Get The Best Home Insurance Coverage With Mackay’s Fall Home Maintenance Checklist!
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Fall has arrived - and in full force! The days are getting shorter, the leaves are just about gone and, if you’re a homeowner, you're mentally going through your pre-hibernation to-do list.
Check...check...check!
But, which fall maintenance tasks are actually going to help give you the best home insurance coverage? And what types of damages caused by weather catastrophes are going to be covered by your home insurance policy?
As you’re going through your checklist, be sure to look into the areas of your home that could become hazardous to you, your family, your home and, of course, your home insurance.
5 Fall Home Maintenance Tips To Protect Your Family And Your Home This Fall
When you’re preparing for hibernation season in Ontario (November - March), it’s understandable that your mind goes straight towards mowing the grass one last time, chopping firewood and buying a snow blower. And, although all of these things are necessary, there are few other pre-winter tasks that, as an insurance company, we feel are imperative to tell you about...
1. Implement Fire Safety Habits
The first topic we want to talk about in regards to winter-prep is fire prevention.
Fire prevention is one of the most important topics that we talk about at Mackay Insurance - no matter the season. Why? Because a house fire is dangerous for you, your family, your finances and of course, your home!
As the night’s get chillier and you begin to turn up your fireplaces, light your candles, bake your favourite festive goodies and utilize your indoor clothes dryer rather than the clothesline - there are some fire safety habits that you need to begin implementing.
Home Fire Safety Tips To Keep In Mind:
- Change the batteries on your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Always have your furnace properly maintenance.,
- Don’t overload your electrical outlets and ensure that your cords are not worn out.
- Keep all flammable materials far away from heat sources (ie. furnaces, stovetops and candles).
- Empty out the lint filter on your dryer before every single use and never have your dryer running while you’re not home.
Knowing that you have the right fire safety and home insurance coverages in place can make a huge difference as you prepare to hunker down for the winter. We recommend going through this list with every member of your family so that everyone can begin practicing fire safety this fall.
2. Clean your Downspouts
You’re probably thinking to yourself, “how can a few leaves affect my home insurance?” And you might be right that, yes, a few leaves probably wouldn’t cause an issue.
However, a PILE of leaves in the wrong spot can cause more harm than you might think...especially in preventing damage to your home’s foundation!
Damaging Downspout Problems:
- Mold
- Rotting Fascia Boards
- Stained Siding
- Foundational Water Damage
- Leakes
- Basement Flooding
- Ice Dams
All of these problems could cause an unpleasant home insurance claim that would otherwise have been entirely preventable.
This is how you’re going to prevent this from happening:
Ensure that your downspouts are at least five feet away from your home, have no blockages (ie. debris and leaves) and are pointed AWAY from your house.
3. Clear Out Your Gutters
Similarly to your downspouts, your gutters are a major part of your home’s drainage system that need to be properly taken care of before the cold hits.
Fallen leaves often get into gutters and cause unwelcome blockages. Although this might be an easy thing to fix in the fall by simply clearing this debris away, the winter clean-up might not be as pleasant.
As temperatures begin to drop, the debris in your downspouts can actually begin to freeze - creating an ice blockage too difficult to break through.
This could cause terrible water damage, mold and leaks inside your home!
4. Rake Up Your Leaves
The fourth topic we’re going to discuss is something the kids can get involved in too - leaf raking!
Not only is this a great way to spend a family afternoon in autumn, but it’s also a great way to prevent both your downspouts and gutters from collecting debris in the first place.
By removing the cause of the issue (or at least greatly reducing the culprit) you can spend more time enjoying the season and less time ensuring that season isn’t taking over your home!
5. Inspect Your Roofing
And lastly, we want to encourage you to inspect your roof. Although wear and tear is not covered by your home insurance policy, keeping your home in good condition means you’re going to have a safer and more enjoyable winter season - something our brokerage team wants to help you achieve!
What To Look For When Inspecting Your Roof This Fall:
- Damaged shingles
- Worn out rubber around your vents
- Moss growth
- Rusting or otherwise damaged roof seams
Buying Home Insurance For The First Time
Are you ready to start shopping for coverage, but not quite sure where to find the cheapest home insurance that fits your needs?
Buying home insurance is so important, yet can be so confusing if you aren’t provided with the right support and guidance.
Thankfully, with our brokerage team, you never have to make your home insurance decisions alone!
At Mackay Insurance, we work alongside our clients to provide them with a home insurance quote that fits their unique needs.
The Largest Investment Of Your Life Deserves The Best Insurance Coverage
Your home is probably the largest investment you’re ever going to make in your life, and it’s up to you, the homeowner, to take proper care of it. But knowing what to do and why to do it can be confusing - especially if you’re a first time home buyer who isn’t accustomed to the Quinte West climate and landscape.
But we can help!
Our brokerage team at Mackay Insurance is here to provide you with dependable advice, experienced tips and professional guidance - in every area of your home insurance!
Contact our Belleville Or Napanee brokerage team today or Click Here For Your FREE Home Insurance Quote!
Be Sure, Insure, With Mackay Insurance.