Fall Home Maintenance Tips

Ross Fraser — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 02:36:38 +0000

While spring is a common time for many homeowners to spend some extra attention on upkeep and maintenance, autumn is just as critical a season for preparing your home to withstand the potentially harsh winter weather and temperature conditions that may await you. By making maintenance part of your annual fall routine you can identify potential problems before they arise, and help prepare your home and property for what Mother Nature has to offer. These tips are provided by Travelers Canada, the underwriter of the CottageFirst Insurance program!

Following are some home maintenance tips from our Risk Control professionals to help you prepare for the coming winter:

Have your heating system cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified technician.
Replace your furnace filter in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
Insulate water pipes in areas exposed to freezing temperatures.
Check gutters for damage and confirm they’re securely attached to the house.
Clean gutters and downspouts to keep debris from accumulating. This is especially important during the fall season when leaves may collect in gutters.
Check and repair caulking around doors and windows that show signs of deterioration.
Have your chimney cleaned and maintained by a professional. If you use a wood stove, check for wear and tear, corrosion, etc. and store your wood in a dry, cool area away from the wood stove and potential sources of ignition or pests.
Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct and space under and behind the dryer. Remove lint and dust that may have accumulated inside the dryer in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendation.
Check electrical outlets for loose-fitting plugs or receptacles. Be sure not to overload electrical outlets.
Keep a multi-purpose fire extinguisher accessible. Confirm that it is fully charged and ready for operation.
Inspect your smoke detectors. Make sure you have a smoke detector in each bedroom or sleeping area and also, a smoke detector in the hallway outside each sleeping area. You should also make sure you have at least one smoke detector on each floor of your home, including your basement. Test them monthly, and change the battery annually or as needed.

The steps you take during the fall can help protect your home and property from more potentially expensive damage and emergency repairs in the colder months to come.

Original Article

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Snowbirds: Winterize Your Home While You’re Away

Ross Fraser — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 11:30:18 +0000

If you are a snowbird heading south for the winter, there are several key things you can do to help protect your vacant home. Taking these steps can help protect your home from theft, water damage, heating or electrical system malfunctions and other possible threats while you are away for an extended period of time. These tips are provided by Travelers Canada, the underwriter of the CottageFirst Insurance program!

Download the Snowbird’s Checklist for Preparing Your Home

1. Make Your Home Appear as Though It Is Continuously Occupied

Forward your mail, stop newspaper delivery, and ask a friend or relative to collect flyers or other items that may be left at your door.
Arrange for someone to remove snow after storms.
Put motion-sensitive exterior lights and interior lights on timers and set them to come on at varying times to discourage prowlers.

2. Take Steps to Protect Your Home from Thieves

Confirm that your alarm systems are in working order and have been activated.
Secure external doors and windows with deadbolt locks, security-type hinges and sturdy door frames that cannot be spread apart. Install slide locks or other equivalent security locks on sliding glass doors or French doors.
Store valuables that you are not taking with you in a safe deposit box or other secure offsite location.
Do not post your vacation or travel plans on social media sites, as potential thieves can use that information to learn that your house is vacant.

3. Protect Your Pipes to Avoid Water Damage by Turning Off Your Water Supply

If a pipe bursts or leaks while you are away, it may cause significant damage. Consider completely turning off the water supply if no one will be in the home for an extended period of time. If your home is heated by an older system, consult with your heating professional.
Drain your pipes of all water by opening the faucets, and flush your toilet to clear the water from the tank and bowl, then consider pouring antifreeze in toilet tanks and bowls to prevent any remaining water from freezing and cracking.* Always use non-toxic antifreeze rated for plumbing systems.
To help confirm that the pipes have been drained, consider having a plumber blow compressed air through the pipes.

4. Keep Your Home and Plumbing Warm if Your Water Supply Stays On

If you decide against draining your water pipes, keep the furnace running to help ensure the home stays warm and the pipes do not freeze.
Set the temperature at around 13°C or higher to help keep the interior of the floor and wall cavities, where the water piping is likely located above freezing temperatures. Keeping room and cabinet doors open also helps heat to circulate and warm the areas where pipes are located.
Shut off the water to washing machines and dishwashers and drain the appliances where possible, to avoid any leaks or broken hoses while you are away.
Turn off the heat source and water supply to hot water heaters (unless you have a boiler).
Consider shutting off and draining outdoor water faucets to prevent vandalism and freezing damage.
Have a water flow sensor and low temperature sensor installed on your main water supply pipe and hooked into a constantly monitored alarm system.

5. Perform Routine Maintenance Before You Leave

Have your heating system inspected and serviced before winter. Have your fuel tanks filled before you leave, and ask someone to check on heat and fuel levels regularly while you are gone.
Be sure to maintain electrical power if required to keep the heating system running. If electrical service to the home is to remain on, consider having a licensed electrical contractor inspect your main electrical panel, wiring and outlets, if necessary. This way, they can repair or replace anything that may be defective.
Have your roof inspected before you leave and clean your gutters to help prevent ice from building up.*
Remove dead trees or large overhanging limbs that could damage your house.
Unplug all unnecessary appliances before you leave. Make sure you can retrieve messages on your home answering machine or voicemail so it does not indicate FULL or unattended when someone calls.

6. Make Your Home Unattractive to Pests

Clean your home thoroughly to help discourage new “residents” from moving in.
Clean, defrost and unplug refrigerators and freezers, wiping them dry and leaving doors propped open to prevent mildew. Also clean the oven.
Inspect your home for openings that animals could use to enter. For example, make sure your fireplace flue is closed, as bats, birds and squirrels are known to get inside this way.
Check weather-stripping, insulation and exterior doors and windows to ensure no major deficiencies are present. Water and insects can enter through these openings.
Chimneys should be inspected by a chimney service and, if necessary, cleaned to ensure that they are free from obstructions such as nesting birds. Install chimney guard screen-caps to help prevent any infestation.

7. Be Ready for Emergencies

Call the non-emergency number of your local police department to see if they would like notice that the property will be vacant. If so, provide emergency notification numbers.
Install smoke detectors on at least every floor (preferably tied to a constantly monitored fire alarm system so the fire department will automatically be notified in case of alarm), and confirm that the sensors and system are tested regularly.
In higher wind-exposed or coastal areas, install storm shutters (or other mitigation measures, such as 5/8” marine plywood) to secure windows. Properly anchor personal property that will remain outdoors.
Ask a trusted friend, neighbor or relative to keep an eye on your home and be available in emergency situations. Give them access to your home and ask that they monitor heating, electrical and water systems. You may wish to hire a professional property management firm to provide this service to ensure it is completed on a regular schedule.
If the weather turns frigid, have your friend or property manager also check the roof for ice dams and inspect for leaks inside. Make sure they have your contact information and a list of local contractors they can reach if repairs or service are needed.

* Source: https://www.homeadvisor.com/article.show.How-Do-I-Winterize-a-Vacant-House.10834.html

Original Article: https://www.travelers.com/resources/home/safety/snowbirds-winterize-your-vacant-home.aspx

The post Snowbirds: Winterize Your Home While You’re Away appeared first on Cade Associates Insurance Brokers Limited.

Fall Archives - Cade Associates Insurance Brokers Limited

Fall Home Maintenance Tips

Snowbirds: Winterize Your Home While You’re Away

Download the Snowbird’s Checklist for Preparing Your Home