March 20 marked the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and while many Canadians look forward to a break from icy temperatures, the warm weather brings with it notable insurance risks.
Certain regions of Canada, particularly the Atlantic, have experienced record snowfall in recent months – as much as 80 centimeters around Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
The accumulated snow brings with it “considerable concerns about snow load collapse, ice damming, and the potential for blocking furnace and carbon monoxide exhausts,” said Alex Walker, Director, Claims Relations, RSA Group.
While this risk is inherently dangerous in and of itself, springtime rains will soon exacerbate the problem.
“With that much snow on people’s roofs, we enter a freeze/thaw cycle, where you get ice damming that happens,” Walker said. “That happens when you have a load of snow that starts to melt or goes down a drain spout, then it will freeze, which causes a backup that melts again and that can flash shingles away from the roof. Water can then get inside building and cause potentially extensive water damage to it.”
Walker recommends that agents and brokers speak with their clients about this risk, and advise them to clear snow off their roofs in a calculated manner.
“Absolutely make sure that you’re moving snow in a way that keeps furnace vents and hot water vents free and clear of snow,” Walker said. “As soon as those get covered up, there’s the potential for the pilot light on the hot water tank to die out, and there’s also potential for carbon monoxide to back up into the building itself. That can have very, very dangerous consequences.”
In addition, agents in snow-heavy areas should make sure clients have comprehensive risk policies that cover not only snow collapse, but also any related water damage.
Finally, Walker stresses “preventative maintenance,” including:
- Checking water lines to make sure hoses are in good order
- When traveling on March break, have a friend or neighbor ensure the house is warm and the furnace is operational
- Avoiding a low thermostat temp that would freeze the house quickly if the power ever went out
“We always think of water damage coming from outside of the house, but we need to remember that a lot of water damage occurs from inside the house, from burst pipes, ice-making fridges or a water line going to a washing machine,” he said. “It’s a good idea to check interior water lines, and make sure hoses are in good order and not cracking.”
