Protect Your Home from Winter Hazards

It is an excellent idea to protect your home from winter hazards, and there are ways to do this efficiently. Cold weather can devastate your house, leading to expensive repairs. However, you can prevent many of the most common hazards with preparation.

Winter Hazards and What to Do

From getting commercial umbrella insurance to insulating your plumbing, here's everything homeowners should do before the first winter storm hits.

Acquire Commercial Umbrella Insurance

Homeowners insurance offers compensation in several instances:

• Vandalism
• Theft
• Fire
• Personal liability

However, every policy has exceptions. For example, most homeowners insurance doesn't cover personal liability if your pet injures a guest. There's also the issue of total value; if you have many valuable assets, the total may exceed the insurance company's coverage limits. Umbrella insurance ensures you keep the difference.

Insulate the Plumbing

Freezing pipes is one of the most common winter hazards affecting your home. When the temperature dips below freezing, the water inside the plumbing turns into ice. Unfortunately, ice takes up more space than water, putting pressure on the pipes until they give. The resulting flood can cause extensive issues:

• Water damage
• Mold and mildew
• Termites
• Wood rot

One solution is to insulate your pipes. Doing so can be expensive since it requires opening the walls, but the preemptive measure ensures you can use plumbing without issue during cold weather. Another option is allowing a faucet to drip. This approach keeps water moving, so it never freezes. The downside is that even a slow drip can add to your utility bill over time.

Prepare Your Landscaping

Learning to keep your home safe from winter hazards is only part of the process — you also have to look after your landscaping. For example, storms can uproot dead trees, potentially causing damage to your home or vehicle. Dead branches could collapse under the weight of snow, which is especially dangerous if said branches hang over your roof. As a result, you should have your trees trimmed before winter hits. It is wise to regularly clear branches when it snows to keep ice from accumulating. Additionally, you should winterize your irrigation system. Like house plumbing, underground irrigation lines can freeze, necessitating expensive repairs. Since your plants need minimal water during the winter, it's a good idea to drain and shut off the system until spring.

Clean Your Chimney

Winter is the ideal time to get cozy by the fireplace, but you must clean the chimney first. Combustion produces soot, which builds up in the flue. Too much accumulation can catch fire, threatening your entire home. A clogged chimney also means poor ventilation, putting residents at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Find the Right Commercial Umbrella Insurance Company

Coverage is essential when looking for commercial umbrella insurance, but you should also prioritize customer service. If something happens to your property, you need helpful agents who advocate for you, not bureaucrats who fight your claim at every turn. To find a top-notch company that cares about its clients, read reviews and consult consumer advocate websites.

About David G. Sayles Insurance Services

At David G. Sayles Insurance Services, we help our clients decide which of these options is best for them based on their current situation and risk factors.  Contact us at 1-855-977-1842 or insureme@dsayles.mysites.io for a consultation!