We’re in the middle of winter, and we have a long way to go until spring. Who wants to get caught out in the cold? This means you’ll be spending more time indoors to avoid the nasty weather, which leaves you vulnerable to some risks at home as you try to keep warm.
Homeowners insurance covers many items such as your home and your possessions from a variety of perils, such as fire and sudden interior water damage (like from a burst pipe or ruptured water heater), to name just a few.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends that flammable objects should be kept at least three feet away from heat sources, which includes fireplaces, radiators, wood stoves and space heaters. FEMA also recommends that portable generators be kept far from homes and flammable objects, keep chimneys clean of flammable soot and don’t plug more than one heating appliance into an outlet.
These steps will make your home safer from sudden fires, but what about carbon monoxide? Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a poisonous gas that is colorless, tasteless and odorless; it’s often called the “silent killer.” If you’re burning carbon-based fuel, including gas, propane and wood, you’re producing CO; that’s another reason why you need to keep portable generators far away from the home.
It’s important to make sure that your dwelling has a CO detector that is working properly. The alarms should be replaced every 10 years, and the batteries at least once each year. Your dwelling also should be ventilated properly and the ventilation should have no blockages; this lets CO escape.
All this burning fuel means pollution—both indoors and outdoors. Winters are relatively cooler and drier compared to summer. Studies have shown that cool, dry air carries more pollutants than hot, wet air; moisture carries pollutants out of the air. Maintaining a well-ventilated home keeps pollutants out.
If you’re concerned about keeping yourself and your home sufficiently covered this winter, give your independent insurance agent a call. They can help you find gaps in your homeowners coverage, and offer solutions so that you can enjoy the holiday safely.
Matt McDonough is PIA Northeast's writer, editor and content curator. Matt joined PIA Northeast in September 2023. Before that, he had been an editor for the online entertainment magazine Collider from 2021-23 as a copy editor for its lists section. Matt entered the world of journalism at his alma mater, SUNY New Paltz, writing and reporting for the college's student run newspaper, The New Paltz Oracle. He graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Creative Writing in 2020.
