With Winter Outside, Be Safe Inside

As winter’s ice and snow drive us indoors, we bring friends and family together. While we’re warm and cozy inside, we still need to think about some cold facts: winter brings its own mix of potential problems and liabilities, leading sometimes to unexpected financial and legal concerns.

What do you need to focus on? Perhaps the most obvious thing is fireplace safety. Dirty chimneys need to be swept. Deposits can unexpectedly catch fire, even spreading fire unnoticed in wall cavities and creating a major house fire. To meet your insurance obligations, schedule chimney inspections and cleanings at least once a year and more often if you use your fireplace frequently.

Even clean fireplaces should be monitored while a fire is burning. Screens and glass doors should be engaged to keep sparks and burning wood in the firebox. Fires should always be extinguished before going to bed.

Rules for Candles and Space Heaters

Candles and space heaters are frequently used in winter, and many of the same rules for fireplace safety still apply. Flammable newspapers, books, curtains and alcohol should be kept at least three feet away from combustable sources. Fuel for kerosene heaters should be stored away from the heater in a ventilated area.

Candles are especially dangerous as they can easily tip over. Pets and children should be monitored and newspapers, curtains and similar objects kept well away from candles. 18,000 homes are damaged or destroyed each year by candle fires; sadly, 130 people will die and 1300 will be injured annually when candles ignite house fires.

While active monitoring is essential, be sure to check the batteries in smoke detectors when clocks are set back each fall. This is also a good time to check the charge on your fire extinguisher (preferably a non-toxic, dry
chemical model).

Electrical consumption increases significantly during winter. Extension cords may be used more often and can tax the electrical capacity of circuits. Extension cords that are hot to the touch should be disconnected and devices moved to other circuits. Electric blankets and their switches and power cords should be checked for overheating and shorts.

Slippery Sidewalks Are a Big Liability

Sidewalks and driveways should be cleared, then salted and/or sanded. Businesses often keep logs of this activity to avoid liability suits, and you may wish to consider this for your home as well.

You should also examine outdoor lighting. Be sure that extension cords powering ornamental displays are not hot to the touch.

In heavy snow areas, ice and snow build-up on roofs can cause structural damage and even direct water into hidden spaces where electrical wires run. Ice build-up can fall on visitors and lead to liability issues.

Winter driving brings its own hazards. Black ice is often dangerous and hard to detect. Safer road surfaces are usually a dull gray color while black ice is very dark—almost black—and likely to have a sheen to it. Even light precipitation can freeze quickly and double or triple normal stopping distances.

Deep winter cold can easily burst pipes. Special styrofoam caps should be placed on outside faucets to prevent pipes from freezing and rupturing inside walls.

Simple checks for these potential problems will help you enjoy your home this winter. Also be sure to check your homeowners policy, and consult with your local independent agent to ensure you’re adequately protected. If you don’t already have an umbrella policy, consider adding it as an extra layer of protection to cover damages not normally covered, and to provide additional coverage amounts for those items that are.