Winter - Prepare Your Home to Prevent Unnecessary Insurance Claims

Winter Preparations to Protect Your Home and Your Insurance Premiums Too

With the harsh winter weather and colder temperatures just around the corner, residents of Durham Region have begun to take appropriate measures to ensure that their assets are prepared and/or protected for the conditions that lie ahead. Such activities include swimming pool closures, putting away outdoor furniture, the purchase and installation of new snow tires, and booking service appointments for their snow blowers.

However, the most significant asset that requires attention in preparation for the winter is the home itself. Sometimes, perhaps due to a far-too-busy schedule/lifestyle or just a lack of prioritization, homeowners will address more singular or standalone possessions, like a pool or a car, rather than focusing an adequate amount of time and effort to make sure that their home and property are safeguarded against winter’s wrath; consequently, this inaction may open the door to damage/mishaps that could result in insurance claims and thus a potential increase in their annual premiums.

Winter weather can exact any number of untoward effects on a home or a property, with the most common circumstances consisting of the following (listed in no specific order):

  • Flooding
  • Frozen pipes
  • Roof damage
  • Gutter collapse
  • Ice dam formation
  • Sewer line backups
  • Fallen tree branches
  • Personal injury (slips/falls)
  • Chimney/masonry damage
  • Damage from rodent infiltration

To avoid these types of situations over the winter months, and any subsequent effect on their home insurance rates, homeowners across Durham Region might want to prioritize and carry out these steps to prepare their home and property for the coming season:

  • Clean the eavestroughs
  • Schedule a roof inspection
  • Have the chimney inspected and swept
  • Shut off the water supply to outside faucets
  • Trim overgrown trees/tree limbs away from the roof
  • Ensure that the attic has adequate insulation/ventilation
  • Book a service call to inspect and clean the furnace and ducts
  • Inspect and/or replace weather stripping around the garage door
  • Inspect and repair or replace exterior caulking around doors, windows
  • Patch/block potential access points to the home or garage for mice, raccoons
  • Ensure that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly

In addition to safeguarding the home and property from damage and potential insurance claims, pursuing the above measures can help with improving energy efficiency, avoiding unwanted repair costs, and ensuring the health and safety of all occupants of the home.

Be Certain That You Have Adequate Home Insurance Coverage for the Winter

Home Insurance Coverage

Despite the best intentions to prepare their homes for winter, local residents may still be impacted by the damaging effects of the high winds, frigid temperatures, snow storms, and ice storms that are known to befall the region. This is why they would be prudent to speak with a home insurance specialist, such as an experienced broker from Petley-Hare Limited, to ensure that they have adequate coverage for any such eventuality.

More often than might be expected, homeowners are not fully aware of what is covered, or not covered, under their home insurance should they need or want to submit a claim for damage triggered by a winter storm; by consulting with a Petley-Hare representative, Durham Region residents can become more informed about their coverage, or coverage gaps, with respect to the following circumstances and more:

  • Overland flooding (in the spring)
  • Sewer backup due to an ice blockage
  • Damage to living trees and landscaping
  • Temporary living accommodations (hotel)
  • Food spoilage from prolonged power outages
  • Additional heat sources (fireplaces, woodstoves)

Petley-Hare Limited representatives are locally-based and thus well-informed about the home insurance needs of residents across the region. Additionally, they fully understand the importance of protecting such a valued asset, and are therefore committed to finding the best solution to meet the distinct/individual needs of each client.

For further information on the home insurance services provided by the professionals at Petley-Hare Limited, please go to home insurance page.

To review and/or revise your current home insurance policy and ensure that you have adequate coverage for the upcoming winter season, call the team at Petley-Hare Limited today at 1-800-216-5324 to speak with one of our knowledgeable representatives or contact us to schedule a consultation in our Oshawa, Pickering, or Bowmanville offices.

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