The new year is just arriving and with it the cold winter weather months of January and February. Ice, snow and wind can have devastating effects on your home. Each year, there are countless dollars in insured losses due to burst pipes, frozen gutters and other weather-related disasters. The Independent Insurance Agents of New Jersey suggest that homeowners take the following precautions during this cold weather season:

• Maintain gutters. Remove leaves, acorns, sticks and their debris from gutters so melting snow and ice can flow freely. This will prevent ice damming – a condition where water is unable to properly drain through the gutters and seeps into the house causing water to drip from the ceiling and walls.
• Trim trees and remove dead branches. Ice, snow and wind may cause weak trees or branches to break – damaging your home, car or injuring someone walking on your property.
• Check insulation. Add extra insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. If too much heat escapes through the attic, it can cause snow or ice to melt on the roof. Once the water re-freezes, more snow and ice build up, and could result in a collapsed roof. Well-insulated basements and crawl spaces will also help protect pipes from freezing.
• Maintain pipes. Wrap pipes with heating tape and insulate unfinished rooms such as garages that frequently have exposed pipes.
• Check heating systems. Have furnaces, boilers and chimneys serviced at least once a year. Make sure that smoke and fire alarms are working properly.
• Make sure steps and handrails are in good shape. Broken stairs and banisters can become lethal when covered with snow and ice. Make repairs now to prevent someone from falling and seriously being injured.
• Get to know your plumbing. Learn how to shut outside water pipes off. Know where these pipes are located. If your pipes do freeze, time is of the essence. The quicker you can shut off the water or direct your plumber to the problem the better chance you have to prevent the pipes from bursting.
• Take special care if you plan to be away. If you are leaving your home for the winter, have the water system drained by a professional to keep pipes from freezing or bursting. If you plan to leave your home for a short period lower the thermostat but do not shut the heat off entirely.