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Date: December 15, 2003
For more information contact: Eileen Mallow, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, (608) 266-7843 or eileen.mallow@wisconsin.gov

Madison, WI--Winter weather that chills you to the bone can be equally harsh on your home. For this reason, the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) encourages all Wisconsin residents to prepare their homes for winter.

"Homes, like cars, require routine maintenance," said Phil Kress, OCI Property and Casualty Section Chief. "It's easy to forget or put off doing odd jobs around the house, but that procrastination can be costly. Homes that are not maintained are more apt to experience winter weather damage, thereby increasing one's chances of needing to file an insurance claim for damage to their home."

While unforeseen, necessary claims are a part of any insurance experience, Kress stresses that some claims can be avoided with a little planning and a little work.

"Basic home maintenance is a mix of strategic foresight and common sense, and it can save you from having to spend a lot of money in the future. A thing as simple as having your chimney swept can prevent a house fire," Kress said. "The objective is maintaining your home so that you lower your risk of filing a claim and having a history of claims that could lead to increased premiums, or, even worse, cancellation or non-renewal of your insurance coverage."

To help residents get started, OCI offers the following list of prevention measures:

Fire Prevention

• Move all materials that burn easily away from the furnace, including old rags, sawdust, wood scraps and flammable liquids such as paint thinners. Gasoline and kerosene should never be stored in a basement or near a furnace.
• Hire a professional to inspect your chimney and flue at least once a year. Clean the chimney as necessary. Blocked chimneys can trap carbon monoxide in the house and can become dangerous if it has nowhere to go.
• Only burn materials designed for a fireplace. Items such as paper can fly out of the chimney, and coal/charcoal release carbon monoxide that you do not want in your house.
• If you burn artificial fireplace logs, be sure to only burn one at a time. Burning more than one artificial log can produce heat that exceeds what the fireplace can withstand.
• Beware of burning materials that can increase the chances of a chimney fire.
• When using your fireplace, do not go to bed or leave the house until the fire is completely out.
• Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and routinely check their batteries. A good rule of thumb is to change the batteries when the time changes in April and October.
• Beware of space heaters. If you use a space heater, make sure it is at least three feet away from any surfaces or materials that burn easily. Check electric heaters for frayed cords or broken filaments.

Structural/Other Considerations

• Use a roof rake to clear snow from the roof and prevent ice dams from forming.
• Maintain your gutters, making sure they are not clogged by leaves.
• Seal all exterior air gaps, especially for older homes.
• When you are away from the home, have a trusted friend or relative check the home periodically to make sure the furnace and water supply system are functioning properly. This is especially important during extreme weather.

For more information about homeowner's insurance, consumers can download the Consumer's Guide to Homeowner's Insurance from OCI's Web site at http://oci.wi.gov/pub_list.htm. A hard copy of the guide may also be requested by calling OCI Information and Complaints at 1-800-236-8517. The Homeowner's guide is available in both English and Spanish.

Consumers having an insurance problem should attempt to work it out with their insurance company or agent first. If that process does not yield a satisfactory result, consumers can contact OCI to lodge a formal complaint by calling 1-800-236-8517 or by downloading a complaint form from the Web at http://oci.wi.gov.

Created by the legislature in 1871, Wisconsin's Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) was vested with broad powers to ensure that the insurance industry responsibly and adequately met the insurance needs of Wisconsin citizens. Today, OCI's mission is to lead the way in informing and protecting the public and responding to its insurance needs.