Protect your home from Old Man Winter

SEATTLE - Early snowfall across the Northwest is a reminder that ice, snow and wind can devastate a home if it's not properly winterized.

Each year, homeowners suffer hundreds of millions of dollars in damages due to burst pipes, frozen gutters and other cold weather-related disasters. Winter weather-related losses such as burst pipes, wind damage, ice dams and damage caused by the weight of ice or snow are covered under standard Homeowners Insurance policies.

By winterizing your home you also can eliminate many inconveniences caused by weather-related losses.

"Even when you have insurance, the hassle of waiting for your home to be repaired can be a dark cloud over your holiday plans," said Karl Newman, NW Insurance Council president. "It takes some work, but it's definitely worth the effort to winterize your home."

Shut the door on Old Man Winter and protect your home by following these easy, do-it-yourself tips:

• Maintain gutters. Remove leaves, pinecones, sticks and other debris from gutters so melting snow and ice can flow freely. This can prevent ice damming, which can push melting water under the roofing and into your attic. You may also consider installing gutter guards. Available at most hardware stores, gutter guards are screens that prevent debris from entering the gutter and blocking drainpipes.
• Trim trees and remove dead branches. Ice, snow and wind can cause weak trees or branches to break - damaging your home or car.
• Check insulation. Add extra insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. If too much heat escapes through the attic, it can cause snow or ice to melt on the roof. The water will re-freeze, allowing more snow and ice to build up. This can result in a collapsed roof.
• Maintain pipes. Wrap pipes with pipe insulation or heating tape and insulate unfinished rooms such as garages that have exposed pipes. Also, check for cracks and leaks. Repair them immediately to prevent much costlier repairs.
• Keep your house warm. The temperature in the home should be at least 65 degrees. The air inside the walls where pipes are located is substantially colder than the walls themselves. A room temperature below 65 will not keep pipes from freezing.
• Get to know your plumbing. Learn how to shut off the water and know where your home's pipes are located. If pipes freeze, you may be able to prevent the pipes from bursting by taking immediate action. Quickly shut off the water and direct your plumber to the problem.

For more information on winterizing your home, or for a free copy of Surviving Severe Cold Weather, contact NW Insurance Council at (800) 664-4942 or visit http://www.nwinsurance.org.

The NW Insurance Council is a nonprofit, consumer education organization funded by member insurance companies.

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