Do you travel throughout the winter months to escape the Canadian cold? Or maybe you embrace the cold and take a vacation within our beautiful country. If so, you are not alone! We have an important tip for you to ensure your home will still be protected, even if it is unoccupied.
If your home is unoccupied throughout the heating season for more than four consecutive days, you have an obligation outlined under your house insurance contract to take steps to avoid the freezing of water pipes.
If you are away from your home for a period of time determined by your insurance company you must:
- Arrange for a competent person to enter the dwelling to ensure heating was maintained or;
- Water supply was shut off and pipes and all domestic water containers were drained or;
- Heating system is connected by a monitored heating alarm to a station providing 24-hour service
In the event of a claim due to frozen water pipes, your insurer will complete an investigation. The insurance company will determine if you have been away from your home for any period of time and if so, you have followed their obligations for protecting your home while you were away. If you did not, the insurance company has the right to deny your claim leaving you with extremely high cleanup and repair bills to pay on your own; not to mention the costs you would incur if you had to live somewhere else while your repairs are being done.
Each insurance company’s policy differs. If you are preparing for an upcoming vacation, please call us to discuss your insurance company’s policy so we can help you can prepare your home appropriately.