Winter-ready home

From Maple Street Insurance (sample agency): your local independent insurance agency

Hi there,

Cold weather brings a familiar set of problems for homeowners: burst pipes, water from ice dams, and heating-related fires. Most are preventable with an hour of work now. Here's a short checklist, followed by a few policy questions worth asking before the first hard freeze.

1. Keep pipes from freezing

• Keep the heat on. If you travel, set the thermostat no lower than 55°F (the American Red Cross recommendation).
• Let cold faucets drip on very cold nights, especially faucets on outside walls.
• Open the cabinet doors under sinks so warm air reaches the pipes.
• Disconnect garden hoses and shut off and drain outdoor faucets if your home has an interior shutoff for them.
• Find your main water shutoff valve now, before an emergency, and make sure everyone in the house knows where it is.

2. Head off ice dams

Ice dams form when heat escaping through the roof melts snow, and the water refreezes at the colder edge of the roof. Water can then back up under the shingles and into ceilings and walls.

• Clear leaves out of gutters and downspouts before snow arrives.
• Good attic insulation and ventilation keep the roof deck cold and reduce melting.
• After heavy snow, a long-handled roof rake used from the ground can remove snow near the edge. Don't climb onto an icy roof.

3. Use space heaters safely

• Follow the National Fire Protection Association's "3-foot rule": keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from space heaters and other heating equipment.
• Plug heaters directly into a wall outlet, not an extension cord or power strip.
• Turn them off when you leave the room or go to bed.

4. Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Test every alarm, replace weak batteries, and make sure there's a CO alarm on each level of the home and outside sleeping areas. Have fuel-burning furnaces, water heaters and fireplaces checked before heavy use.

5. Make a "water emergency" card

Write down where the main shutoff is, a plumber's number, and our number: (555) 010-0100. Tape it inside a kitchen cabinet. When a pipe bursts, minutes matter.

6. Questions to ask about your policy

Coverage depends on your specific policy, so this is a good time to check a few things:

• Sudden water damage versus slow leaks. Many homeowners policies treat sudden, accidental water damage (such as a pipe that bursts) differently from damage that builds up over time or comes from lack of maintenance. Ask us how yours handles each.
• Sewer or drain backup. Standard homeowners policies often exclude water that backs up through drains unless you've added a water-backup endorsement.
• Flood. Standard homeowners policies generally don't cover flooding, including from snowmelt. Flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program usually takes effect 30 days after purchase, so it can't be bought at the last minute.
• Vacant or away for the winter? Some policies have conditions for homes left unoccupied for long periods. Tell us if you'll be away.

If any of this raises a question about your coverage, reply to this email or call (555) 010-0100. A short review now costs nothing.

Stay warm,

The team at Maple Street Insurance

Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by Maple Street Insurance (sample agency).

This newsletter is general information, not a description of your policy or professional advice. Coverage depends on the terms, conditions and exclusions of your policy. Contact Maple Street Insurance (sample agency) about your situation.

Sources: American Red Cross, frozen pipes guidance; National Fire Protection Association, heating safety tips; Insurance Information Institute, ice dams and water damage; FEMA FloodSmart, "Buy a Flood Insurance Policy" (30-day waiting period and exceptions).

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