As the weather gets warmer and the world wakes up from its winter nap, there’s an innate sense of relief and excitement that comes from unwrapping the summer gear you’d packed away. You’re filled with all kinds of ideas as to how you’ll spend your weekends, what you’ll do in the evenings, and what kind of projects you’d like to tackle around the house. The summer is full of possibilities, and you can’t wait to explore them.
Unfortunately, summer is also when plenty of Canadians find themselves making home insurance claims. There are some seasonal threats to your home and your insurance premiums that many folks fail to recognize until it’s too late. We want to make sure that doesn’t happen to you, so today, we’re going to review some of the biggest summer threats to your house insurance and explain how you can avoid them.
Keep Things Cool Near the BBQ
A summer without patio grilling is unthinkable for most Canadians, but as fun as these cookouts are, they do present a real danger to you and your home. An unattended grill can flare up and set fire to anything around it, including your house. It’s also possible for a grill’s condition to deteriorate over the winter, which means you could be in for an unpleasant surprise the first time you fire it up for burgers.
Before using your grill for the first time (either after purchasing or after long winter storage), make sure you check it over. Look for damaged seals, fittings, or hoses, and check that there are no blockages in either the burners or the lines. When you’re setting up your grill, make sure it’s well away from any combustible materials, and make sure it’s stationed on a level surface in an area where it (and you) can receive plenty of ventilation. We hope this goes without saying, but never, ever, use your grill indoors.
Vacation? More Like Home Alone
Whether it’s a week at the family cottage or a road trip to go camping in one of Ontario’s national parks, there’s nothing better than getting away for a while to enjoy some quality time with people you love. However, while you’re off discovering the beauty of nature, your home is waiting for you, alone. And unfortunately, robbers notice that your car’s no longer in the driveway. Many homeowners have returned after a relaxing vacation only to discover that their home has been vandalized or their property was stolen.
While there’s no way to prevent this kind of activity for sure (which is why most forms of home insurance include coverage for just this situation), there are things you can do to help reduce the likelihood of it happening to you. Protect your home with things like motion-controlled lighting and alarm systems that will automatically call for help if they’re triggered while you’re away.
As an added bonus, your home insurance company may even offer a premium reduction if you can demonstrate that you’ve installed these items to make your home safer. Talk to your insurance broker to find out if your house insurance plan could qualify.
Where There’s Humidity, There’s Mould
We’ve spoken to many homeowners who operate under the assumption that if mould or mildew develops in their home, it’s no big deal. Their home insurance will cover it, right? Not necessarily. Most house insurance policies only provide coverage in the event of specially defined perils. If mould or mildew develops due to neglect or improper home ventilation, you could be left on the line to pay for repairs. Since summer is notorious for humidity and mould growth, your best bet is to prevent it from growing in the first place.
In the spring, before temperatures begin to climb too high, conduct a review of your home. Look for any places where moisture is accumulating, or where you see water dripping (chances are it’s just going to get worse as the weather warms up). Dehumidifiers and air conditioners can help reduce humidity in the home, and installing fans in areas where humidity frequently accumulates, like bathrooms and kitchens, will help keep these areas nice and dry.
Maintenance is the number one exclusion, so it is important that you fix your home when the need arises. Even in a case where there has been a water problem or an ice damning issue, insurance will fix the damage, but will not fix the problem. The problem is the regular maintenance that the homeowners are responsible for.
For Everything Else, There’s Home Insurance
At Will Marshall Insurance Brokers, we have over 35 years of experience providing comprehensive, affordable house insurance to homeowners throughout Barrie and Orillia. The right home insurance is there to make sure that when accidents happen or weather damages your property, you won’t be put out for the full cost of repairs.
This summer, make sure your home and household are protected from the unexpected with insurance that perfectly suits your lifestyle. To learn more about home insurance from Will Marshall Insurance Brokers, call our Barrie office at (705) 726-2551. You can also request a free quote for house insurance.