Okay, it’s cold. It’s Saskatchewan and it’s winter. If we can, we want to get away somewhere warm. Sipping a cold beverage pool side or on the beach. Well, that’s the life during winter holidays! After your break, you come home. A friend even picks you up at the airport with winter jackets and a warm car. However, when you open the front door, you are greeted by an ice palace. The furnace quit, the pipes burst – and you’re in trouble!
Winter Holidays in Saskatchewan
It’s no secret that Saskatchewan can be bitter and cold in the long winter months. Anyone would want to escape it for a sunny vacation. However, Campbell & Haliburton Insurance doesn’t want you to come back to a disaster. Therefore, always take care of business before you leave.
Insurance Tip: Talk to your insurance broker before traveling!
Home Insurance While Travelling
In general, if you are leaving your home for an extended period of time, you must do three things to assure insurance coverage for damage. Before we explain those three things, there are a couple notes to make. This extended period of time could be 4 days, 7 days, or 10 days. It all depends on the wording of your insurance policy. Further, is it during the regular heating season? This is not winter (that starts on December 21st), as we all know the furnace is on before that!
Three Steps for Insurance Coverage
- Shut off the water. Drain the pipes. Drain the hot water heater, toilets and anything else that could possibly hold water.
- Have a centrally monitored alarm system with a cold temperature alarm. This alarm needs to show when the furnace has stopped. Plus, make sure an alarm company can be contacted as a backup when you’re not there to get it fixed.
- Have someone check your home every day you are gone to make sure things are okay.
Again, these are very general guidelines – check with your insurance broker in Regina to get the specific requirements of the insurance company that insures you. EVERY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS DIFFERENT GUIDELINES!
Now make sure that happy holiday isn’t ruined by a rude homecoming….
Meet With Your Local Insurance Broker In Regina
Now, if you need to find me – I’ll be the one on the beach with 30 sunscreen….
Thank you for reading,
Dave Arnold