Winter is here, and freezing temperatures have already arrived in Ontario. But, as tough as weather can be on us, it can also affect your home and drive up your home insurance premiums. Preparing your home for winter (ideally in autumn, but it is never too late), can help you avoid costly repairs that would raise your home insurance premiums the following year. These are the winter hazards covered under basic home insurance, the top winter-related home insurance claims, and how to avoid them.
Home Insurance Covers Many Winter Risks
Home insurance companies in Canada do not all offer the same coverage against weather conditions like snow, rain, and wind. Basic home insurance policies may provide coverage against winter events including:
- Frozen or burst pipes
- Ice damage like ice dams
- Damage from falling ice or snow
- Wind damage causing fallen trees (not related to hurricanes)
- Damage caused by freezing rain
If damage makes it impossible for you to live in your home, your insurer will usually cover the cost of temporary accommodation. If you also need coverage against a specific winter risk, ask your insurer to include it in your home insurance contract explicitly.
- Related Read: 4 Tips for Buying a Home in the Suburbs
Depending on your location and your situation, it is critical to compare the coverage, amounts, and premiums of multiple insurance policies. Explore what add-ons or riders are available on top of their standard packages to find the best home insurance in Ontario for you and your needs.
Most Common Winter Home Insurance Claims
Your home insurance contract protects you and your home against the most common types of damage caused by winter weather. When looking at the most common claims reported during winter, snow, ice, and wind are almost always involved. Here is a non-exhaustive list of the main claims linked to these factors and some tips to avoid them.
Snow Damage
Winter means snowfall —often in large amounts in Canada. Acting proactively to prevent problems later is also best. Snow can cause damage to your home in several ways. Excessive snow accumulation on your roof can thaw and refreeze to create ice dams. Melting snow can also infiltrate your roof and walls, causing mould problems. Regularly checking your roof before the winter can make all the difference.
It’s important to remove accumulated snow quickly. If you’re unable to do so yourself, hiring a snow removal service before you have problems can be cheaper in the long run. Services can run around $300 to $400.
Frozen and Burst Pipes
If you’re not careful, subzero temperatures can mean burst pipes. A standard repair for burst pipes can exceed $1,000, but this can be much higher depending on the extent of the damage caused by water. Water damage can quickly become expensive as it can damage several rooms at a time. This is why you should carry out preventive maintenance of your pipes (especially those outside of your home), ideally before the winter starts. You can add extra insulation or replace old insulation. Do not forget to close the valves that lead to the outside! Finally, don’t let your indoor temperature drop too low. It can be tempting not to use heating if you’re away during the holiday season, but experts suggest maintaining a minimum temperature of 17 degrees inside your home.
- Related Read: Common Factors that Can Risk Devaluing Your Home
Wind Damage
Parts of Canada can experience high winds, hail, and heavy rain at any time of the year. Without proper maintenance, your home’s structure can be damaged quickly. To prevent winter damage, make sure to store your outdoor furniture indoors and don’t leave objects lying around outside that could blow away, damaging your house, your car, or your neighbours’ property. Prevention also includes regularly pruning branches from trees to avoid having them fall on your roof or vehicle. After a storm, carefully check your roof’s condition. If you see a problem, do not wait to make an insurance claim (delays can be a reason to refuse reimbursement).
With all this information, you now know how to avoid costly claims and repairs due to winter weather. Be aware of other risks that are also common in winter, but that often aren’t top of mind like home fires (because of the increased use of the fireplace and candles in the home during the holiday season) and of all coverage that your insurance policy may or may not offer.
