Winter Worries: Extreme Weather

Common Home Insurance Claims Seen During Extreme Weather

The winter months, bringing snow and ice, can be fraught with threats of damage to your home.  From frozen pipes to a hail storm, extreme weather can take its toll leaving behind damage that may require filing a homeowner’s insurance claim.  While you can prepare your home for the winter, in some cases winter damage is inevitable. 

The following are the most common areas of damage to the home seen during extreme winter weather.

Frozen pipes

The cold weather can affect your home’s pipes, particularly if the power goes out and the temperature begins to drop indoors.  The pipes that are most susceptible to this are those on the exterior walls of the home and the garage, which will be the coldest.  A frozen pipe can easily burst as the water expands, causing major flood damage for the homeowner.  You can prevent this type of damage by insulating your pipes and letting the faucets drip if the indoor temperature drops below 55 degrees.

Hail storm.

Winter’s wild weather can bring large pieces of hail, frozen ice and snow, falling from the sky.  When large enough, this unusual precipitation can damage a roof.  This can be costly, resulting in damaged or missing shingles.  Depending on the extent, the roof may begin to leak causing even more problems in the home.  Regularly inspect your roof during the winter months to ensure that there are no missing or raised shingles, addressing it immediately if you see something out of place.

Wind

It isn’t uncommon for winter storms to bring excessive wind.  High winds can make anything that isn’t nailed in place a torpedo that can damage your home’s exterior.  Wind can also damage the gutters and shutters of the home.  High winds can cause downed trees and branches that can cause even more extensive damage.  During a storm, be sure anything that could blow around is secured and have a tree professional address any branches that may be threatening the home.

Snow

During times of heavy snowfall, this can accumulate on your roof and gutters.  This heavy weight, if not removed, can cause damage.  You can remove this snow using a roof rake to prevent these problems.  The snow should also be removed from the deck to prevent damage from the excess weight.

Ice

Snow left on the roof will melt and refreeze during the winter months.  This can quickly create ice dams, as ice forms on the gutters preventing it from running off.  This backup of water can build up and ultimately seep into the roof and the home. 

During the winter months, diligence is key to head off these types of problems in your home.  If you do experience damage, you will need to file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance.  From there, the experienced team at Soil-Away can work to restore your home and correct any damage that was caused.

Contact Soil-Away at 603-641-6555.