Page 29 - AAA Magazine – AAA Ohio Auto Club – January 2021

Common Winter Home Insurance
Claims & How to Prevent Them
By Emily Derr
Winter storms can wreak havoc on your home. According to the Insurance Information Institute, in 2019, winter storms in the U.S. resulted in an estimated $2.1 billion in winter home insurance claims. Wind damage, damage from fallen limbs, ice damage and frozen/burst pipes are just some of the dangers winter storms pose to your home. Prepare your home to
help prevent avoidable damage and make sure your homeowners insurance will cover everything else.
ROOF COLLAPSES
Ice and snow buildup can be disastrous for a roof. If the roof cannot bear the weight of the ice and snow, it could collapse, resulting in extensive (and expensive) damage. Most insurance policies can help cover the cost of repairing or replacing a damaged or collapsed roof. Coverage limits will likely apply, so it’s imperative to check your policy to know what it covers.
Even with insurance, repairing or replacing a roof can be a headache, especially in the winter. Prevention
can be hugely influential in avoiding this unwanted cost.
• Clean your gutters.
• Clear your roof of ice and snow as necessary to
help decrease the risk of a roof collapse.
• If you’re concerned about your safety or the safety
of your roof, hire an insured professional.
FROZEN/BROKEN PIPES
Water damage from frozen pipes is a significant source of winter home insurance claims. Frigid winter temperatures cause water to freeze and the shift in temperature can be dangerous for pipes. Most homeowners insurance will generally cover resulting damage, but water damage can result in costly claims.
It’s important to remember that some frozen pipes can be considered a preventable problem. If your insurer decides the damage resulted from negligence, you could be responsible for paying the cost of repairs.
• Insulate exposed pipes and seal cracks to prevent them from leaking or bursting.
• Know the location of the main water shutoff valve. • If your pipes freeze, work quickly to shut off the
water and prevent pipes from bursting.
• Drain and disconnect hoses and sprinkler supply lines • Keep your home warm (60 degrees F or higher).
ICE DAMS
Ice dams result from snow on your roof melting
and then refreezing, forming ice on your gutters that prevents proper draining of runoff. This can cause water to build up, inflicting damage to your roof and posing the potential to leak through the roof and cause water damage. Dwelling coverage may help for damages caused by an ice dam. However, it may not pay for the removal of the ice dam itself.
Some preventative measures may help you avoid ice dams and the costly damages they can cause.
• Keep your gutters clean to allow water to flow freely. • Keep your attic well-ventilated. Hot air in your attic
causes snow on the roof to melt and refreeze,
increasing the risk of ice dams.
• Seal any gaps in your home that could cause warm
air to leak into the attic.
WIND AND HAIL DAMAGE
Wind and hail can cause damage to just about any piece of property. From roofs and windows to sheds
and cars, there are few things that large hail and heavy winds won’t affect. Most standard homeowners insurance
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