TORONTO – Winter is officially just a few days away, but many locations in Canada have already received a few blasts of ice and snow – and it likely won’t be much longer for everyone else.
With that in mind, an insurance group is outlining some steps to take if your home or business is affected by power outages or nasty weather.
“Not only can winter storms cause damage to your home, vehicle and business, they can be downright deadly,” Irene Bianchi, vice-president of claims and corporate services at RSA, said in a release.
– If you lose power, turn off appliances to avoid a power surge when power is restored. Do not touch electrical wires, appliances or devices.
– If a building is damaged, check for any gas leaks and turn the valves off if you find a leak. Use a flashlight, not a candle, as a source of light.
– Separate damaged property from undamaged property, and prepare an inventory of what has been lost or damaged; take photographs of damaged property
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– Keep receipts for shop vac rentals or cleaning supplies used for any clean-up, and contact your insurance company to report damage.
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The home, auto and business insurer also offers some pointers to help prevent damage to property in freezing weather conditions:
– Prevent exposed pipes from bursting by fitting them with insulation sleeves or wrapping. Seal cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations near water pipes.
– Keep cabinet doors open during cold spells to allow warm air to circulate around pipes.
– Keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets connected to pipes running through an unprotected space, or drain the water system if your home will be unoccupied during cold periods.
– Consider applying additional moisture barrier along the eaves of the roof to prevent water from getting in.
– Ensure the attic floor is well insulated to prevent heat from escaping.
– Trim weak branches or trees that could break and fall on buildings when they’re weighed down by heavy snow.
– If you’re away from your home for more than four days, ensure you have someone qualified to inspect the plumbing daily.
RSA is a trade name of Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada.
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