The weather has changed. Over the next number of months we will all be experiencing winter’s wrath. Now is the time to get your home, auto, RV, and boats ready for winter. Remember, we can help you with all your personal insurance needs.
Winter Checklist
- Get your furnace serviced if needed. Turn on your furnace to make sure everything is working properly.
- Clean your fireplace if necessary.
- Check windows and doors for drafts and efficiency.
- Get your motor boat out of the water, drain all fluids and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for winter storage. For more information, go here.
- Make sure your RV is winterized. Here is some good information.
- Check your inventory to verify that you have extra supplies like water, flashlights, food and candles on hand.
- Purge all sprinkler system lines of water with an air compressor to prevent freezing and bursting.
- Ice and snow can weigh down branches, so be sure to remove any that are hanging too close to the house.
- Invest in a home energy audit.
- Put a clean filter in your furnace.
- Replace batteries in smoke detectors.
- If you have any ceiling fans inside your home, know the rules; counter-clockwise rotation produces cooling breezes and clockwise rotation produces warmer air.
What is Homeowners insurance?
Homeowners insurance provides financial protection against disasters. A standard policy insures the home itself and the things you keep in it.
Homeowners insurance is a package policy. This means that it covers both damage to your property and your liability or legal responsibility for any injuries and property damage you or members of your family cause to other people. This includes damage caused by household pets.
Damage caused by most disasters is covered but there are exceptions. The most significant are damage caused by floods, earthquakes and poor maintenance. You must buy two separate policies for flood and earthquake coverage. Maintenance-related problems are the homeowners' responsibility.