Is your home prepared for the extreme cold, or are you risking thousands in damage from frozen pipes and roof leaks? The one and only solution for this problem is winterising your home to prevent the high costs. Winterisation of your home is an essential process to prevent frozen pipes, water damage and heat loss in extreme winters. The major steps that are taken for this include insulating exposed pipes, sealing door drafts, cleaning gutters to prevent ice dams and maintaining a minimum of eighteen degrees Celsius indoor temperature. It is essential to perform all these things when you vacate your home during winter, as many insurance policies often exclude the damage resulting from neglected maintenance. Let’s discuss in detail the ways you can properly winterize your home to avoid any costly insurance claims in this blog.

The major winterization steps to avoid costly claims:

• Protect pipes from freezing: Frozen pipes are the top risk during winter in Canada, and the best way to prevent them from happening is by insulating the pipes in unheated areas like the basement with foam sleeves. On extremely cold nights, you should leave kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate around plumbing. Even if you are away from home, always keep your home heating set to at least thirteen degrees Celsius. 
• Prevent ice dams and roof leaks: Properly clear gutters of leaves and any dirt so that melting snow can pass freely and does not cause any blockage. You should ensure that your attic is properly insulated to stop the heat from escaping and melting snow from coming inside through the roof. If ice dams are a recurring problem, you should consider installing heat cables along the roof edge.
• Seal heat leaks: You should use a waterproof sealant or weatherstripping around windows and doors to prevent the freezing draft from entering and creating moisture damage. You should also add insulation in the attic to prevent the warm air from escaping.
• Maintain the heating system: You should maintain a proper heating system to create a suitable temperature in your home during winter. For this maintenance, you should regularly service the furnace, chimney and fireplace. You should consider a professional inspection of your complete heating system to avoid any malfunctions during the winter and prevent any fire hazards. 
• Protect the exterior: You have to shut down all the exterior water systems. This is done by disconnecting, draining and storing garden hoses. You should close all the indoor valves that supply water to the outdoor faucets, then open the outdoor faucets to discard the residual water. You should also trim dead tree branches that could break completely under snow weight. 

Conclusion

Winterising your home is a serious risk management strategy which brings you comfort by preventing you from costly claims. It is mentioned that the insurance companies expect the homeowners to take proper care of their homes. Failing to maintain a proper temperature or leaving the home unattended without securing the water supply could lead to denied claims if pipes burst. At Insure Horizons in Canada, the most expensive winter claims are usually caused by burst pipes and dams. To prevent these, you should properly maintain your home during winter as directed by our expert Mr. Jas Hans. Investing in proper home maintenance can prevent high-deductible insurance claims that can increase your premiums for years to come. 

FAQs

1. What is the ideal indoor temperature to prevent frozen pipes?

You should maintain a minimum temperature of thirteen degrees Celsius throughout the house, even when you are away. If there is a prediction of extreme cold, you should keep the sink cabinet open to allow the warm in-house air to reach the pipes. 

2. Are frozen pipe claims covered by insurance?

Generally, yes, if you take reasonable steps to maintain the home, such as keeping the home warm even when you are out. However, in cases where you have not properly maintained your home, the claims can be denied. 

3. What if I am living in my home for a long period in winter?

You should shut off the water supply and drain the pipes by running all taps. Consider installing a small temperature monitor so you can get to know when the temperature gets too low. For much assurance, you can ask your neighbour to check the home from time to time.