Definition of Maintenance for Homeowners Insurance
The term maintenance as it relates to homeowners insurance refers to the steps that insured parties can take to lower the cost of their policy. Maintenance is usually done to either upgrade a home, add safety protections or prevent damage from occurring. Homeowners that take the time to perform regular maintenance to their home will reduce various type of risks as well as the cost of the insurance policy.
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Issues
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Maintenance that is performed on a home can reduce the amount of costly claims on a homeowners insurance policy. This can include plumbing issues that can occur with washing machines as well as hot water heaters. More importantly, maintenance should be performed regularly because coverage may not be available because of exclusions on a policy. Exclusions can include mold or other types of health issues that may not be covered on a standard homeowners policy.
Safety Measures
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When performing routine maintenance, find ways to reduce or eliminate a fire from occurring. This includes installing a smoke alarm on every floor in the home and testing the alarm once a year. A home should also have a fire extinguisher that is easily accessible if one is ever needed. If any liquids in the home are flammable, they should be kept in a safe place or somewhere outside the home.
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Flood Prevention
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Flooding can be caused by burst water pipes, a problem with the water heater or from Mother Nature. One way to protect against flooding is to purchase a flood insurance policy. Another way to protect against flooding is locate all valuable property to a higher location in the home. Plumbing should also be inspected to make sure that it is insulated especially during winter months. Plumbing that is properly maintained will reduce the likelihood of having problems with burst pipes.
Security Measures
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Security of a home can include adding or maintaining alarms, lights or other types of security devices. If an alarm has been installed in the home, perform a test at least once a year to make sure that it is working. Some homes may have motion sensor lights which come on when movement is detected. These may need to have a bulb or other light source replaced or new units may need to be installed.
General Repairs
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Regular maintenance of a home will involve making general repairs or other types of fixes from year to year. This can include cleaning gutters and replacing ones that are leaking. Other types of general repairs can include installing storm shutters and replacing shingles on the roof that have become loose or worn. Making general repairs and fixes around the home can prevent major problems from occurring later.
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