Addressing the Top 5 Home Winter Risks

New Jersey’s four seasons climate poses challenges to homeowners year-round. But you will get little disagreement that the winter months are the toughest. Typically, January has the coldest temperatures that create the most dangerous conditions for your New Jersey home, particularly when combined with powerful and inevitable winter storm systems. 

Because your home is a haven to keep your family warm and safe in the winter months, you want to be aware of and address the risks to your home this winter. Here is a five-point checklist from your NJ Homeowners Insurance agency to help you keep your home well prepared when severe winter risks threatens it.   

1.   Plumbing

It is essential to protect the pipes that carry water through your home. Frozen pipes bursting is the leading cause of freezing weather damage due to costly repairs that result. Start by insulating the exposed pipes in your basement and crawl spaces. Pay special attention to those pipes nearest the perimeter of the structure. In sub-freezing temperatures, open any enclosures with plumbing in them, such as cabinets. Doing this allows more heat and air to circulate and keep lines warmer. It’s advisable to let a tiny but steady drip of water run on the coldest days.

2.   Heat Sources

Your furnace, fireplaces, and space heaters bring comfort along with potential hazards. A twice-annual spring and fall checkup of your HVAC system is a smart investment in keeping your critical comfort equipment operating efficiently and safely. It is preventative maintenance that pays off by avoiding breakdowns during harsh weather conditions. 

If you burn wood in your fireplace frequently, it will build up a creosote residue in your chimney. Only use firewood that has seasoned for a year or more. Have a qualified chimney sweep inspection annually or as needed depending on how much you use your fireplace. Ensure your flue is wide open when your fireplace is in use, and close it when it is not.

Space heaters are convenient and sometimes less costly than turning up the thermostat. Never leave one on in a room unattended. Keep them away from all flammable material. Place them where they do not block the path of anyone moving about the room.  

Install and maintain carbon monoxide detectors in strategic spots on every floor of your home. Sensors are critical since potentially lethal and odorless carbon monoxide can leak into a home due to improper ventilation or equipment malfunction.  

3.   Ice 

Ice build-up is a problem for more than gutters. It is helpful to note that ice slowly builds up long before it becomes a problem. Keeping gutters clean helps avoid many issues that ice-laden clogged gutters can cause. Ice breaks things because it expands as temperatures get colder. It can also create ice dams on your roof, leading to water accumulation, which causes roof leaks. Ice also makes for treacherous movement by family members and visitors. Keep an adequate supply of rock salt to help combat ice on the ground on your property.  

4.   Landscaping

Trees and shrubbery are beautiful, and in the summer, they provide natural shade that helps keep your home cooler. But in the winter, they present severe threats to your home. Make sure your trees are not too close to your home. It is advisable to guard against letting branches grow to the point of covering your roof. An ice storm can coat tree branches that makes them heavy and dangerous if they fall and damage your roof or the side of your home in the process. Keep bushes and other landscaping from rubbing against your house. Make sure your land is sloped to allow water to run away from your home.

5.   Air Leaks & Energy Losses

Your home is a living, breathing structure—even mild winter winds use every available option to push cold air inside. Keeping the cold air out and warm in is the goal. Sealing doors, windows, baseboards, electrical boxes, and switch plates on exterior walls is where to start. Make sure your exterior doors and storm doors close tight. An excellent suggestion is to order an energy audit for your home. Check with the New Jersey Clean Energy program for details. Here is what to expect according to its website:

Specially trained and certified technicians will assess your home from top to bottom.  The technician will take inventory, report on the current conditions in your home, and will test for:

• Health and safety check (carbon monoxide levels, moisture, and indoor air quality problems)
• Overall comfort level (cold/hot spots, indoor air quality stuffiness/stale odors)
• Air sealing opportunities
• Insulation levels
• Heating system efficiency
• Cooling system/central air conditioning efficiency, if applicable
• Domestic hot water system efficiency

Check with your NJ Homeowners Insurance agent for more suggestions to safeguard your home against winter risks. They are on the frontlines every day responding to insureds who have suffered a loss involving their home. So they know the perils you face and can offer ways to best protect your home against the risks New Jersey winters pose to it.

About Dickstein Associates Agency

Dickstein Associates Agency has distinguished itself as a leading provider of personal and business insurance in the tri-state area for over 55 years. We pride ourselves on being advocates for our clients and providing them with quality and affordable coverages. As an independent insurance agency, we partner with various carriers, allowing for flexible and unbiased coverage for each client’s unique circumstances. For more information on how you can leverage all of your insurance to work best for you, and how we can secure the best insurance in the marketplace based on your specific needs, contact us today at (800) 862-6662.