What to Consider About Home Insurance at the Beginning of Fall?
When moving from a summer cottage back to a permanent city home as autumn arrives, homeowners face a number of tasks that should be completed before autumn storms and winter arrive. While one way to protect yourself from unexpected situations is to conclude comprehensive home insurance that offers substantial support, which would mitigate risks and provide at least some financial peace of mind in case of accidents, these are nonetheless situations that no one wishes to voluntarily find themselves in.
Therefore, one should think about possible preventive measures that would help avoid situations leading to accidents or at least keep their likelihood to a minimum.
Below we highlight some preventive actions that we recommend paying attention to in both city and country homes at the beginning of autumn:
1. The longevity of a house largely depends on its roof, which is why we recommend starting autumn work with that first. In addition to regular cleaning of leaves and other debris that accumulates in nature, the roof should also be examined with a general look to ensure it is sufficiently strong and durable for both autumn winds and winter snow. If possible, we recommend involving a professional in the field who would inspect the roof and carry out any necessary repairs if needed.
2. Along with roof cleaning, we recommend also inspecting the chimney flue and, if possible, calling in a chimney sweep before the long heating period to ensure the heating systems are in good condition. This has also been made mandatory under the fire safety law, according to which heating systems in apartment buildings must be cleaned by professional chimney sweeps at least once a year and in private houses at least once every five years. Regardless of the law, we recommend doing this more frequently in the latter case as well and cleaning the chimney before each heating period begins to avoid unpleasant surprises in the middle of a stormy autumn or a frosty winter. A professional chimney sweep can also advise on the general condition of heating systems, such as the condition of the chimney (cracks, soot, etc.). A chimney sweep can also provide advice on the proper installation and necessity of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and share tips on the correct storage and burning methods of heating wood.
3. In addition to cleaning and inspecting the roof and heating systems, it would be important to ensure the proper condition and safety of other parts of the heating system, starting with the fireplace and its surroundings. Among other things, it is important to ensure that the heating wood storage area and the fireplace front are separated from the rest of the floor using, for example, a metal plate. Going into a long heating period, it is important to ensure that various heating devices are safe and functional and do not cause unpleasant surprises that could unexpectedly become costly.
4. Equally important as heating systems is ensuring the wind and heat resistance of the residence, or checking both its windows and doors. Insurance cases where strong winds have knocked doors off their hinges or broken windows are unfortunately not uncommon at all. Therefore, we recommend checking these before a long winter and, if necessary, repairing or replacing them with new ones. It is also important to move items that are easily blown away from the yard to a sheltered location as autumn storms arrive.
5. With all the previous points, it is important to note that in addition to permanent living space, similar checks should be made on summer cottages waiting for the next summer season and various outbuildings and auxiliary buildings. Often these are somehow pushed to the background and focus is only on ensuring the safety of the main residence. However, in case of accidents caused by strong storms or other natural forces, these can also be damaged. In case summer cottages remain "winter quarters," one should ensure that pipes do not freeze during the winter period. It would be wise to empty the pipelines of water; close doors, windows and other openings correctly; and place items in the yard in an enclosed space. We also recommend, despite the preventive work mentioned above, still visiting the summer cottage yourself and checking its condition after major storms and power outages.
As mentioned earlier, one preventive way to protect yourself from uncomfortable situations is also to conclude home insurance, which in case of accidents helps restore the situation prior to the accident, at least from a financial perspective. Get to know BTA Home Insurance packages in more detail here.
