As the temperatures go down, the amount of property damage claims goes up! In the winter of 2023, Wisconsin alone experienced nearly 200 million dollars worth of property damage. Freezing temperatures, high winds, snow squalls, and ice storms are just a few of the problems that plague homeowners every year—and with them come thousands of dollars of repairs and countless hours spent arguing with your insurance company on the phone.
In order to better prepare you and your property for the cold season, let’s go over the most common winter homeowners insurance claims and how to avoid them.
Common Homeowners Insurance Claims in Winter
Snow Damage
While snow can be the source of a lot of fun in the wintertime, it can also be the source of damage to your property. Snow can gather in drifts on your roof, creating heavy piles that eventually lead to damage, or, in worst-case scenarios, a collapse. (Most roofs can only withstand 20 pounds of snow per square foot before their structural integrity becomes compromised.) It can also block vents, causing your dryer or heating system to not work properly or stop entirely. When it comes to the structural integrity of your home, snow melt is just as dangerous as regular snow. It can not only lead to flooding in your basement, but the repeat thawing and freezing of snow melt can cause cracks in the foundation of your home to worsen.
To prevent damage, clear snow off of your property as quickly and safely as you can. The sooner you do this after a snowfall, the better, as snow can harden and become difficult to move if left unattended. Use a long-handled roof rake to remove large piles of snow from your roof. To prevent foundational issues, ensure that the grading directly around your home slopes away so that snow melt doesn’t flow toward your property.
Frozen Pipes
One of the most costly and commonly occurring types of property insurance claims during the winter is water damage caused by frozen pipes. As temperatures dip, the water inside your pipes can freeze, making them crack open and spill hundreds of gallons of water into your home. They’re most common in colder areas like basements, crawl spaces, and on the outer walls of your home, and be caused by things like poor insulation, outdated plumbing, or a broken heating system. Water damage caused by frozen pipes can be devastating, as it can threaten the structural integrity of your home, ruin your electrical systems, and create an environment for mold and mildew to grow.
To avoid this from happening, make sure your home is set to a warm temperature in the winter, even if you aren’t home. You may need to open vents in your basement to make sure it is warm enough down where a lot of your plumbing lives. During especially cold days, try to run the water in your home once every few hours to make sure everything is circulating regularly. This could involve turning on your bathtub or kitchen sink, or even giving your toilet a flush. It’s all about making sure water is moving and not staying in one place for long.
Roof Damage
In the winter, your roof is taking the brunt of all the snow, ice, and high winds being thrown at it. Unfortunately, while it’s doing its best to protect you from the elements, it will likely take some damage. Tree branches are a popular culprit—they get weighed down with snow to the point where they snap and come crashing down onto your roof. Ice dams, which are created by melting snow freezing in your gutters, are another frequently reported problem. They can weigh down your gutters, making them pull away from your roof and damage the exterior, or they can cause moisture to leak into your roof, causing rot, decay, and other structural issues.
Make sure to check in on your roof regularly throughout the winter so no problems go unnoticed for too long. Keep your gutters free of any debris that may lead to an ice dam, and try to trim any low-hanging branches around your home.
Fire Damage
Holiday-scented candles, Christmas trees wrapped in string lights, logs cracking in the hearth—all these things, while fun to enjoy around the wintertime, are dangerous fire hazards. Every year, there are nearly 156,000 fires in the United States during the winter holiday season, resulting in an estimated $554 million in property damage. In fact, did you know that almost all the home fires in the month of December are started by candles? So as beautiful as it is to have a pine-scented candle resting next to a highly flammable garland, it’s important to prioritize your safety.
To prevent fires around the wintertime, inspect your holiday lights and discard any that have frayed or pinched wires. Water your Christmas tree every day to prevent it from drying out, and keep it away from fire sources like fireplaces. Consider using battery-operated candles—they can look and smell like real candles, just without the flames. If you do use real candles, make sure they are in stable holders placed somewhere they can’t be easily knocked down. Doing these things will allow you to enjoy winter festivities without the risk of fire damage.
Theft
In the winter, as the days get dark earlier, fewer people are out on the streets, and houses begin to fill with expensive presents for the holidays, we often see an uptick in break-ins and burglaries. Jewelry and electronics are 10% more likely to be stolen during the holidays than at any other time. Unfortunately, this doesn’t just mean you’re at risk of losing out on valuables—it means your property is also at risk for damage. Burglars will break locks, smash windows, and bust down doors, all of which can be costly to repair and will require filing a property insurance claim.
Increase your home defenses by upgrading locks on your doors and windows, installing motion detectors, and turning on your home alarm whenever you leave. Let your neighbors know if you’re going to be away on a holiday so they can keep an eye on your property as well.
Contact Us Today
If you find that your property has suffered from winter damage, contact the trusted experts at Fortitude Public Adjusters today! Having to deal with issues caused by snow, fire, or water damage is not easy, especially when you have to battle with your insurance company just to get a fair settlement. Let us handle the claims process—we’ll make sure you get the payment you deserve.
