As the leaves begin to fall and the air turns crisp, it’s easy to think of turkey dinners, mulling spices, and Christmas lights. However, it is also a great time of year to consider winterizing your home. Whether you own a home or a business, winterization can keep both the cold and the claims away. Our top three winterization tips:
Before you start the first fire of the season consider having a chimney sweep come out and inspect. Rodents and birds love to build nests in flues and soot can build up quickly. Also, take heed if you are stacking firewood near an open flame. Remove all combustible material from around your fireplace or wood stove to prevent unexpected house fires.
Frozen pipes can also be an expensive claim; insurance companies tend to view these claims adversely as they are generally avoidable. Check around your crawl space and basements for any openings that would allow cold air in. Lay plastic sheeting or tarps down on crawlspace flooring and insulate pipes. Be sure to remove garden hoses and cover the spigots afterward.
Lastly, remember to clean out your gutters at the end of the leaf season. Poorly maintained gutters don’t allow for proper runoff causing snow and heavy rain to create water related issues to the structure or foundations. Collapse of roofs due to weight of ice and snow is common especially on pole barns or other outbuilding structures.
We hope you have a safe and claim free holiday season and, as always, let your Independent Insurance Agent know what we can do for you!
For more information, contact Merritt at 828 452 2876 or visit LN Davis Insurance on Main St in Waynesville for your local insurance needs.