Potential insurance issues for snowbirds
If you’re among the snowbird population or are planning to join it, you’ll soon be enjoying the opportunity to take part in outdoor recreational activities, such as swimming and golfing. When you walk outdoors in shorts and t-shirts, you’ll undoubtedly smile as you think of friends and family at home tugging on their overcoats, boots, and gloves.
Before you make your trek south it’s important to prepare properly, and that includes reviewing your home insurance requirements and ensuring that your property still has that lived-in look to dissuade burglars.
Once you’ve reviewed your homeowner’s policy, check with your agent if anything is unclear. Given that you’ll be gone for a long period of time, it’s important to proactively prepare for potential problems while you are away.
Most policies require you to have someone make daily visits to your home while you’re away, beginning the day after you leave unless you plan to drain your pipes. The major reason for regular visits is to prevent the damage that can result from the cold and snow.
Most common among these is the water damage from frozen or burst pipes, but roof leaks can also wreak havoc with your home’s interior. Whomever you designate to check your property should be prepared to act if they find a problem. They should also be aware that they could be held liable if they don’t address the problems that arise; the insurance company could sue them.
Given the potential for liability issues, it may be easier to drain your pipes and other water containers, such as hot water heaters and icemakers in the refrigerator. Once you’ve shut off your water, check the pipes to be sure they are drained. Check under the sinks, because the traps—bends in the pipes—are places where water can sit.
However, if there is no water in the traps, there’s a chance that sewer gas can enter your home. It’s best to flush toilets after you shut off the water, leaving a bit of water in the toilet bowls and traps, and then treating the water with marine anti-freeze.
Another concern snowbirds often have when embarking on their new lifestyle is the question of insurance and home vacancy. If you leave for a long period of time, your home is simply unoccupied and your insurance should continue without interruption.
Snowbird’s tips for preventing property damage
When you leave home for a period of time, it’s important to make sure your humble abode doesn’t suffer damage of any kind while you’re away. Take stock of these tips for winterizing your home and keep it safe while you’re soaking up the sunshine.
Off with the water
Burst pipes are the plague of absent homeowners, so take precautions by shutting off the water in your home at the main valve. Next, drain your pipes, sinks, and faucets. Turn on the faucets once the main line is shut off to ensure you have drained them well. You can blow air through the pipes with a compressor to be sure. If you get water from a well, drain the pressure tank too.
Off with the heater
With the water shut off and the supply lines drained, you can safely shut off your water heater and drain it, too. If you have a gas heater, turn it off and shut the gas valve. Electric heaters need to be shut down at the breaker. Once it’s off, you can drain it by opening a spigot or faucet.
Use anti-freeze
Pour anti-freeze into toilet bowls and tanks to keep any remaining water from freezing. Use a non-toxic version that is rated for plumbing systems.
Maintain heat in the home
If you don’t want to drain your pipes, keep your heat on to at least 13 degrees Celsius to keep them from freezing. Keeping interior doors open will help the air to circulate. In addition, shut off water to washing machines and dishwashers to keep the hoses from freezing.
Unplug everything
Don’t leave minor appliances such as radios or lamps plugged into the sockets, even though they are turned off. Even when unplugged, they use power—it’s called phantom power—and can cost you money unnecessarily. You’ll also be reducing fire risk. You may want to clean out your refrigerator and freezer, too, and unplug them.
Get the flue
Be sure to close the flue on your wood-burning fireplace to prevent small animals from sneaking into your home. Wire mesh atop your chimney will keep critters from wintering there. Make certain holes where pipes enter the home are properly sealed, along with the bottom edge of the garage door. There’s no reason to make it easy for animals to nest while you’re gone.
Lock it or lose it
Lock all of your windows and doors, ensuring that they are well secured to prevent break-ins. If a thief finds entry difficult, he or she will often move along to find an easier target.
