Reduce The Risk of Winter-Related Losses

Murphy Insurance encourages vigilance and offers guidance on handling loss situations with prompt action and insurance involvement.

• Clean up snow and ice promptly to avoid liability. Property owners are liable for injuries due to snow and ice build-up on their property. This includes the public sidewalk in front of your home or business.
• Watch for ice dams and take prevention steps. Last year, New England’s severe winter resulted in record ice dam-related claims. Keeping gutters clean, adding insulation, ensuring proper airflow in attics, and sealing heat leaks are key prevention measures. Removing snow from your roof after a storm using a snow rake also helps in prevention.
• Locate the main water shut-off and know how it works. If a pipe bursts, you need to stop the water flow quickly. Be sure other family members know this information, too!
• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both day and night. Reducing the temp when not home can save energy and heating costs, but vulnerable pipes may freeze if you set it too low. Keep the house heated to a minimum of 65 degrees to help prevent pipes inside walls from freezing. In extreme cold, paying more for heat could avoid burst pipes.
• Keep garage doors closed. If your garage is attached to your home, keep the doors closed, especially if there are water supply lines in the garage. Don’t invite cold into your house.
• Open hot and cold faucets enough to let them drip. Keeping the water moving will help prevent freezing and help prevent pressure build-up if pipes freeze. Keep cabinet doors open to allow more warmth around pipes in vulnerable areas.
• Install an emergency pressure release valve on your plumbing system, which can help prevent pipes from bursting.
• Consider wrapping problem pipes with UL-approved heat tape and a built-in thermostat to prevent overheating. Follow instructions carefully to keep from causing a fire hazard. Don’t make solving one problem cause another one.
• Take action if you discover frozen pipes. Take measures to thaw them. Call a licensed plumber for assistance.
• Consider installing systems that can alert you to heating system malfunctions and accumulations of water. Some systems even have remote notification capability.
• Pay close attention to fireplaces, wood stoves, and electric heaters. Make sure they are in proper working order. Close the fireplace flue when not in use.
• Check smoke, fire, and carbon monoxide detectors. If a fire or a heating system malfunctions, detectors can be the difference between life and death, and they can help to minimize a loss by early detection.
• Have a neighbor or friend check your house regularly if you are away. Finding a problem, such as a heating issue or frozen pipes early, can help prevent or reduce damage.

If a loss occurs, please Contact Us as soon as possible. An insurance adjuster doesn’t need to see a spill before you take action, but they will want to inspect any damage. Taking photos to document damage can be helpful.