April Showers and Other Spring Hazards

Perhaps poet T.S. Eliot was onto much more than he realized when he wrote, "April is the cruelest month..." Sadly, April showers bring more than sweet summer flowers. They also help to create an assortment of hazards that can do serious damage your Pennsylvania home sweet home.

Spring-related hazards to your home can hit you where it most hurts: your pocketbook. Consequently, it's important to ensure that you are insured against them. Be certain that your homeowner's insurance plan provides you with comprehensive coverage in the event of any of the following springtime misfortunes:

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  Flooding - Springtime brings sunshine and warmth, which melts mountain snow and causes creeks and rivers to rise. This rising, coupled with those aforementioned spring showers, can result in flooding. Chances are, your standard home insurance policy covers water damage in the event of a sudden occurrence, like burst pipes, but not necessarily damage caused by spring floods. Consider looking to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Flood Insurance Program for flood coverage. But act quickly: such coverage usually doesn't start until one month after its purchase date.
• Cracked Concrete - When major ice and snow thaw out in the sometimes-sudden warmth of spring, they can cause unsightly cracks in your driveway. (Such damage can also occur if you lay out salt and sand to melt ice.) It's likely that these cracks are considered wear-and-tear damage by your insurance company, but you should never assume this damage isn't covered. Check with Richard B. Ryon Insurance to see.
• Ice Dams - Spring's inconstant temperatures can result in the creation of little ice dams on your home's roof. Warmth melts snow, and it liquefies. Then, sudden cold temperatures refreeze it, creating ice buildup on shingles, which forms a dam that causes new snow or rainwater to back up. This backed-up precipitation can leak into your home, wreaking havoc on walls and other surfaces. While your insurance policy is likely to cover the damage resultant from an ice dam, you'll need to pay someone else to come and get rid of that damned dam!
• Hail - Hail comes in all sizes, from wee granules to veritable baseballs. In the spring, it can fall without warning, and dent, crack or punch holes in your home's windows, siding, and roof, not to mention the damage it can cause to your vehicles. Fortunately, this type of hail damage is typically covered under the standard insurance policy. Still, you should check to make sure.
• Smashed Plants and Flowers - A severe spring storm can wreck a beautifully landscaped yard, flattening your carefully tended shrubs, manicured trees, and delicate flowers. Chances are slim that this kind of damage will be covered by your home insurance. If you live in a place that is prone to heavy, hammering rains, consider landscaping with sturdy varieties that can stand up to the weather.

For more information, and to make sure you are adequately covered, contact Richard B. Ryon Insurance today.