San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Minimize weather-related claims, lower insurance premiums
With the frequency of extreme weather events rising in Texas, resulting in billions of dollars worth of damage for homeowners across the state, understanding the various kinds of weatherrelated claims under your homeowner insurance is more important than ever.
According to last year’s National Climate Assessment, Texas racked up $375 billion in damage from weather and climate disasters between 2018 and 2022. And, according to a homeowner report by Hippo, an insurer that specializes in smart technology, 29% of homeowners said they would advise other homeowners to prioritize scheduling and budgeting for regular proactive home maintenance.
With rising insurance premiums causing homeowners to take less comprehensive policies, here are some preventative measures homeowners can take to have lower insurance premiums or avoid having to make a weatherrelated claim in the first place.
Gutters
The majority of weather-related claims homeowners file are related to events that affect the home’s exterior, such as the roof, windows or areas around the home’s foundation, Courtney Klosterman from Hippo Insurance Services said. Regular gutter maintenance is particularly
important because it helps drain water away from a home’s roof and sides.
If they’re not cleaned, backedup water can “end up resulting in pooling water, or water coming over the sides of the gutters and seeping into the siding of the house or the roof,” Klosterman said. “And in the wintertime, trapped water can freeze and expand in those gutters, causing you to have to pay to repair or even replace them.”
The gutter’s downspouts also should be positioned away from the home’s foundation, which can be very expensive to maintain, according to Klosterman.
Roofs
Roofs are one of the most expensive and critical components of a home, lasting about 15 to 20 years and costing about $20,000
to replace, Klosterman said. According to a Hippo homeowner report, roof damage accounted for 20% of the common issues homeowners faced in the past year.
When living in a place that is prone to ice, wind or hail, inspecting a roof for damaged or missing shingles can help prevent future leaks, Klosterman said.
Make “sure that if there is any kind of crack in the roofing, you call a professional to do a roof inspection and help you handle any repairs,” she said.
It’s also important to proactively inspect the attic or any crawl spaces that are adjacent to the roofline and look for any signs of moisture or discoloration on walls and ceilings.
“That can typically be a sign that you do have a roof leak or that you may have a roof leak,”
Tree limbs and shrubbery
On windy days, tree limbs can strip away layers of asphalt from the roof or siding of the house.
“Tree branches really need to be trimmed back so that there isn’t any possibility that they could be contributing to wearand-tear on the exterior of the house,” Klosterman said.
For homeowners in drier climates, “take additional wildfire prevention tips seriously to avoid any encroaching brush near your house that could be a fire risk,” Klosterman said. “It’s as simple as doing a quick walk around your house to remove any branches that are touching or overhanging near your roof or your siding and removing any vegetation that’s in contact with the sides of your house that looks like they’re dead or dying.”
More maintenance tips
Some of the most important first steps any homeowner can take to help prevent weather-related losses is to complete regular home maintenance and know their insurance policy inside and out, Klosterman said.
“Most insurance policies renew every year. Those policies could change year to year in terms of what you’re covered for,” she said. “Take into account the type of weather events in your area and review either with your insurance agent or look through your declaration section of your homeowner’s insurance policy to make sure that you’re covered for those types of potential common perils.”
Here are some more ways to help lower insurance premiums, depending on the insurance provider:
Consider upgrading your home’s roofing materials to an impact-resistant material, which can help minimize damage caused by hail or heavy storms.
Installing storm shutters could help you qualify for discounts on home insurance premiums and could help protect windows from debris in severe weather.
Install water leak detection devices. Water leaks are one of the most common and costly insurance losses that come up for homeowners, but it also can be one of the most preventable, Klosterman said.
Burst pipes inside the home are usually covered by standard home insurance policies, Klosterman said, but it’s important to check annually in case your insurer’s policy has changed.
Some insurance policies may offer discounts for installing lightning rods on a home as a preventative measure, Klosterman said. “Lightning rods are designed to protect homes from lightning strikes, helping reduce the risk of fire damage,” she said. “Discounts vary by the insurer so it’s important to check with your home insurance provider or insurance agent to learn more.”