Protect homes against winter storms in the fall

Winter storms can wreak havoc on your home and account for a large percentage of homeowners insurance claims nationwide after hurricane season comes to a close each year on Nov. 30.

The time to winterproof your home is before the cold weather sets in, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

Catastrophic winter storms cause an average of $1.2 billion in insured damages each year in the United States. Water damage and freezing account for about 20 percent of all homeowners insurance claims annually, while wind and hail account for close to 30 percent of total claims. The average homeowners claim for water damage and freezing is more than $5,000, according to the I.I.I.

Many winter-related disasters can be prevented by taking a few simple steps to protect your home from snow, wind and freezing temperatures. The first step is to make sure your home and possessions are properly insured.

Winter damage to cars is covered under the comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy, which is an optional coverage.

Property damage caused by flooding, however, is not covered under standard homeowners and renters insurance policies. Generally speaking, property losses caused by water that comes into the home from the ground up are covered under a separate flood insurance policy. This is available from the National Flood Insurance Program and some private insurers. If, for instance, there is melting snow and rain that seeps into a house from the ground, rather than from the roof, the resulting property damage would generally only be covered by a flood insurance policy. Flood insurance is available for both homeowners and renters.

To help prepare for winter, the I.I.I. offers the following checklist:

Outside Your Home

* Clean out gutters. Remove leaves, sticks and other debris from gutters, so melting snow and ice can flow freely. This can prevent ice damming -- a condition where water is unable to drain through the gutters and instead seeps into the house causing water to drip from the ceilings and walls,

* Install gutter guards. Available in most hardware and home stores, "gutter guards" prevent debris from entering the gutter and divert the flow of water away from the house and into the ground,

* Trim trees and remove dead branches. Ice, snow and wind can cause weak trees or branches to break, causing damage to your home or car, as well as injury to people on your property,

* Repair steps and handrails. Keeping steps and handrails in good condition can prevent someone from falling and being seriously injured. Broken stairs and banisters can become lethal when covered with snow and ice, and

* Seal cracks and holes in outside walls and foundation. Use caulking to protect water pipes and make sure that skylights and other roof openings have proper weather-stripping to prevent snowmelt from seeping into your home.

Inside your home

* Keep the house warm. Set the thermostat for at least 65 degrees, since the temperature inside the walls, where the pipes are located, is substantially colder. If the temperature is too low, the pipes can freeze and burst,

* Add extra insulation to attics, basements and crawl space. If too much heat escapes through the attic, it can cause snow or ice to melt on the roof. Water can then refreeze, causing more snow and ice to build up. This can result in a collapsed roof and can contribute to ice damming. The attic should ideally be 5-10 degrees warmer than the outside air. Well-insulated basements and crawl spaces will also help protect pipes from freezing. For the same reason, you may also want to consider insulating unfinished rooms,

* Have the heating system serviced. Furnaces, boilers and chimneys should be serviced at least once a year to make sure they are working properly,

* Check pipes. Look closely for cracks and leaks and have the pipes repaired immediately. Wrap exposed pipes with heating tape to insulate them,

* Install an emergency pressure release valve in your plumbing system. This device will protect against the increased pressure caused by freezing pipes and can help prevent your pipes from bursting,

* Make sure that smoke and fire alarms are working properly. Residential fires increase in the winter, so it is important to protect your family with working alarm systems. Also, consider installing a carbon dioxide detector, since a well-sealed home can trap this toxic gas,

* Learn how to shut the water off and know where your pipes are located. If your pipes freeze, time is of the essence. The quicker you can shut off the water or direct your plumber to the problem, the better chance you have of preventing pipes from bursting, and

* Hire a licensed contractor to look for structural damage. If damage is discovered, you can have it repaired immediately, rather than waiting for a more severe problem to occur. Also, ask about ways to prevent water damage resulting from snow-related flooding. Plastic coatings for internal basement walls, sump pumps and other methods can prevent flood damage to your home and belongings.

If you are going to be away from your home for an extended period of time, turn the water off and have the water system drained by a professional to keep pipes from freezing or bursting. Also, have someone check your home periodically so that, if there is a problem, it can be fixed quickly, thus lessening the potential damage.