Winter can add stress to your morning routine—causing you to shovel and scrape before work or making walks with the dog a little more slippery than usual. It can also be problematic for your house. Low temperatures, snow and ice storms, and high winds are responsible for a large number of home insurance claims in the winter. The guide below looks at some of the damage the weather can cause and steps you can take to prevent it.

What Are Some Common Home Insurance Claims in the Winter?

1. Frozen Pipes

Water expands as it freezes, which can crack or even rupture your pipes. In addition to hundreds of gallons in wasted water, a broken pipe can result in water damage that could cost thousands to repair. In many cases, a broken pipe is covered by your home insurance policy, but you could be paying for repairs out-of-pocket if poor maintenance or other preventable issues contributed to the disaster. Invest in insulation to prevent the risk of freezing.

2. Ice Dams

Freezing water can also cause serious problems on your roof if it clogs behind debris in your gutters to form an ice dam. An ice dam traps melting runoff and rainwater, creating pools that force water underneath your shingles when it freezes. These leaks can cause extensive damage throughout your house, from rotting roof underlayment to soaked insulation and ruined drywall. To avoid this, clean out your gutters several times a year.

3. High Winds

Winter blizzards often have high winds capable of tearing shingles off your roof or throwing branches through your windows. Storm debris can also damage your siding and may completely destroy garden sheds, fences, and other structures covered by your home insurance.

4. Falling Trees

Houses in cold-weather states are designed to carry the weight of massive amounts of snow, but the trees around your home may not be as sturdy. Accumulated snow and ice can weigh down sick branches, bringing them crashing down onto your house. Falling trees and branches can crack your roof deck, letting water into your home, or completely destroy entire sections of your house. Therefore, have an arborist out to trim back overhanging branches or ones that have been weakened by previous storms.
 

Nebraska winters are always extreme, so you need a home insurance policy designed to protect your property and provide peace of mind. Since 1984, the independent agents at Accredited Insurance Group, Inc. have provided personalized attention and policies from some of the leading carriers in the nation to homeowners throughout the Lincoln area. Follow their Twitter for more advice, visit their website for a closer look at their services, or call (402) 334-1780 to speak with an agent and request a free quote.