As a homeowner, you take pride in maintaining your investment and protecting it from outside risks. Among these risks, winter weather presents some of the most significant challenges—challenges that may even lead to substantial property damage.

Canada experiences some of the most extreme winter weather globally, and homeowners constantly have to protect their residences from blizzards and extreme cold. The following are some of the most common sources of property damage homeowners must account for during the winter months:

• Cold temperatures
• Heavy snowfall
• Ice buildups
• Frozen pipes
• Water leaks
• Roof damage

To adequately protect their property from the elements, homeowners must assess their exposures and take the appropriate actions to help prevent winter weather-related damage. This guide provides a brief overview of the most common winter weather risks and the steps homeowners should take to avoid costly repairs following a storm. It also highlights some liability exposures to consider and ways you can reduce your risk.

First Steps Toward Protecting Your Home

Winter weather is unpredictable, and preparation is key. While specific, preventive action is the primary way to protect your home from the elements, there are some additional, up-front steps to consider:

1. Evaluate your home and vulnerabilities—Every home is different and has its own set of unique risks. As such, it’s critical for homeowners to have a thorough inspection done to understand the risks specific to their property better. Inspections, when completed by a certified professional, can provide valuable insight into your home’s age, roof capacity and ability to withstand winter weather.
2. Work with a qualified insurance broker—While winter weather poses a real threat to your property, many of the risks can be addressed through proper insurance. To get a better understanding of your options, it’s important to meet with a qualified insurance broker. They can provide a wholesale review of your unique exposures and the policies available to you.
3. Reach out to your local government—In many cases, your local government can prove invaluable when it comes to protecting your home from the elements. Government websites, public works organizations, utility companies and building departments can all provide expertise and tips on fortifying your home.

When completing the above steps, it’s critical to take any home protection advice you receive seriously, whether securing additional insurance or completing an inspection to help you improve your home’s defences. Only then can you begin taking steps toward protecting your home from specific winter weather risks.

Winter Weather Risks to Your Home

Depending on the size and location of your home, winter weather risks can vary. However, there are several concerns homeowners must account for to protect their investment from the elements. Severe winter weather can lead to things like roof collapse, ice dams and frozen pipes.

Roof Collapse

Heavy snowfall, ice and freezing rain can wreak havoc on your home’s roof. In some cases, roofs can’t withstand the heavy loads of extreme weather, causing them to collapse altogether. In addition, as snow and ice melt, water damage can occur if your home’s roof isn’t structurally sound.

Assessing Your Roof and Taking Action

One of the first steps you can take to protect your roof from collapse is to determine whether or not it is susceptible to snow or ice accumulation. The best way to accomplish this is to assess your roof’s slope. If constructed properly, a sloped roof can shed heavy snow, ice or melting water. In general, the gentler the slope, the more at risk you are for roof collapse. Most builders recommend a slope greater than 10 centimetres (4 inches) vertically and 30 centimetres (12 inches) horizontally. In general, it’s best to have a roof with a steep pitch to promote the shedding of snow. However, even with a sloped roof, snow and ice can still build up on flat areas or around obstructions like chimneys, skylights and dormers. As a result, it’s important for homeowners to evaluate their roofs, particularly after a significant storm regularly. Specifically, homeowners should look for:

1. New water leaks that appear to come from the roof or attic area
2. Exterior doors that become difficult to open or close as a result of heavy loads on the roof
3. New cracks in drywall and plaster
4. Sagging roofs

If you notice any of the above issues following a storm, it’s important to take immediate action to clear loads from your roof and avoid a potential collapse.

However, there are some practical, do-it-yourself methods to consider:

• Snow removal—To aid in snow removal, homeowners can purchase a long snow rake with an extendible arm. This tool allows you to clear away large accumulations of snow safely from the ground. When doing this, homeowners should remain attentive and keep their distance from falling debris.
• Ice removal—Clearing ice from your roof can be a challenge, particularly because manual ice removal is hazardous and should be avoided if possible. However, there are several safe methods to consider:
  • Use a snow rake to create a drainage path. That way, once the ice melts, water will have a means of egress from the roof, eliminating the risk of standing water and major damage.
  • Work with a contractor to install electric heating cables on your roof. This allows ice to melt and safely drain.
  • Use chemical de-icers to improve drainage.

