Winter Ice Can Be a Financial Hazard

The importance of keeping a good homeowner insurance policy can be summed up with one word - ice. That's because policies are an important safeguard from the property damage it can cause, as well as a source of liability protection in the event of a fall.

One common cause of home damage in winter is ice dams, which can build up on a roof and cause damage as well as a safety hazard. With that in mind, one leading insurance company advises homeowners to avoid such problems by ensuring that their attic is properly insulated to keep it from absorbing too much warm air from lower floors, and to keep an attic ventilated to keep the temperatures more on par with that of the outdoors.

The company also advises homeowners not to try to remove an ice dam by chipping away at it, since this will often lead to shingle damage.

The Insurance Information Institute has also pointed out that homeowners are responsible for keeping their property safe for others. This includes taking steps to ensure that walkways are cleared and reasonably ice-free.

The institute noted that many policies include no-fault medical coverage that is used if a non-family member is injured on one's property, and that a typical policy will offer about $100,000 in liability protection.

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