Winter preparedness tips from Shelter Insurance

If you’ve ever been caught without power, or spun around on icy roads with kids in the car, or suffered a fire from a space heater, you know winter isn’t always a wonderland.

That’s where we come in, with advice and coverages to keep you, and yours — not to mention your belongings — snug this winter.

Check Your Insulation and Plumbing Plumbing is especially susceptible to cold weather, and so are your heating bills if your house isn’t properly insulated. Exposed pipes in uninsulated spaces like crawlspaces, attic, or on outside walls should be wrapped with electrical heating tape, and then insulated with foam. Rope caulk is an inexpensive and quick fix for drafty windows, as is weatherstripping for leaky doors.

Hey, You! Check the Flue! Even if your home’s heating system is capable of dealing with the cold, you’ve probably got some logs on the fire. Keep the C02 in the smoke from entering your home. How? Make sure your flue is open when a fire’s burning, and have the flue and the chimney checked annually by a professional. Likewise never light a barbeque indoors. Make sure you check the batteries in your smoke and CO2 detectors twice a year.

Keep it on the Road! Never over-steer or turn sharply on an icy road. Have your tires rotated before winter rolls around, and consider investing in a good set of chains. Get a complete emergency pack together for your car.

Ask your local agent about Shelter’s free insurance review service for your auto, home or business. We can help you navigate smoother through all of the winters in your life.

Scott Comiskey, Bella Vista, 479-855-7774; Matthew Hillis, Bentonville, 479-273-7793; Jamie Carter, Bentonville, 479-845-3657; Chris Taylor, Gravette 479-787-5421; Sean Garrison, Rogers, 479-621-0555; Derek Wardlow, Rogers, 479-631-0899