Preventing Winter Weather Losses

Annual winter weather losses in the U.S. total over $1 billion. While Pacific Northwest winters can be mild compared to the East Coast and Midwest, we still need to take precautions for increased risks associated with the winter months.

Your Home

Frozen Pipes

When the deep freeze arrives, keep the house heated to at least 60 degrees. If you will be away when cold weather is predicted, run faucets at a trickle (of both hot and cold water) and open cabinet doors so that heat reaches pipes under sinks. If your insulation is insufficient, consider insulating garages, attics, and crawl spaces as your next home improvement project.

For vacation homes, have someone check the house daily (inside as well as outside), and consider shutting off the water and draining the water system while the home is unoccupied.

Seriously consider investing in an automatic leak detection and water shut-off system, which will limit damage from all types of plumbing leaks, including frozen pipes. These systems are your best protection against large water damage losses and many insurers provide premium credits on homeowner policies. You may also have access to a discount for purchase and installation of a system from your insurer-preferred vendor; check with your broker.

Water Damage

Ice dams can form at the edge of the roof, caused by melting snow that refreezes when it reaches the roof edge. The dam forces water under the shingles and into the house, causing damage to walls, ceilings, and floors. To prevent ice dams, keep a “cold roof” by insulating the attic floor, capping your attic hatch, and obtaining an energy assessment to pinpoint where heat is rising to the top of your home.
If your vacation home is located in a winter wonderland, pre-arrange for a local contractor to remove snow on the roof after a heavy storm. This will help avoid possible leaks, as well as roof collapse from excessive snow weight.

Fire

Fire: Additional heat sources (space heaters and fireplaces) and seasonal traditions (Christmas trees, holiday lighting, and candles) increase the risk of home fires.

Use common sense if you must use a space heater: make sure it is sturdy, on a level surface, and has an automatic shut-off feature in case it falls over. Never leave it unattended.

Chimney fires can smolder and burn undetected for some time, so it’s important to have your chimney inspected every year or two. Use only seasoned, dry wood to minimize creosote build-up. Use a screen to keep sparks in the fireplace and dispose of cooled ashes in a metal container away from your house.

Don’t leave candles unattended and extinguish them before going to sleep. Most candle fires start due to their close proximity to combustibles and about 40% of candle fires start in a bedroom, where mattresses, bedding, and drapes are the first items to ignite. Use sturdy candleholders, keep wicks trimmed to ¼ inch, and use flashlights and LED lanterns instead of candles during power outages.

If you prefer a real Christmas tree, buy one with fresh green needles, give it plenty of water daily, and dispose of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Make sure your artificial tree is fire-retardant. For fresh and artificial trees, always use a sturdy stand and place the tree at least 3 feet from any heat source. Decorate with lights that are in good condition, avoid long strings of lights connected together, and turn the lights off when you leave the house or go to bed.

Your Autos

Auto Checkup

A thorough winter checkup includes tires (changing to winter tires or checking tread and inflation of your all-weather tires), wiper blades, heat and defrost systems, antifreeze, and brakes. Make sure that you have proper gear and emergency equipment in each car: ice scrapers, jumper cables, tire chains, lock de-icer, flashlight, blankets, and emergency phone numbers.

Winter Driving

First, be sure that you can see clearly. Clear snow from the car top, remove all snow and ice from your windshield and windows, and don’t forget to remove snow and ice from your lights. Drive with your lights on so that you can see and be seen in poor weather conditions.

Take major highways and roads when possible because they will be plowed first. Keep a safe distance from other vehicles, doubling the distance you maintain during good weather driving. Remember that truckers are driving large rigs that take longer to respond and need lots of room to safely maneuver or stop in heavy rain and snow.

Be extra cautious on bridge decks and highway on and off ramps, which ice up sooner than pavement. Avoid using cruise control; a light tap on the brakes to deactivate can send you into a spin if you hit a spot of ice. Don’t try to slow or stop by pumping anti-lock brakes. Instead, stomp on the brake and steer to avoid danger.

Stay Safe

Winter is wonderful time of the year, giving us the best of both worlds — festive celebrations with family and friends and cozy times to settle in for a lazy day. We hope that these tips and reminders will help you stay safe and secure throughout the season.

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