Winter is Coming, Are You Prepared?

Posted: 4 years, 3 months ago

(Updated January 2026)

Winterize Your Home — and Make Sure You’re Covered

Winter in Michigan is a given — even when we’d rather be thinking about sunshine and beach days. With colder temperatures, heavier snow events, ice, and stronger wind patterns becoming more common, it’s more important than ever to prepare your home and make sure your insurance coverage is keeping pace.

A little prevention now can help reduce winter-related damage later. Below are practical steps to help protect your property — and a reminder of why having the right Home policy matters.

Inside Your Home

Cold-weather losses often start indoors. These checks can help reduce common winter claims:

Service your heating system
Have your furnace or boiler inspected annually to catch worn or failing parts before they cause breakdowns — or worse, fire hazards.
Inspect and clean chimneys
If you use a fireplace or wood stove, a professional inspection and cleaning can prevent chimney fires and carbon monoxide issues.
Check your attic for leaks and insulation gaps
Heat loss and moisture intrusion can lead to ice dams, mold, and structural damage over time.
Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Replace batteries and ensure detectors are installed on every level of your home. With increased heater use in winter, this step is critical.

Outside Your Home

Exterior maintenance plays a big role in preventing winter-related claims:

Inspect your roof before snow season
Address missing shingles, flashing issues, or soft spots early — small problems can become major leaks under snow and ice load.
Clear gutters and downspouts
Clogged gutters contribute to ice dams, which remain one of the most common and costly winter losses.
Trim dead trees and low-hanging limbs
Heavy snow and ice can bring down branches, causing roof, vehicle, and power line damage.

Why Coverage Still Matters

Even with the best preparation, winter losses still happen. Frozen pipes, roof collapses, power outages, and water damage don’t always give much warning — and the cost to repair them continues to rise.

That’s why it’s important to make sure your Homeowners policy reflects today’s rebuilding costs, coverage limits, and endorsements — not what made sense years ago. Materials, labor, and temporary living expenses have all increased, and policies should be reviewed accordingly. If you’re unsure whether your coverage is still a good fit, we’re happy to help.

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At Top O’ Michigan Insurance Solutions, we’re here to be Your Insurance Solution Provider — through every season