The month of February is associated with Valentine’s Day, a day when people shower their loved ones with gifts and various romantic gestures. Flowers, chocolates, jewelry, and special dinners are common things that people do to show appreciation and love.
Whether you have a romantic night in or a night out with someone special, Valentine’s Day can hold a higher number of safety risks than your average day.
Let’s take a look at some basic tips on how to minimize your risks and stay safe this Valentine’s Day.
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Protect your Home from Valentine’s Day Risks
There are many ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day. A cozy night in might mean candles, using the fireplace, and cooking. All these things can lead to fire risks if not properly tended to. Or, enjoying a relaxing bath, which could alternatively lead to an overflowing bathtub leaving you with water damage from a flooded bathroom.
Here are some things to consider to ensure you and your home are safe this year:
Fire Hazards
Although candles, fireplaces, and cooking can pose minimal risks when supervised, they can quickly escalate into a dangerous situation when left unattended.
- Blow out candles, gas, or electric heating sources when you leave the room and/or when you go to bed.
- Keep clothing, blankets, and pillows away from fireplaces and candles.
- Keep pets away from candles, they can easily singe their fur or knock one over.
- If you haven’t started your fireplace in a long time, inspect and test it beforehand. (Poorly operating fireplaces are not just a fire hazard but they’re also a carbon monoxide danger).
- Forgotten meals in the oven or on the stovetop can lead to fires. Consider using timers and be sure all smoke and fire alarms are working properly.
- Keep a fire extinguisher in your home and learn how to use it.
Flood Hazards
Having a solo Valentine’s Day? This may mean a day of pampering such as relaxing in the bath with a good book and glass of wine. A fairly common occurrence but one that can quickly turn into a bad situation if not paying attention.
Not turning the taps off or removing the plug can result in the bathtub overflowing, causing unwanted moisture and structural dampness, potentially causing damage to the floor below by destroying the ceiling and floorboards. A leak from your bathroom to the floor below can cause serious water damage to your home.
Protecting your Jewelry and Gifts
Did you receive a beautiful piece of jewelry or another expensive item as a gift this Valentine’s Day? It is important to make sure your valuable gift items are adequately protected under your home insurance policy, otherwise, you may need additional coverage.
To help determine this you should get an appraisal done. Going to a reputable appraiser will provide you with the information required to pass along to your insurance provider so they can assess your coverage needs. You will then have the option to increase to a special limit after an appraisal is completed. An accepted appraisal will include the appraiser’s name, license number, and certification stamp. The information for the jewelry will need to include the weight, carats, and photo of the item.
Speak to your advisor first about the coverage limit in your current home insurance policy before paying for an appraisal to avoid any unnecessary costs. Most home insurance policies include coverage of expensive items such as jewelry, however many policies include a low limit of coverage on the loss of the items. Valuable items are only covered up to a certain amount on home insurance policies, which helps to keep them affordable.
Most carriers have a basic limit that the policy will cover if anything happens to your jewelry and you have to file a claim. If the jewelry is valued at double that amount, you will still only receive the basic limit amount from your insurer.
This is when an insurance endorsement (also referred to as a rider) would come in. An insurance endorsement is a form of optional coverage that you can include in your home insurance policy for increased coverage of your valuable items. It can help to ensure you receive the full value of an item and not just costs for a replacement.
When jewelry is insured on a rider, it may cost a bit extra each year to insure, but if a loss occurs the piece will be repaired/replaced to the value of the appraisal, the policy deductible will NOT be charged, and it will not affect the claims history. But, if you choose to cover it under the basic policy limits, it will be subject to the deductible and affect the claims-free status.
Don’t Forget your Pets!
Most insurance companies do not offer any coverage for pets. Separate pet insurance would be needed.
If you are a pet owner, it’s important to keep things away that can harm your pet. Make sure you aren’t leaving things like chocolate, alcohol, flowers, and gift bags out for your pets to get into. Flowers such as lilies or thorny rose stems can be especially dangerous for your dog or cat if they get ahold of them.
Without the right insurance coverage, any claims for these certain situations might be declined. Talk to your insurance advisor to make sure you are properly protected against all the potential risks that could impact your special day. Whatever you choose to do this Valentine’s Day, remember to stay safe and have fun!
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