Winter is coming, and you shouldn’t let it take you by surprise. The cold, snowy season poses a real threat to your home and car, with devastating consequences if you’re caught unprepared.
We are committed to helping you at T4 Insurance Solutions and have compiled tips to prepare your home and car for the coming winter.
Clean your gutters
Roofing experts recommend cleaning your gutters two to three times a year, including just before winter. If your gutter is clogged, water can back up and freeze, causing a buildup of ice and damaging your roof. The extra weight can also lead to your gutter sagging and pulling away from your house.
Recaulk doors and windows
Recaulking your doors and windows minimize the entry of chilly drafts into your home. As a result, you’ll be able to keep warm and maximize energy efficiency. A simple way to detect worn weather stripping is to hold a candle along the frames and check for flickering.
Protect pipes
The cold winter weather can freeze water inside pipes, causing them to leak or burst. To prevent this, wrap insulation sleeves around water pipes, especially those in unheated areas of the home, such as the attic and basement.
Check your car’s wiper fluid, engine oil, and coolant
Your wiper fluid reservoir should be full during the winter to clear debris or snow away from the windshield. Also, check your owner’s manual to be sure your engine oil has the proper viscosity for winter. With wintering conditions capable of freezing radiator fluid, you want to ensure you have enough coolant for your vehicle.
Inspect your roof
Winter is notorious for wreaking havoc on roofs, so you want to ensure your roof is in good condition. You can visually inspect yourself, checking for loose, cracked, or missing shingles. Also, look out for damaged panels and loose screws. If you can’t access the roof, you can get the help of a roofing contractor.
Clean your fireplace
It’s important to have your wood-burning fireplace professionally cleaned annually to prevent the buildup of cancerous creosote and ensure it is in excellent condition. Moreover, creosote and soot can build up and ignite, leading to a chimney fire that could damage the chimney and spread to the rest of the home.
Maintain proper tire pressure
Tires lose pressure faster in cold weather, affecting your car’s handling and causing your tires to wear out more quickly. It’s important to check your tire pressure weekly and keep it properly inflated.
Stay informed
Keep yourself updated with information by listening to local radio and monitoring weather reports. Access to the right information on time will enable you to make decisions that could save your life and those of your loved ones and protect your property.
Review your coverage
As fall winds down, it’s time to talk with your insurance agent to ensure your home, vehicles, and personal belongings are covered. You also want to ensure your policy covers potential flood, wind, or ice damages. Your agent should explain your policy limits, exceptions, and deductibles.
Update your insurance policy
If you have made renovations that have added value to your home, speak with your insurance agent to make sure your policy covers the new addition.
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