As all of us know living in Ontario, the winter elements can wreak havoc on our homes. And of course we want to do what we can to prevent any damage that would force us into making a claim on our home insurance. While for certain situations there is nothing you can do, some general maintenance and actions can help to mitigate preventable problems.

~ Clean out your gutters: clogged gutters can lead to water damage.

~ Remove dead branches from your trees – you don’t want them to end up on your house!

~ Ensure that spaces such as your attic, your basement and your storage or crawl space are well-insulated and that any air leaks are well sealed. Your attic is especially important in the winter – lack of insulation or proper air ventilation can result in ice buildup and roof damage.

~ When was the last time you got your heating system checked? Boilers and furnaces should be regularly serviced – once a year is recommended. The last thing you need during a cold spell is for your heating to break down!

~ Is your fire alarm working properly? There are more residential fires during the winter time. Have a cozy fireplace going? Have a space heater plugged in? Make sure the smoke detector is doing its job.

These are just a few of the important maintenance steps you can take for your home in the winter. Want more tips? Check out our autumn home maintenance guide to get your house ready for the cold months!

Heading out of town over the holidays?

If your house will be vacant over the holiday season, taking some precautions will ensure you don’t come home to a disaster. Keep your house warm while you are gone so that pipes don’t freeze. Draining the water will also prevent freezing or bursting pipes. Also make sure that someone is coming to check in your home while you are gone. If there is a problem, the earlier it’s detected the better.

It’s inevitable when you live in Toronto and Ontario that you and your home will be faced with freezing temperatures, snow, wind and storms. Taking a few precautions can help prevent damage and help prevent you from needing to make a claim on your home insurance. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

From all of here at InsuranceBuddy, wishing you and yours a joyous holiday season!

Image source: FreeDigitalPhotos.net/ Victor Habbick