice damages
your house.
However, most policies do not cover backups
in sewers and drains or flood damage, which can also happen
in winter. To be covered for flooding, you need a policy from
the National Flood Insurance Program, while coverage for sewers
and drains is generally offered as an endorsement to a standard
homeowners insurance policy.
If your home suffers water damage, it is
important to make sure that it is properly dried and repaired
to prevent any potential problem with mold. Remember, mold
can not survive without moisture.
If you have any questions regarding your
insurance coverage, contact us.
The I.I.I. is a nonprofit, communications
organization supported by the insurance industry.
Please be advised that coverage cannot
be bound, and is not considered to be bound, as a result of
transactions on this website. |
