Insurance Tips for the Summer Elements

Insurance Tips for the Summer Elements

Summertime is prime time for outdoor time. Fire pits, BBQs, and pool time are just some of the many exciting activities everyone looks forward to when the nice weather rolls in. The most fun activities may also include some accident-prone elements. While these may not be the essential elements in the chemistry world, below are the summer elements and what kind of insurance you should be aware of when dealing with those elements.

• Fire
• Water
• Wind
• Sun

Fire

It’s summertime and a great time to be outside! More and more people are building outdoor fire pits and barbeques. With fire, comes liability. If a spark were to blow over and start a fire at your home, would it be covered? The short answer is yes. Most Home Insurance policies cover the basic peril of fire, but accidents do happen. If an ember from your BBQ or fire pit were to cause a fire it will most likely be covered. It’s a good idea to check with your local insurance agent or fire department, just in case. Many fire departments require that any fire pit or barbeque be installed at least 10 feet from any structure and away from any over-hanging limbs or vegetation. It is also important to be a good neighbor and not place your fire pit too close to other homes and smoke them out.

If you are purchasing a moveable fire pit or barbeque, make sure it is made of stable and strong material on sturdy ground. Keep children and pets away from any possible tripping hazard like steps, roots or stones near the pit. Just like you have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen (you do, don’t you?) you should keep one near your outdoor cooking area as well. Summer is also a good time to have your fireplace, woodstove and furnace inspected.

Water

Summertime is also pool time! Whether you have an in-ground pool or aboveground pool, or even a small kiddie pool, there are important safety rules to keep in mind. Never, ever leave small children alone while playing in a pool. Whenever possible, the supervising adult should have training in CPR, rescue breathing and basic first aid. Make sure safety equipment and first aid equipment are up to date and kept nearby. In-ground pools should be fenced in and have a self-latching gate. You should check with your town about local regulations on what size pools are required to have fencing around them. These days some of the inflatable pools are so big, they may require to be fenced in according to local laws.

Taking the right precautions and having the right Umbrella Policy can help cover you in case an accident should occur. Make sure there are no electrical hazards near the pool area, such as extension cords or broken outdoor lighting. Also get out of the water when you see lightning or hear thunder. If you can hear it, it is close enough to hurt you!

Wind

When summertime begins, so does the hurricane season. This is a good time to remember while most home insurance policies do cover wind damage (minus applicable deductible) none cover flood damage. Flood Insurance is a separate policy. Sometimes in a hurricane it is difficult to distinguish if flooding caused water damage or, if a roof was blown off, the water damage was caused by rain. Flood insurance varies by flood zone and the insurance coverage chosen.

Flood insurance is administered by the US government and can get complicated. A local agent can help you determine if you are in a flood zone and how much it would cost you for coverage. Just because you do not live in a flood zone does not mean you’re not susceptible to flooding. The good news is, if you do not live in a flood zone, the insurance is that much more affordable. The government caps flood insurance coverage, but there is excessive coverage available, a local agent can help you find it!

Sun

Sustainability is becoming mainstream and more people are adding solar panels to their homes.  Recent government rebates have made them the most affordable they’ve ever been! Solar panels are added to the roof of a home and are considered part of the dwelling coverage by insurance companies. If your home is currently insured for $200,000 and you add $30,000 worth of solar panels, it is important you talk to your agent about this change.

Solar panels that are not on the home, but  would be considered part of that detached structure coverage, and again your agent should be notified of this change. Solar panels that are adjacent to the home may or may not be covered by your Home Insurance carrier, and again a discussion with your agent is in order. One recent issue with solar panels is the fact that they limit access for firefighters to your roof. Your architect should be able to help you design the best panel platform for you, and your agent can help with the coverage!

If you’re worried about your coverage for any of the above elements, give us a call at 888.865.1244! Our agents are prepared to do everything from answer your fire and home insurance question to adding solar panels to your home insurance coverage. We don’t want your summer to have any accidents, but we also know they can happen and want to help you be covered if they do.

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