Winter homeowners insurance claims and how to avoid them

Winter weather damage: What does homeowners insurance cover?

To help you get prepared for the upcoming winter, we outline some of the most common winter-related home damage, explain how to avoid them and whether your home insurance policy might cover them.

"(Covered items) can include damage to the roof, siding, and structural elements of the home, as well as damage to personal property, such as furniture and appliances. However, it's important to note that coverage and exclusions can vary depending on the specific policy and the insurance company," Andrew Lokenauth, adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco, says

Does homeowners insurance cover snow damage?

Homeowners insurance covers damaged caused by snow, including when the weight of snow causes roof collapse or when heavy snow causes tree branches to fall on your house. Your home insurance will cover structural damage as well as damage to your personal property from snow, with some exclusions.

Does insurance cover roof leaks from snow?

Insurance will cover a roof that is leaking as the result of melting snow as long as there is no evidence that the roof was previously damaged or in a state of disrepair. Roof leaks due to age or wear and tear are not covered by homeowners insurance.

Does homeowners insurance cover frozen pipes?

"Water damage from freezing pipes is the most significant source of home damage,” says Tim Shaw, president of Tim Shaw Insurance in Fort Myers, Florida. "Not fire, not hurricane, but water loss because of a broken pipe."

Water damage is the second most common home insurance claim.

This kind of loss is generally covered by your homeowners insurance dwelling coverage. However, you could be on the hook for the repairs if your insurer concludes that it was preventable by proper maintenance. You could also be denied coverage if you were away from home for an extended period and not monitoring the state of your pipes.

Take these steps to reduce your frozen pipe risk:

Drain and disconnect hoses
Drain sprinkler supply lines
Insulate pipes located in unheated spaces like basements, crawl spaces, attics and garages.
Apply pipe sleeves or heat tape to the most vulnerable pipes.
Keep the home warm. If you leave town, set the thermostat to 65 degrees F or higher.
Leave garage doors closed.
When it's very cold, let cold water drip from the faucet.

Is hail damage covered by home insurance?

Hail happens, even in the winter, and when it does, roof and siding damage can be expensive. In a 2021 analysis, State Farm Insurance reported paying more than $3.1 billion in hail damage claims for automobiles and homes during the previous year.

Wind and hail damage claims are the most common home insurance losses. While you can't prevent hailstorms, you can prepare for them.

Inspect your roof every fall and repair or replace loose or missing shingles. If hail is a frequent concern, consider installing hail-resistant asphalt shingles with a Class Four rating from the Underwriter's Laboratories.

Understand your homeowners insurance coverage and any hail and wind exclusion that may apply. After a hail storm, inspect your roof for damage, and (if necessary) file your claims promptly. In many cases, homeowners don't notice hail damage until their roof starts leaking months after a storm. At that point, it may be too late to file a claim with a home insurance company.

Does homeowners insurance cover wind damage?

Wind damage is generally covered under a standard homeowners insurance policy’s dwelling coverage unless there is a hail and wind exclusion. If you live in an area prone to windstorms, check your policy or ask your insurer if you are covered.

The best preparation for winter windstorms includes:

Keep an electric saw on hand and learn how to use it safely.
Remove anything outside that isn't nailed down, such as children's play items, garden ornaments, outdoor furniture or shade umbrellas.
Inspect your home's exterior for anything loose, such as gutters and shutters.
Trim the trees around your house before branches fly when the wind kicks up.
If your home is damaged by accidental fire, your home insurance policy should have you covered.
Ensure that you can remove a fallen tree that blocks access to your driveway after a big wind storm.

Does homeowners insurance cover ice damage?

Heavy snow accumulations and ice can damage gutters, roofs, decks and downed trees.

Standard homeowners insurance policies cover damage caused by snow and ice.

However, if ice forms on your gutters and prevents runoff from draining properly, it can cause water to build up and seep into your home. Damages resulting from water seeping into your home may not be covered, depending on whether the insurer deems you responsible for failing to maintain your home properly.

To prevent ice dams, minimize snow melt on your roof.

That means:

Insulate adequately so your home's heat doesn't escape through the ceiling.
Seal any gaps that let warm air leak from the house into the attic.
Make sure your attic is ventilated so that cold air from outside can enter that space. You don't want it too warm up there because that can cause snow on the roof to melt, and when it contacts the cold eaves, it may refreeze, forming a dam.

Heavy ice or snow may also cause trees or tree limbs to fall on your home. This damage is usually covered under the dwelling portion of your home insurance policy. However, if the insurer discovers the tree was dead and should have previously been removed, they may determine you were negligent and deny the claim.

Are fires covered by home insurance?

During frigid weather, it is common for homeowners to use space heaters or fireplaces to warm up. But that warmth doesn’t come without risk.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that between 2014 and 2018, space heaters caused 44% of fires in the U.S. Fireplaces and chimneys were responsible for another 29%, and central heat accounted for 12% of fires. Local fire departments responded to an estimated 1.4 million fires in 2020, and more than one-third of those occurred in or on structures.

If your home is damaged by accidental fire, your home insurance policy should have you covered.

To prevent heater and fireplace fires, here are some tips:

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use of the heating equipment.
Keep any heating device at least 36 inches from anything that can catch fire.
Have a professional clean and inspect your chimney prior to the start of each heating season.
Do not leave heaters unattended or with unsupervised children.

Are slips and falls at my home covered by home insurance?

If you’ve ever slipped on an icy sidewalk, you know how painful the landing can be. If you’re lucky, you bounce right back up and walk away but not everyone is so fortunate.

If someone visiting your home is injured in a fall, a standard home insurance policy covers their medical expenses up to specified limits, under the medical payments portion of the policy. These coverage limits typically are set between $1,000 and $5,000.

If your visitor’s expenses exceed your medical payment coverage, it could leave you exposed in the event of a lawsuit. Should your visitor sue you for their injury, your homeowners insurance policy is likely to cover you, typically up to $100,000, under the personal liability portion of your policy. Experts recommend increasing the standard liability coverage to at least $300,000.

Be sure to keep your sidewalks, patios, porches and outdoor steps clear of snow and ice during the winter.

Avoid a winter storm claim: Protect your home

Protect your home and prevent damage from winter storms with the following steps:

Protect your pipes and ensure they won't freeze
Clear snow from your roof regularly to prevent buildup
Make sure your roof is in good shape; have it inspected regularly
Clear your gutters ahead of winter.
Clean up your yard and secure any outdoor items

"To prevent potential damage from winter storms, you can take a few preemptive actions, such as clearing gutters and downspouts of leaves and debris, removing dead or dying trees and branches, insulating pipes to prevent freezing (and) securing loose outdoor items, such as patio furniture and grills," Lokenauth says.