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Protect
your home from Old Man Winter
SEATTLE - Freezing temperatures are
reminders that ice, snow and wind can devastate homes or businesses
if they are 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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