Being a homeowner, it's a good idea to keep insurance claims to a minimum. One way to do that is to prepare your home for winter to prevent fiascos such as frozen or broken pipes. Here are key ways to prepare and avoid homeowners insurance claims during the cold and wet months.
Keep your homeowners insurance claim at way during winter, follow these tips:
Many homeowners experience frozen pipes in the winter because they don't take the time to wrap warm towels around crucial outdoor piping structures. The danger of pipes freezing is they can break and flood your property. You also need to check your indoor pipes and make sure they are well-insulated. The trick is to keep your pipes warm even when outdoor temperatures drop to freezing levels.
If you notice leaks in pipes, you should get them fixed right away. It's easy to apply sealant from a hardware store at an affordable cost. Neglecting to keep your pipes warm in the winter can lead to an expensive problem that your insurer might not cover if the damage could've been prevented.
One of the most common homeowners insurance claims involves guests who slip, fall and get hurt. You need liability coverage to pay for their visit to the hospital. But it's best if the accident never happened in the first place. You can prevent slips and falls by maintaining clean, dry, clutter-free walkways without big cracks. Pouring salt on an icy walkway helps reduce the slipperiness.
A standard homeowners insurance policy covers many disasters, but not everything. Usually, exclusions are listed in policies for perils not covered. That's why it's a good idea to read your policy thoroughly and know what it covers. It might provide some coverage for flooding, for example, but not all types of flooding.
Certain regions where snow and ice are heavy in the winter are prone to ice dams, which are icy formations on roofs and gutters. These ice dams can damage your roof and create dangerous conditions from sharp edges. They can develop leaks that cause further damage to your home's interior. It's wise to remove ice dams from your roof as they form.
Reducing the number of homeowners insurance claims you file should be a conscious goal, particularly in the winter. It's still helpful to carry suitable forms of insurance for your home in case you face a sudden disaster that is difficult to prevent. Contact us today at Reata Insurance to customize a policy for your personal needs.
