Keep Your Home Free from Disaster This Summer

Summertime is anything but time to relax when it comes to staying vigilant and avoiding property damage. From flash floods, to hot grills, the summer is full of risks, but if you follow these tips you're sure to be one step ahead!

Fire

The U.S. Fire Administration reports that around 5,700 grill fires take place every year, causing an average of $37 million in damage, 100 injuries and 10 deaths. Malfunctioning grills are the largest culprit of grill fires. In addition, thousands of people visit emergency rooms every year due to burns sustained while barbecuing.

Keep your fire extinguisher near by, and grill out in the open next time you fire it up. Once you're finished with your grill, keep an eye on it while it cools down, and be sure to only store it once it has cooled down.

Sewer Line Backup

Now that your grill is safe, you're ready to plan a big summer party/get together. Maybe you've got kids home for the summer using your toilets a lot more regularly that usual.

This increase in use can cause a small or dormant problem to erupt into a huge issue.

• If you have clay or metal lines, consider getting them changed to PVC

• Make sure you and everyone in your house is educated on what can and cannot be flushed down the drain. (Paper towel, feminine products, diapers and “flushable” wipes are all off limits to the pipes.)

• Check your yard for soggy spots if you're worried about being at risk for backups.

• Install a backwater prevention valve

Pool Accidents

Pools are fun, but they come with a steep spike in the limits of liability coverage for good reason. In 2017 there were 163 drownings under the age of 15. Not to mention the amount of injuries and near fatal accidents. There are many ways to prevent accidents from happening. If you have a pool its worth paying a visit to www.poolsafely.gov to make sure you're on your A-Game!

Mold

Being proactive is essential to preventing mold and mildew from developing in your home. If mold develops due to an issue that could have been prevented, your insurance carrier may choose to reject your claim. Some simple steps you can take to stay mold free:

• Replacing Air Conditioning filters

• Running your Air conditioner regularly and keeping it programmed to run occasionally while on extended vacations

• Investing in a dehumidifier

• Fixing any plumbing issues straight away before its too late!

Summer Storm and Flood Damage

The two most basic elements that cause a thunderstorm are moisture, and rapidly rising warm air.

These two factors occur all summer long which is why we often times see flash floods and sudden thunderstorms all summer long. The simplest way to avoid flooding is to clean your gutters before it all kicks off. Get up there and make sure the water has a way down from your roof and away from the foundations. Taking down dangerous trees, and trimming tall shrubs/trees before they get pulled down on top of you will help avoid serious structural damage and costly repairs. Making sure your outdoor furniture and anything else that could become projectiles either gets tied down or brought in during high winds is also an important and easy step.