The chill of winter is not only an inconvenience for your daily travels it can be devastating to your home. From broken pipes to ice damns, the snow and cold inevitably find a way to damage your house. The good news, there are some things you can do to prevent some of these common winter time losses.

First, insulate pipes that are susceptible to cold. These are exposed pipes that may be located on outer walls or in the basement or crawlspace. Pipe wrap or insulation can be purchased at any local hardware store and is a great way to keep your pipes warm enough not to freeze and burst.

Another common winter time peril is Ice dams. Ice dams form on your roof when water freezes and pushes up your shingles thus causing a type of dam. It is most common to happen down towards the bottom of your roof near your gutters. This first step to preventing ice dams is to make sure your gutters are clear of leaves and debris. So once all of those colorful leaves fall, make sure to clear your gutters before the snow.  Once winter time hits there are a few things that can be done to help prevent ice dams from forming; you can cautiously remove excess snow from your roof or purchase heating elements that go on the bottom of the roof to melt the snow and ice.

Lastly, as a conscious homeowner be sure to keep your walks and driveway free from snow and Ice. In today’s litigious society it is not uncommon for strangers, friends or even family to sue from slip and fall accidents.

By taking a little time to prep your home, you can prevent catastrophic losses which in turn will save you time and money.  If you are unsure if your home policy properly protects you from the above occurrences, contact us for a free insurance review.