Winter storms can wreak havoc on your property. Whether you’re somewhere plagued by snow and ice, or a warmer area hit with damaging hail and severe winds, winter weather can cause a lot of damage to your property and business. According to the Insurance Information Institute, there was a record $15 billion in insured losses caused by winter storms in 2021.
Here are the top winter insurance claims in the United States, and how to protect your commercial property.
Frozen Pipes
Frozen pipes can cause substantial water damage to your property. When temperatures plummet, pipes can burst and lead to all kinds of unpleasant property damage, including flooding, mold, and structural damages. If your commercial property will be vacant for an extended time during winter you can shut off the water and drain the pipes to prevent frozen pipes. If your property will remain in use during the winter months keep the heat set above 55° to protect the plumbing, and regularly run the water to prevent frozen build ups.
Snow and Ice Damage
Snow and ice can cause significant damage, especially to roofing. Ice and snow buildup can become very heavy and cause structural damage to your roof. Without proper insulation, the heat from your property can lead to warm air leaks on your roof, causing snow to melt and refreeze in a cycle that leads to ice dams. Ice dams can freeze under shingles and cause water damage. Snow and ice can exacerbate existing damages to roofing. Make sure your roof is properly insulated and any damages are taken care of before snow and ice can make things worse.
Wind and Hail Damage
Significant winds and hail are a common cause of property damage in the winter. It’s important to get hail damage assessed as soon as you can after a storm, as hail can cause considerable damage to not only roofs, but also to AC condensers, metal surfaces, brick surfaces, siding, windows and more. Wind storms can also cause damage from debris and broken tree branches. Strong winds can be especially damaging if your tree branches are already weighed down from snow and ice accumulation. Regularly trim branches around your property to lessen your risk of storm damage. Call a hail damage public adjuster if your property has been impacted by hail.
Protect Your Business With a Baseline Roof Assessment
The best protection for roof damage is getting a Baseline Roof Assessment. This assessment will identify any damages that require attention, and provide you with documentation of the current condition of your roof. In the event of storm damage, this documentation is important proof of damage for your insurance claim.
Public Adjuster Services
Does insurance cover snow damage? What about ice damage? What winter damages am I protected from, and who can I call for help? Insurance coverage varies policy by policy, and it’s important to understand what is covered before the need for a claim arises. Still, policies are complex, and the claims process can be long and stressful when you take it on alone.
Public adjusters have extensive experience with insurance claims and understand every step of the claims process. They know how to efficiently work with you and your insurance company to get you the settlement that you are rightly owed in order to restore your property’s damages in a timely manner. Hiring a public adjuster at the first sign of property damage can save you time, money, and stress.
D.A. Lamont Public Adjusters specialize in large loss insurance claims. Our team has managed and negotiated thousands of commercial property insurance claims. We are licensed in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Contact us at 800-342-6690 or fill out our online form here.