Snow & ice storms

The homeowners challenge for winter weather & Insurance

A guide to help all homeowners face the winter weather and save on their Insurance.

Insurance savings can be achieved in many ways. For all Canadians, winter weather represents a substantial challenge. Homeowners face cold temperatures, heavy snowfall, and ice build-ups, which can become significant causes of property damage. Preparation for winter weather can help reduce the risk of roof damage, water leaks, or frozen pipes, which can help save on insurance costs.

Some of the most extreme winter weather in the world happens in Canada. Canadians are used to two forms of weather occurrences: winter storms and extreme cold. As an example, the Ontario & Quebec ice-storm (1998), was one of the most expensive natural disasters in Canadian history, with over $5.4 Billion in damage recovery. Freezing rain took out hydro towers and telephone lines affecting more than 4 million people in Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick.

Consider taking these next steps to get you started:

1) Talk to your Insurance Broker

It is important to talk to your insurance broker about your homeowner’s policy to understand the types of damage covered. Sometimes, specific types of damages are excluded under some policies due to your location.

2) Consider having a building inspector evaluate your home

As each home is different, building inspectors can offer important insight into your home’s capacity to withstand winter weather. Inspectors can provide important information on the age of your home, interior plumbing, and your roof’s capacity to handle heavy snow loads.

3) Your local government

Talk to your local government, they can off offer important advice for homeowners on how to protect their homes from winter weather. Useful sources like the Municipal government websites, public works, utilities, and the building departments can provide useful tips helping you to protect your property.

The Institue for Catastrophic Loss Reduction has created a handbook for homeowners who want to learn more about how to protect their homes from extreme winter weather. The handbook offers "taking action on your own", "Repair or upgrade to-do-list", "Well-thought-out snow and ice protection plan" and offers a chart on "Measuring your risk of winter weather damage", plus additional resources for your consideration.

For your copy of the homeowner’s handbook for Protecting your home from Snow & ice storms Published by: The Institute For Catastrophic Loss Reduction