Focused on Risk

We have officially had the first cool snap of fall 2011.  We were holding steady at 100 degrees on Saturday and now we are lucky to make it to 60.  I know we will warm up and cool down a couple of time before winter actually sets in, but these cool rainy days turned my attention to the weatherization steps that we should start taking in order to keep our home secure and claim free.  All homes are at risk for winter claims due to fire, frozen pipes and leaks.  Here are just a few of the things that come to mind when thinking of winterizing your home.

Consider keeping the temperature of your home at a minimum of 65 degrees during the winter.  You must remember that the pipes are in the walls and interior walls are seldom insulated.  If the thermostat is lowered or switched off, the walls will get cold and could result in frozen or busted pipes.  If you are not living in the home, check the home periodically because the damage will only escalate if not repaired right away.  Drain water from your garden hose and outdoor faucets as they too can freeze and bust.  You can purchase an insulated sleeve to cover your outdoor faucets from most local hardware stores.  You may want to put insulated wrap on your water heater as well.  Leave the faucet dripping on the coldest nights to allow pressure relief in the water pipes and it is also a good idea to open cabinet doors so that warm air can circulate around pipes hidden under your sinks.  An often overlooked item is to clean out the gutters to prevent the formation of ice dams that can cause problems when the temperature rises.  If the water in the gutters cannot flow freely and escape through the downspout it may back up under your shingles and enter your home.  If you are planning to build a fire, have the chimney cleaned each year.  Chimney fires are often caused by creosote build up in the flue that results in a combustible chimney liner.  This type of fire is very hot and extremely dangerous.  One last tip is to put new batteries in the fire detector each fall.  The combination of dry air caused by your heating system along with the

I hope these tips will help you to have a very safe winter season.