10 tips to get your house ready for winter

Just as we change our car’s summer tires for winter tires, take advantage of beautiful fall days to install a carport, bring in firewood, and rake up the leaves that have formed an impressive carpet on your lawn, it’s also a good idea to prepare your home for winter!

Why? Because it is not only beneficial to maintain your home regularly for aesthetic reasons, but also because by taking certain precautions before the winter season arrives, you can avoid major problems such as fires, water damage, burglaries, etc.!

This week, Assurances Multi-Risques would like to give you 10 useful tips to help you prepare your home for winter, just like bears prepare their dens!

1. Check and maintain smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Fireplace season is upon us! Be careful and, above all, be prepared!
2. Ensure that your heating appliance, wood stove, and other heating sources are in good working order. Have them inspected, serviced, and cleaned.
3. If you go on vacation (well, this year it won’t be to the south), even if it’s only for a few days, leave the heating on and ask someone you trust to check your house while you’re away and collect your mail.
4. Run water through all water pipes regularly and check that the shut-off valves are working properly. Water damage in the middle of winter is no fun!
5. Inspect your attic for any ice buildup and make sure your gutters and roof are free of ice dams or icicles.
6. Once winter arrives, clear snow and ice from your sidewalk and the steps in front of your house.
7. Clear snow from the electricity and gas meters, gas appliance vents, heat pump, vents, and basement windows.
8. Cut tree branches that are close to the house or power lines. Don’t hesitate to hire a specialized company to do this job. A tree trunk falling on the roof can cause serious damage, so don’t take any chances and hire professionals!
9. Prevent pipes from freezing by installing insulation sleeves on exposed pipes.
10. Seal windows and doors that are not airtight and install weatherstripping to prevent warm air from escaping and cold air from entering.

Preventing accidents also means avoiding claims and increasing your insurance premiums.

Insurance exists to protect you, but prevention is better than cure. Not only because it is a financial issue, but also because of the stress and anxiety that such procedures can cause in some cases.

You should also be aware that a claim will increase your insurance premium, as you will lose your no-claims discount.

For an insurer, renewing a policy after a claim is still a relatively simple task. It becomes more complicated when a policyholder makes several claims within a short period of time. In such a situation, the insurer can take various decisions:

• Increase your deductible and insurance premium;
• Require you to make corrections (for example, if you have been repeatedly burglarized, they may ask you to install a connected alarm system);
• Reduce and remove some of your insurance coverage;
• And in the worst case scenario, do not renew or cancel your car, home, or business insurance policy.

What if, despite your maintenance efforts, something bad happens?

Our best advice? Before filing a claim, contact your insurance agent or broker. They will assess the situation and be able to tell you whether or not it is advantageous to file a claim with your insurance company. A good broker will explain the impact your claim could have on your insurance record!