Experienced homeowners know that the one constant in homeownership is to be ready for anything to happen. No matter if a faucet fails and floods your bathroom or your home is burglarized while you’re away, life is filled with unexpected events. Home insurance and additional protections like equipment breakdown coverage can be a great help in the aftermath. However, there are plenty of steps you can take to minimize the risk of broken equipment, theft, accidents and other costly, additional living expenses in your home.
Water, fire and theft claims are among the most common home insurance claims. Today, we’re going to explain how each of these three types of property claims can be avoided.
Protect your home from water damage
A leaky roof, standing water in a laundry room, or a burst pipe can all lead to permanent water damage inside (and even outside) your home. Without proper cleanup and sanitation, the aftermath can be hazardous to your health or the structure of the home. For example, if the water source of an accident was an overflowing toilet, it’s crucial to remove the standing water and disinfect every surface the water touched.
Here are some precautions you can take for reducing water-related property damage:
- Turn off your water when going out of town for any period longer than a weekend.
- Avoid frozen pipes by setting your home temperature no lower than 55 degrees.
- If you have a sump pump, ensure it is working correctly. Contact a contractor for assistance if you aren’t sure.
- Reduce the risk of an overflowing washing machine by limiting the size of each load and checking the manual for soap level recommendations.
- Turn off the water spigot on the exterior of your home when temperatures fall below 32 degrees.
- Install a water leak detector as an added layer of protection.
There are plenty of other ways you can decrease the risk of water damage. Check out more ways you can help prevent water damage around your property to learn more. Talk to your independent agent about personal property coverage for extra protection in the event of water damage in your home.
Make fire damage easier to avoid
Do you know what household items are extremely flammable? Can you rely on your smoke detectors to work if there is a fire? Are you and your family prepared to smother a fire or escape your home if necessary?
With the right equipment and safety precautions in place, you can reduce the risk of fire damage in and around your home. Here are a few tips to get started:
- Never leave a lit candle unattended.
- Do not leave a stove on and unattended. Double check your stove and oven to ensure they are off before you leave the house if you used it earlier that day.
- Clean out the lint trap in your dryer between every load of laundry. Consider hiring a dryer vent cleaner or air vent cleaner to reduce the risk of a dryer fire.
- Test your smoke alarms monthly and change the batteries every six months.
- Never leave leftover gasoline sitting in a lawn mower or other gas-powered device for the winter season.
- Keep a fire extinguisher under the kitchen sink or in your pantry for easy access during a kitchen fire.
You can be prepared to act and avoid fire damage. Learn more about fire safety tips and how to create a fire escape plan. If you have a Direct Fire Alarm or Central Station smart fire alarm, you may qualify for a home insurance discount. Talk to you Integrity agent to learn more.
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Avoid a home insurance claim due to theft
If your home is burglarized, submitting homeowners insurance claims with Integrity is a simple, quick process. These tips could help you deter thieves from your property to help you avoid a home insurance claim due to burglary:
- Don’t post on social media about an upcoming vacation or share pictures of your vacation while you are away.
- Don’t have packages delivered to your home while on vacation unless someone is house sitting for you and can bring them inside upon delivery.
- Have a neighbor or friend check in on your house while you are gone for an extended period.
- Install a home security system. Many security systems use an app to show the security footage on your smartphone in real time.
- Add motion-activated lights to every exterior door to deter anyone who approaches your home at night.
Contact your Integrity agent today to review your policy and learn more about how you can be better protected in the event that your home is targeted by thieves. You may even qualify for a home insurance discount if you have a participating smart home alarm system. Ask your independent agent to learn more.
Coverages described herein may not be available in all states. Please contact one of our local independent agents for complete details on coverages and discounts. If the policy coverage descriptions herein conflict with the language in the policy, the language in the policy applies. The material provided above is for informational, educational and/or suggestion purposes only, and does not imply coverage. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO QUOTE ANY INDIVIDUAL PREMIUM RATE FOR THE INSURANCE HEREIN ADVERTISED. Applicable policies may be underwritten by Grange Insurance Company, Trustgard Insurance Company, Grange Indemnity Insurance Company, Grange Insurance Company of Michigan* and Grange Property & Casualty Insurance Company*, Integrity Insurance Company*, Integrity Property & Casualty Insurance Company*, Integrity Select Insurance Company*. *Not licensed in Pennsylvania