Vital Homeowner Maintenance Tips to Prevent Costly Damage &

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When you own a home, it’s important to understand the main purpose of homeowners’ insurance is to protect you from major risks like fires, hail, explosions, theft and wind storms. What it doesn’t cover is flooding, earthquakes or everyday wear and tear — or poor maintenance.

Follow the vital Homeowner Maintenance tips below to prevent costly damage & losses!  

  1. Caulk where needed – Caulk is cheap and can help keep moisture out of crevices to avoid water damage and mold. Caulk can help weatherize your home to keep cold air out in the winter and cool air in during the summer. Go through your home and look for any spots where caulk could use an update, or a crevice could use some new caulking.
  2. Clothes dryer lint trap & Exhaust Duct – A common cause of dryer fires is failure to do a thorough cleaning! Because a lint trap is not a foolproof method for catching all the “fuzzy stuff” from clothes, lint can build up and catch fire in the heating element or exhaust duct. From 2010-2014, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 15,970 home fires involving clothes dryers or washing machines each year, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
  3. Inspect & repair the roof – Check your roof for early signs of wear or damage. Look for missing, damaged, and aging shingles.
  4. Test & clean the sump pump & pit – Sump pumps are often found in basements, and are the last line of defense against floods, condensation buildup, and water from drains. Water damage due to sewage and drain backups generally require additional insurance coverage beyond a standard policy.
  5. Inspect & clean chimneys yearly – Unclean chimneys are the leading cause of structure fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association. From 2009-2013, chimneys resulted in $35 million on direct property damage each year. Improper cleaning can also lead to other serious issues, including potential for carbon monoxide, fumes, and possibly soot to enter home living spaces.
  6. Clean & maintain gutters and downspouts – Clogged gutters can cause water to flow down the sides of the home and pool around its foundation. This could lead to major issues like uneven floors, cracks in the walls, and interior water damage.
  7. Check for termites – To prevent termites, get your home inspected by a professional periodically. Once termites spread, they can cause major structural damage. If you catch them early, you can limit the damage.
  8. Regularly maintain pipes & pluming – Homeowners’ insurance does not cover pipe degradation due to old age or poor care. Look closely for cracks and leaks, and have any necessary repairs made immediately.
  9. Inspect your deck – There’s been an increase in the number of decks that have collapsed, fallen apart, or failed, according to the North American Deck and Railing Association. In most cases, simple upkeep could have prevented the accidents.

Questions about your Homeowners policy? Contact your local IMT Agent today! 

Copyright 2025 Property Casualty 360


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Is Your Heating System & Fireplace Ready For Winter?

When it’s cold outside, you need to keep your home warm and toasty, but you also want to keep it safe. Heaters, fireplaces, and other methods of warmth can also create fire hazards. While fireplaces may be designed to contain fire, they still require caution and regular maintenance to effectively manage flames, embers and smoke. 

Here are some tips to make sure you are keeping your home safe this winter: 

  • Test your smoke alarms on a consistent basis and keep fire extinguishers handy.  
  • Sweep dust bunnies regularly.
  • Place your heater a minimum of three feet from all flammable items.
  • Make sure candles are kept away from flammable objects.
  • Use the 1:1 rule — only plug one heating appliance into an electrical outlet at a time.
  • Unplug appliances and completely put out fires in the fireplace before you leave the room or your home.
  • Have fuel tanks filled and maintained throughout the season.
  • Use a fireplace screen to prevent hot embers from flying out and catching your possessions on fire.
  • Service wood-burning or pellet stoves according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Winter Weather Maintenance Practices for Your Home

Along with fire prevention, homeowners should perform winter maintenance to keep temperatures inside the house warm when it is cold outside.

  • Do not set the heater lower than 55 degrees, as the temperature inside the walls where water piping is located is colder than in living spaces. Also, keep doors open within the house to maintain an even temperature throughout.
  • Prevent drafts and heat loss by adding weather stripping around doors and caulking windows. Install storm windows, if appropriate.
  • Check for water leaks and make repairs, if needed. If a water pipe is exposed in an unheated area, such as a garage or crawl space, wrap the pipe in UL-listed heat tape; use only thermostatically controlled heat tape on plastic piping.
  • Learn where water pipes are located and know how to shut off the water supply in the event of an emergency to prevent damage.
  • Clean out your dryer lint trap or lint screen after EVERY use. It takes only a couple of seconds and can help stop a potential fire before it ever becomes a significant risk factor. Debris that builds up in the lint trap can catch fire when exposed to the appliance’s heat settings.

