Paul Dreher Director of Personal Insurance View Bio

Fall is here, and along with it comes the familiar reminders that winter is quickly approaching!

Cover patio furniture – Patio furniture wears easily in climate change. If possible, it is recommended to store patio furniture in a shed or garage. If that’s not possible, cover them with a tarp or specifically designed covers is a great way to minimize weather damage to your furniture.

Cover the air conditioner— The coils on the top and sides of air conditioners can be easily damaged. Wet leaves and debris can ruin these coils which will cause air conditioners to run less effectively, and could even ruin it completely. By simply covering the coils, a costly repair could be prevented.

Cover crawlspace vents— With crawlspaces in homes, there are likely vents on the outside of the foundation. In the summer, it is recommended to open the vents to let air through to prevent mold growth; however, in the winter the vents should be closed and covered with Styrofoam or crawl space vent covers. Doing so helps you heat a home more efficiently.

Put hoses away and cover outside faucets— When water freezes, it expands. If there is water left in the hose, it will likely freeze and tear. Undo the hose, drain it, and store it in a shed or garage for the winter to prevent it from breaking. The faucet heads should also be protected from the cold weather. Styrofoam faucet covers go directly over the faucet to keep heat in and prevent a possible break from freezing.

Insulate pipes and keep your home heated— With traveling this winter season, it is still important to maintain heat in the home. Pipes are easily frozen and could burst from the pressure. Insulating the pipes will also help prevent freezing from occurring.

Replace the air filter—Furnaces suck in air and use filters to sift out any particles from being blown onto the coils. A clean filter will help furnaces run efficiently and increase the life of your furnace. Depending on the filter quality, a good rule of thumb is to replace it every 1-3 months.

Drain the gas from your mower—This is one maintenance item individuals seem to forget about. When storing a mower for the winter, it is important to either drain the gas from the mower or let it run until the gas has been used up. If not done, moisture could seep into the gas tank and ruin your mower.

Taking a little time to winterize your home could help you prevent a loss and save you thousands of dollars in the long run. Talk to Lawley today. Our dedicated team of insurance professionals will get to know your personalized needs and provide you with options to make an informed decision.