In Indianapolis, winter can be brutal. From an insurance perspective, every year we receive an uptick in claims from our clients throughout central Indiana. These claims include: ice damage, busted plumbing due to freezing pipes, and gutter/roof damage due to the weight of ice and snow. Although some claims are unavoidable acts of nature, winterizing your home goes a long way to help protect your home against the winter elements. You can pay quite a bit of money to winterize your home, but here are 4 easy steps to winterize your home cheaply.
1. Clean Gutters and Debris off Roof
By cleaning your gutters and removing debris from your roof you help facilitate water flow for the melting snow and ice in the months to come. After the leaves fall during October and November, they tend to accumulate on your roof and in your gutters causing blockage and restricting water flow for snow and ice during December, January, and February. Failure to do this can cause the water to pool on top of your home and cause water damage to your roof.
2. Seal Air Leaks in Doors and Windows
Sealing air leaks in doors and windows helps keep your home warm in the winter and lowers energy costs. You will see a significant savings each winter by performing this activity and
3. Order a Furnace Check-Up
Ordering a furnace check-up from a licensed HVAC contractor will help your furnace run more efficiently during the winter, saving you money. If in need of a reputable HVAC contractor in the Indy area, please contact us and we’ll be happy to refer one to you. Having this done not only helps your heating system operate more efficiently, but also helps ensure your furnace is in good working order and lessens the chance it goes out on you in the winter, which is the worst time for this to happen. Another cheap upgrade for your furnace is to replace the furnace filter(s) each winter as this is the time of year it will see the most use and a brand new filter will help maximize performance.
4. Turn-Off Water to Outdoor Faucets
When ready, cut off the water supply to your outdoor faucets. This is especially important if your home is older and may have poor insulation compared to a brand new home. So, if you’re in the Broad Ripple or Meridian-Kessler neighborhood, this isn’t a bad idea at all. The standing water in the pipes leading to the outside of the home may freeze under intense weather conditions and cause the pipes to burst. You’ll need to cut off the water to the outside and then turn on the faucets from outside to drain any excess water in the water pipe.
There you have it Indianapolis! Winterize your home this fall and help prevent disaster this winter. And as always, please contact us with any questions about winterizing your home or coverage questions regarding your homeowners insurance.