Winter is prime time for house fires, with more deaths occurring in December through March than any other time of the year. Develop an exit strategy with your household and run practice drills with your family to help avoid preventable tragedy. 

Related: Creating a Fire Escape Plan

With knowledge of the most common fire risks, our tips for fire prevention and a strong emergency response plan in place, you and your loved ones will be well equipped to protect yourselves and your home.

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6 Tips To Protect Your Vehicle From Potholes This Winter

Freezing rain and fluctuating winter temperatures can leave roadways littered with potholes, causing vehicle damage and costly repairs for motorists! Potholes tend to form when moisture collects in small holes and cracks in the road surface. As temperatures rise and fall, the underground moisture expands and contracts. This results in broken up pavement, which is then continually impacted by the weight of passing cars.

Blown tires, dented rims, damaged wheels, dislodged wheel weights, displaced struts, dislocated shock absorbers and damaged exhaust systems are all costly common automotive issues. Other signs include misaligned steering systems and ruptured ball joints. 

How Can You Protect Your Vehicle From Winter's Potholes?

  1. AAA suggests making sure tires have enough tread and are properly inflated. To check the treat depth, insert a quarter into the treat groove with Washington's head down. The tread should cover part of Washington's head! If it doesn't, it's time to start looking for new tires!
  2. Keep an eye out for potholes when driving — stay focused on the road ahead and don't get distracted! If you need to swerve to avoid a pothole, make sure to check surrounding traffic to avoid causing a collision or endanger nearby pedestrians or cyclists.
  3. If a pothole cannot be avoided, reduce speed and check the rearview mirror before any abrupt breaking. Hitting a pothole at higher speeds increases the likelihood of damage to tires, wheels, and suspension components.
  4. A puddle of water can disguise a deep pothole. User care when driving through puddles and treat them as though they may be hiding potholes!
  5. Hitting a pothole can knock a vehicle's wheels out of alignment and affect the steering. If a vehicle pulls to the left or right, have the wheel alignment checked by a qualified technician.
  6. Any new or unusual noises or vibrations that appear after hitting a pothole should be inspected immediately by a certified technician. A hard pothole impact can dislodge wheel weights, damage a tire or wheel, and bend or even break break suspension components. 

Follow the steps above to help avoid and prevent potholes and keep your vehicle safe this year! 

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Fall Season Home Maintenance Tips For Homeowners

The autumn season when leaves turn color and start to fall, along with cooling temperature, is a good time to take care of some annual maintenance around your home. By being proactive, you can avoid costly (and in some cases, dangerous) issues when the weather turns even colder. 

Have your furnace or boiler serviced by a licensed contractor to check annually for any repair or concerns. This is a good time to clean or replace the furnace filter on forced hot air systems. If you have a chimney, have it checked and serviced by a licensed contractor as well. Make sure to remove creosote buildup from chimneys that are connected to woodstoves and fireplaces.

Falling leaves and outdoor debris can clog drains and gutters. The fall is a good time to check that these are clean. Clogged gutters can cause a few issues, but the big one for most homeowners is roof leaks. If your gutters can't drain properly, that excess water can soak through shingles, eventually leaking into your home. This can cause mold to grow, along with damage from the water itself. Melting snow can also fill up your gutters, causing similar issues! A good rule of thumb is, clean your gutters twice a year. 

While gutters are being cleaned, take a few minutes to inspect your roof. Look for obvious holes and damaged (or missing) shingles, but also take some time to really comb over the details. Keep an eye out for cracks and general wear and tear! 

If there’s any loose tree limbs around your property, consider trimming or cutting them before they become destructive. Tree limbs that fall on a house or other insured structure on the property would be covered for both the damage inflicted and the cost of removing the tree, generally up to about $500. 

Explore your home and property to remove any trash, old papers and dense clutter in areas like your garage, basement and attic. This can create the perfect fuel for a fire. Household items, like improperly stored batteries and even glassware sitting in a beam of sunlight, can generate enough heat to ignite a fire. Pay close attention to other common, highly flammable items you may keep in a garage or storage shed, including gasoline, chemicals, and gases used for grilling.