Avoid Winter Property Claims

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It's never too late to take precautions in preventing winter claims.

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As we are knee-deep in the unpredictable winter weather, one thing remains constant, we haven’t seen the last of snow, sleet, or ice from winter 2015.  It’s never too late to take the following precautions in preventing winter property claims.  The effort you put in today can help prevent costly emergency repairs in the height of a winter storm, when it can be difficult to find supplies and licensed contractors.

Included are four, simple precautions you can take today:

• Make sure your pipes are properly insulated against winter’s gusty winds and freezing temperatures.
• Take the time to walk your property’s perimeter and inspect surrounding trees.  Safely remove any tree branches that look unstable.  Take into account distances between tree branches and property structures.
• Safely and responsibly remove snow from your roof to prevent ice dams and water damage. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety advises that home roofs should not accumulate more than 1 inch of ice and 2-5 inches of packed snow.
• According to the National Safety Council, falls are the second leading type of unintentional home-related injury deaths. Remove snow from walkways and use rock salt to help prevent slips on your property.