Winter Home Damage and Insurance Claim Prevention

Wisconsin winter can be brutal. Frigid temperatures and large amounts of snow can lead to home damage. We are going to discuss a couple of the most common types of winter-related damage, how to help prevent them and what your insurance can do to help.

1. Fallen Tree Branches

If your home has a lot of large trees surrounding it, one of the problems you may have is tree branches breaking off and falling on your roof. This tends to happen from the weight of the snow and ice on the branches, weighing them down until they break.
In the event that there is damage, your insurance policy should cover the damage. To avoid any circumstances where the claim could be denied due to poor maintenance, keeping up with trimming your trees regularly can help in avoiding this situation.

2. Burst Water Pipes

With below freezing winter temperatures, water pipes can freeze. Frozen pipes can burst causing water damage in your home.

Leaving your faucets on with a slow, steady drip can keep the water in your pipes from freezing. In areas like basements where temperatures are typically colder, using blankets, towels and pads can help keep pipes from freezing. If your pipes do freeze up, heating pads and hair dryers can be useful in unfreezing your pipe to prevent them from bursting.

In order to be sure any claims of accidental water damage will be covered, there are some steps to take. Be sure to maintain your homes temperature at a minimum of 55 degrees during colder times. Should your pipes burst, be sure to turn the water off at the main water value to prevent more water damage.

3. House Fires

Candles and fireplaces are the cause of many winter house fires. A few tips to help lessen unwanted flames:

Use flashlights instead of candles during power outages.
Water Christmas trees regularly to keep them from drying out and causing a fire.
Never use your stove/oven to heat your home.
Install a glass or metal screen in front of your fireplace and have your chimney cleaned regularly.
Keep all portable heaters at least 3 feet away from flammable items and unplug them when you sleep or leave home.

To be sure that your insurance policy will cover any damage from a fire be sure to take any and all precautions to prevent the possibility of a fire.

4. Ice dams on your roof

When snow melts and refreezes near the edge of the roof or gutters it forms ice dams. When ice melts again water can seep under your shingles and cause mold and leakage. Heavy icicles hanging off your roof could rip off your gutters.

To prevent ice dams be sure your attic is properly insulated, which will keep your roof cold and help prevent ice dams. Never climb on your roof to shovel off snow. This could damage your shingles and weaken your roof over time.

In the event that there is damage, your insurance policy should cover the damage. To avoid any circumstances where the claim could be denied due to poor maintenance, keeping up with trimming your trees regularly can help in avoiding this situation.

Be sure to understand your Insurance Policy

We want to be sure you understand what your policy covers and the amount of coverage you have. If you don’t fully understand your policy, be sure to read through your declaration page for everything that is covered and the exclusions for anything that is not. If you need further clarification, never hesitate to give us a call. We will be glad to go over it with you.

For more information refer to the article by nerdwallet.com – 4 Common Winter Home Insurance Claims and How to Prevent Them

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