With below-freezing temperatures and snowy weather right around the corner, now is the time to ensure your home is ready to take on whatever winter throws our way! Our agents have gathered a handful of helpful tips to ensure your home is prepped to minimize the risks of damage from harsh winter conditions.
1. Run Your Water
Minnesota is among the top 5 states for frozen pipe damage, and when frozen pipes strike, the repairs can be costly—ranging anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000. To avoid frozen pipes, be sure to run your water when temperatures dip below freezing. If you won’t be running your water regularly or have had a history of issues related to frozen pipes, it’s best to run both cold and hot taps at a slow drip to relieve pressure and prevent freezing.
2. Take Weatherproofing Measures
Weatherproofing your home not only helps save on energy costs but also protects your home from damage during cold winter weather. With insufficient insulation, warm air can leak into your roof causing snow or ice to melt and refreeze quickly, causing heavy ice buildups or destructive ice dams.
3. Clean Your Gutters
This tip goes hand-in-hand with weatherproofing! While no one looks forward to spending the day cleaning gutters, having clean, free-flowing gutters will reduce your chances of extensive ice buildups or ice dams.
4. Maintain Safe Sidewalks
Keeping walkways clear of ice and snow is crucial to keeping your home safe for anyone entering or exiting your property, as you can be held liable for injuries on your property due to poor or negligent snow and ice removal.
5. Trim Tree Branches
Before the end of fall, trim dead or intrusive tree branches, as winter storms and heavy snow can break branches, causing property damage or injury.
We hope these few tips help you get a jump on winterizing your home for the cold months ahead. As always, feel free to reach out to the Alloy team to review your policy, explore additional coverage options, or to get your insurance questions answered!