Winter weather can cause a lot of problems for property owners, like cold temperatures, snow, blizzards, icy roads, frozen pipes, power outages, and damage to the landscape. Sadly, there isn’t one insurance policy that covers everything. It’s up to the person with insurance (the insured) to think about the risks they might face and see if their policy covers those risks. Sometimes, they might need extra coverage.
Each insurance policy is different, so it’s the insured job to know what disasters or events are covered and which ones are not.
Here’s what your policy might not cover:
- Flood Damage: Normal insurance usually doesn’t cover floods. So, unless you have a separate policy for floods, you won’t be covered if your property gets flooded. Even in winter, flooding can happen if a lot of snow melts really quickly because of a sudden change in temperature. This can cause damage to homes or businesses.
- Damages from Negligence: If you leave your home for a long-time during winter without taking care of it properly and something gets damaged, your insurance might not cover it. For example, if pipes burst because you didn’t prevent them from freezing.
To prevent these problems, homeowners and business owners should:
1. Check their property regularly to make sure it stays warm enough.
2. Keep the temperature above 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Turn off the water and drain the pipes if leaving for a long time.
4. Shovel snow off the roof to avoid it collapsing.
5. Insulate the attic to prevent ice dams.
6. Thaw frozen pipes by letting warmer air reach them.
Winter can be tough on properties, so it’s important to be prepared for whatever might happen during this season. Give us a call to make sure you are covered properly.