President, Blais Insurance
Contrary to popular belief that most water-related claims happen
during the spring or summer months, homeowners in the Northeast region report
more water-related losses during the winter. To help homeowners mitigate their
risks for water or flood-related losses during the next couple of months, Blais
Insurance would like to share some preventative strategies that can help
policyholders protect themselves from these types of losses and save money in
the long run.
Frozen pipes and melting ice dams are usually to blame for
water-related losses in the colder months. These events can cost homeowners
thousands in property damage, but most experts agree that certain precautions
can help reduce the likelihood of these things happening.
Consumers will find a trove of information online that explain
ways to reduce the odds of significant water-related losses, but most fail to
mention the insurance aspect of prevention. By understanding your homeowner’s
insurance policy and the flood insurance gap coverages that are available,
homeowners will be better prepared in the event of a catastrophic loss.
Most homeowners insurance policies cover water damage up to a
certain extent. And in most cases, homeowners can work with an insurance agent
to have a more comprehensive policy in place. One of the things Blais
Insurance, or any other insurance agency, would do would be to accurately
assess the policyholder’s individual risk for water-related losses and
determine whether their property might be underinsured.
Insurers we work with like to determine whether homeowners are
underinsured because they want policyholders to be able to replace expensive cabinets,
moldings, or other high-end features in a home that may not be adequately
protected in their current policy.
Reevaluating insurance needs provide the biggest benefit to
homeowners who have remodeled their home recently or purchased a home that is
relatively new.
Once insurance needs have been addressed, homeowners can take the
initiate to examine parts of the home that may give way to intense pressure
from outside elements. If homeowners know their home has the tendency to form
ice dams, for example, they may want to consider calling a roofer to close any
shingle gaps, examine the home’s insulation, or install mechanisms such as
heating cables.
Another problem that may cause homeowners stress, headaches, and
financial woes include frozen pipes. Fortunately, homeowners can avoid calling
a plumber by taking a few precautions during cold spells. Those precautions include
wrapping heating tape on pipes that are susceptible to freezing, turning up the
thermostat in your home, and letting the faucet drip water.
Finally, homeowners can take an extra step to protect their home
from water damage by performing regular maintenance on appliances that use
water. Dishwashers, washing machines, refrigerators, and water heaters are
responsible for a surprisingly large proportion of water damage incidents.
With water damage being the leading cause of property damage for
homeowners, we urge homeowners to consider the precautions mentioned above.
Blais Insurance has been protecting families in Southeastern New England from
significant losses for more than 100 years. If you have questions about
protecting your property from water damage, speak with one of our agents at
401-725-0070.
