3 Important Home Winterization Steps

With winter on the steady advance, insurance companies are urging their customers to take care of necessary maintenance issues that could prevent the unnecessary activation of their homeowners insurance policy. Those who live in states that experience moderate to severe winter conditions are recommended to take the following 3 important steps to winterizing their homes.

1. Cleaning Out Rain Gutters – Failing to remove all leaves and debris from rain gutters can result in the buildup of ice dams when it snows. Ice dams can cause water to back up into a home, causing severe damage in roofs and walls.

2. Insulation of Pipes – Water pipes that are exposed to sub-freezing temperatures can burst, causing major home damage. Insulation can be accomplished cheaply and easily by wrapping exposed pipes in pre-formatted foam covering.

3. Trimming of Trees – During a winter storm, a home can be seriously damaged by falling trees or even individual tree branches. For this reason, homeowners not interested in putting their home insurance coverage to the test should ensure that all trees around the perimeter of their homes be trimmed prior to the onset of winter.

A homeowners insurance policy is a wonderful thing to have in the event of the unforeseeable. But it's still critical to take the appropriate measures to eliminate unnecessary risk. Otherwise, you're only tempting fate.