Most homeowner’s insurance policies cover winter-related damage such as burst pipes and ice dams. However, some preventative maintenance can save you the money you’d pay in deductibles and cut future increases in your insurance premiums.
Check your fire alarms. Clean smoke detectors with a vacuum cleaner and replace any that are over 10 years old. There are more fires in the winter than any other time of the year because fireplaces and heating systems get more use.
Increase insulation. Buying more insulation for your attic floor can minimize the amount of warm air that rises to the roof. Minimizing warm air, in turn, helps to prevent snow melting on your roof and then re-freezing at the edges, where it’s colder. If that ice builds up, it will block more water from draining, eventually forcing it under your roof and into your attic or walls.
Extra insulation will help cut heating bills, too.
Keep your gutters clear. Again, this prevents “ice damming.” Gutter guards, available at most hardware stores, can help keep gutters from clogging.
