Top Ways Things Can Go Wrong & How to Help Protect Your Home

Top Ways Things Can Go Wrong
& How to Help Protect Your Home

clogged gutters can cause water damage

Ever wonder what are the most common causes of damage around the house? Whether you’re about to buy a new home or you’ve lived there for years, knowing what can go wrong can help you better protect your house, and save you the time and the inconvenience of making repairs.

Travelers analyzed eight years of claim data to identify the five most frequent causes of home damage.1 “From windstorms to water damage, we see thousands of homeowners claims a year,” said Pat Gee, Travelers Senior Vice President of Auto, Property & Catastrophe Claim. “By sharing some of the insights that the data provides, we want to help homeowners avoid these common causes of claims.”

Taking immediate short-term steps and planning long-term measures can help to prepare your home to better withstand common causes of property damage.

1. Windstorms – Accounting for nearly a quarter (24 percent) of all losses, windstorms top the list of the most frequent causes of Travelers homeowners claims.

Short-term steps:

  • Homeowners can prune trees to reduce the risk of tree-related damage, which causes hundreds of millions of dollars of damage each year, according to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS).2

Long-term steps:

  • The IBHS FORTIFIED Home™ program is a building standard that addresses high winds and damaging hail. FORTIFIED Home offers three levels of designations for both new and existing homes – bronze, silver and gold. Achieving a FORTIFIED Home status often includes steps such as taping roof deck seams, anchoring porches, carports and other attached structures, and anchoring the roof structure to the exterior wall, and the wall to the foundation.

2. Water damage, non-weather – 20 percent of claims result from water damage unrelated to weather events. Water leaks from pipes, water heaters, air conditioning units, refrigerators and washing machines are among the most common causes of damage.

Short-term steps:

  • Know how to shut off your main water supply. If you will be away from home for an extended period, consider shutting off the water supply and draining the pipes.
  • Inspect appliances, such as water heaters, showers, tubs, toilets, sinks and dishwashers annually, and have them repaired if there are any signs of leaks or corrosion. When possible, install water heaters and washing machines in areas with floor drains to minimize damage if leaks should occur.
  • Check pipes for leaks and cracks, and appliance hoses and plumbing fittings for signs of breakage, crimping or bending.

Long-term steps:

  • Install a smart water main shut-off device with sensors that can detect the presence of water and shut off the main water supply. Some devices can also send alerts to your smartphone notifying you of water leaks so you can take steps to contain the damage.
  • Consider placing sensors near…

Continue reading this Travelers article.

 

 

Don’t forget, The Portier Agency offers homeowner/mobile home/ renter’s /automobile / motorcycle / life / commercial / crop insurance.
Call or come by to get your quote!

 

The Portier Agency, LLC
113 North Irwin Avenue
Ocilla, GA 31774
229-468-3444
portieragency@windstream.net