6 ways to get your home ready for winter

6 ways to get your home ready for winter

Protect your pipes. Wrap any pipes in areas of your home that are unheated or poorly insulated. …
Trim your trees. Check the trees around your home and remove any dead branches. …
Insulate your attic. …
Guard your garage pipes. …
Be well-equipped. …
Winterize outdoor faucets.

Make Your Home Winter Ready

Getting yourself ready for winter is a snap. Gloves? Check! Scarf? Right here. But readying your home for a long, cold season is another story. So, until someone invents a turtleneck sweater you can put around your house when it gets cold, there’s some organizing to do. We’ve got the tips to help you.

Strategy for Saving

Organizing your home for winter can seem like an annoying and perhaps unnecessary chore. But the financial benefits will outweigh any feelings of being “put out.” Winter heating costs can skyrocket if your windows are poorly insulated, your plumbing breaks, or if the heating system is out-of-date. Ensuring your home is prepped properly can save you a nice chunk of change while protecting your property for years to come.

Break It Down

Looking at a giant to-do list is overwhelming. To save frustration, break it down into two or three jobs you can tackle over the next three to four weekends. First up, windows. Check each one in the house for drafts and insulation needs. The following week, inspect pipes to avoid an unfortunate burst in January. You can make things even easier by dividing the job among the family. Assign each person a room to inspect and report back on whether it’s ready for winter.

Three Steps to a Safe Season

#1: Prep the Plumbing

Drain the water from your outdoor faucets and garden hoses and arrange to have any in-ground sprinkler pipes blown out. Roll up the garden hoses and store them inside. Identify any “problem” pipes that are prone to freezing in the house and consider using heat tape to keep them warm during extremely cold weather. If the worst happens, ensure everyone in the family knows how to turn off the water at the source. This will minimize leaking when and if a pipe bursts.

#2: Heat Things Up

Everyone enjoys cozy evenings by a crackling fire? Ensure your fireplace is ready to provide warm nights all winter. Be sure to have the chimney inspected and cleaned by a professional before the first frost. Also, have a professional perform a routine check of the heating systems before cold weather arrives. This should include vacuuming the vents and other heating components. If your furnace has a filter, check to see if it needs replacing. For more energy savings, consider installing a setback thermostat that keeps the home cooler when you are asleep or away.

#3: Seal the Leaks

Keep drafts to a minimum this winter. If you have them, install storm windows and doors — and don’t overlook the basement. Add or replace worn weather stripping around the doors and windows and caulk any gaps. If doorstops are worn, replace them. If any pipes or ducts travel through an exterior wall, be sure to use caulking and weather-stripping around all entry points. These steps will block any potential entry points for cold air. That’s an idea you can warm up to.

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Insurance-technology

Hard Market Needs Tech & Creativity: Navigating Challenges in the Insurance Industry

The insurance market is experiencing significant instability due to inflation, the global pandemic, evolving cybersecurity risks, and climate change. According to experts at Send’s INFUSE webinar titled Navigating the Hard Insurance Market, innovative technology and creative product design could be key in bringing stability to this challenging environment. Rising Risks and Challenges The growing frequency of weather-related disasters has especially made risk assessment difficult for insurers. Tandis Nili, managing principal of global risk management at Epic Insurance Brokers, highlighted that underwriting has struggled to keep pace. “Weather patterns are changing rapidly, and the underwriting models we’ve relied on are no longer sufficient,” Nili remarked. The traditional methods of predicting risks, based on past events, are no longer applicable as 100-year events are now happening much more frequently. Leveraging Technology for Stability Martina Conlon, executive principal at Datos Insights, emphasized the importance of utilizing automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to address this volatility. AI-driven predictive models, she explained, can assist insurers in making more accurate risk assessments, which in turn leads to better pricing and more efficient processes. “It’s all about moving beyond traditional tools like spreadsheets and policy systems,” Conlon said. By integrating more advanced technology, insurers can streamline operations and enhance accuracy in their assessments. Creative Product Innovation Another critical aspect in managing the hard market is innovative product design. Jennifer Kyung, CEO of NextGen Underwriting, discussed the opportunities for insurers to rethink product structures. This could involve adding new lines for emerging risks or restructuring existing products to share the responsibility between insurers and clients. For example, home insurance policies could evolve, particularly in regions facing heightened risks due to climate change. “This is a real opportunity for underwriters to creatively design products that better align with future risk landscapes,” Kyung added. Preparedness: A Key Lesson Lastly, the past few years have highlighted the need for insurers to be prepared for the unexpected. While it’s impossible to predict future events, the industry can ensure that it has the right tools and capabilities in place to respond swiftly and effectively when crises arise. As Kyung put it, “We may not predict what’s coming, but we can be ready for whatever it is.” Conclusion In today’s volatile market, insurers must embrace both technological advancements and creative product design to navigate the evolving risk landscape. By doing so, they can enhance stability, build consumer trust, and be prepared for future challenges.

Commercial Auto

Around the P&C Insurance Industry: November 20, 2024

Porsche Auto Insurance:Launched an unlimited insurance product for high-mileage Porsche owners driving over 10,000 miles annually. This complements their pay-per-mile policies, allowing owners to choose fixed premiums or mileage-based options. Multiple vehicles on a single policy can also have mixed coverage. Safeco Insurance:Entered a book transfer agreement with Main Street America Insurance, enhancing its personal lines presence in 22 states. Main Street America is shifting focus to commercial lines, including commercial products and bonds. Resilient Cities Network & Tokio Marine Group:Partnered to bolster urban resilience projects. The collaboration supports the Resilience Finance Taskforce, helping cities globally scale investment strategies for resilience and climate adaptation. Skyward Specialty Insurance Group:Introduced life sciences liability coverage tailored for the life sciences industry, addressing risks such as medical liability, errors and omissions, and general liability. This strategic move supports the complex insurance needs of healthcare innovators. AAIS Partner Program:Welcomed Sproutr, offering AAIS members access to tools and services that streamline operations and foster growth in insurance processes. Duck Creek Technologies:Opened its second Center of Excellence in Warsaw, Poland, enhancing global customer service capabilities, particularly in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific regions. Liberty Mutual & Coursera:Launched an entry-level course, Insurance Sales Agent, to train learners in risk management, sales, and ethical practices, equipping them for careers in insurance sales. World Insurance Associates:Acquired United Counties Insurance Group of Old Bridge, NJ, expanding its regional operations. Previsico:Unveiled Instacasting, a flood mitigation solution using rainfall data for real-time surface water flood predictions, enabling faster and more precise response strategies.

6 ways to get your home ready for winter