Will your March to do list help your homeowners insurance? Actually, it probably will. One outdoor activity that could help your home insurance is cleaning your gutters. Fall can put dead leaves in your gutters. The winter can then add twigs and other debris to those gutters. If your gutters are clogged, the proper flow of water away from your house can be slowed down or stopped. Clogged gutters can lead to homeowners claims, they can also lead to damage that may not be covered by your home insurance. Some of the problems caused by clogged gutters can be foundation problems, broken gutters, wall and ceiling damage, a wet basement or even insect infestations. That can be a lot of problems.
How can all of these problems come from clogged gutters?
When your gutters clog a couple of things can happen. One is the gutter can break. Basically, the water doesn’t drain, the gutter becomes heavy and it breaks free from the house. Another problem is that water can leak over the sides of the gutter and not be pulled away from the house. When this happens may problems can be the result. Water can lay around the foundation of your home. This pooling water can cause erosion and weaken your walls leading to foundation cracks and settling. This can also lead to a wet basement. If the basement walls are not waterproofed, water can seep through the porous concrete and floor. This can lead to just a wet basement or cracks in your foundation. Clogged gutters can also push water into fascia boards that attach your gutters to the house. That can damage your ceiling and walls.
What should I do the clean my gutters?
Cleaning your gutters can be a little bit of a dangerous task. You could always have a service clean them and evaluate if any damage was done to the roof during the winter. If you do decide to go it your own remember to do it safely. Make sure the ladder you are using is right for the job. The ladder should be sturdy and large enough for you to comfortably reach the roof. Always avoid the top three rungs of the ladder and have someone nearby in case of an emergency. Dress with gloves, long sleeves and googles as to not allow any bacteria to enter into cuts or your eyes. A plastic scooping tool and a bucket should do the trick for the debris. Make sure that your to do list for your homeowners insurance is safe.
Is there anything else that should be on my to-do list for my home insurance?
We will give you some other ideas in the coming weeks of to-do list items that are good for your homeowners insurance. In the meantime if you do have a claim you can call use at 412-344-2800, visit our client center, or call your company direct from our companies page. You can also reach us on social media. We have a Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube page. Stop by and see what we are up too. You can also find other tips for your insurance needs.