Frozen Pipes

One of the messiest and most costly home repairs is fixing a burst, frozen pipe. Water expands as it freezes and puts significant pressure on the metal or plastic pipes that hold it. If you fail to take the proper precautions, your pipes can easily fail during a cold winter.

Pipes that run along exterior walls in the home with minimal insulation also tend to freeze more easily.

Water from a burst pipe can cause damage to carpeting, short out electrical appliances and ruin furniture. Luckily, there are several ways to protect your home:

• Keep the heat in your house at a minimum of 10° C (50° F). Keep your thermostat set at the same temperature during the day and night.
• Keep interior doors open. This allows heat from the rest of your house to spread, keeping your pipes warm.
• Seal any cracks and holes found near your pipes. This can help keep cold air out of your home.
• Add extra insulation to your pipes. Experts recommend fitting your pipes with foam rubber or fibreglass sleeves.
• Wrap pipes in heat tape or thermostatically-controlled heat cables.
• Disconnect outdoor items such as hoses and faucets.
• Keep your garage door closed if there is a water supply in there.
• Pay attention to weather forecasts. During bouts of extreme cold, allow faucets to drip slightly. This can alleviate pressure in the piping system.
• Ensure your home has a backup generator. Power outages are one of the most common causes of frozen pipes. What’s more, without power, your water supply may also be shut off.
• Consider hiring a central monitoring company. These organizations monitor the temperature of your home remotely and can provide a notification if the interior temperature of your home drops too low.
• Do not set your thermostat lower than 15° C (55° F) when going on vacation. Ask someone to periodically check the temperature in your home while you are away.

If you turn on a faucet and no water or only a trickle comes out, your pipes may be frozen. Turn off the main water valve and keep the faucet on. Apply heat to the pipe by using an electric heating pad, hair dryer or portable space heater, or by wrapping the pipe in towels soaked in hot water. You should apply heat until you regain water pressure. If this does not solve the problem, contact a licensed plumber to inspect your pipes.

Liability Concerns to Consider

Extreme winter weather not only has the potential to damage your home, but it can also create serious liability concerns. During the winter season, walkways, stairs and driveways can become slip and trip hazards as snow falls and ice forms. Should someone injure themselves on your property, you could be held liable for medical costs as well as any other damages, particularly if you didn’t take the appropriate precautions following adverse weather.

To adequately protect yourself from such liability concerns, consider doing the following:

• Shovel and de-ice—It’s very common for someone to slip on ice during the winter and injure themselves. To keep you and members of the public safe, ensure driveways, stairs and sidewalks around your property are clear of ice and snow. To create an adequate walkway, be sure to clear all or as much snow away as possible. Once you’ve removed snow, use anti-ice material on walkways and stairs to make them less slippery. Commonly used products include commercial-grade salt and sand. You should always shovel and remove ice after a storm promptly.
• Inspect your stairs—During the winter, a slip or fall on your outdoor stairs could lead to serious injuries. In addition to clearing snow and ice from your stairs, it’s important to inspect them and ensure they are in good condition and equipped with handrails. Stairs should be free of tripping hazards and cracks. Handrails should be installed by a professional to ensure they are sturdy and built to code. For additional protection, provide adequate exterior lighting around your stairs.
• Trim your trees—You may not realize it, but snow and ice accumulation can cause tree branches to snap and fall. When this happens, the branches can strike passersby or property below, potentially causing significant injury or property damage. To prevent this from happening, trim your trees back, focusing on any branches that overhang your driveway, walkways or your neighbours’ property.

Keeping in mind, the above tips can go a long way toward reducing your liability risks. It may also be a good idea to speak with your insurance broker, as they can provide even more tips and suggestions to reduce your exposure.

Additional Protection

Weather-related risks can affect your home unexpectedly, often leading to major property damage, costly repairs and liability concerns. While you can’t always predict when a pipe will burst or heavy snow will affect the integrity of your roof, the proper insurance can go a long way toward protecting your finances.

If you want the full guide on winter home protection, you can download it here. It covers how to protect your home in the winter and provides a checklist for assessing your winter weather damage risk. For more information about home protection or home insurance, contact Northern Insurance today!