Thanksgiving is a joyful time. Most people feel at ease between reflecting on what they are thankful in their life, the family and friend gatherings, and the overall “stuffed” feeling. Many families do stay local but at the same time, there are many travellers who are making their way to family for the holidays.
Did you know?
AAA has forcasted that 43.4 million American travel 50 miles or more for Thanksgiving by car, plane, and other transporation means. With this massive amount of movement, it’s likely the number of insurance claims will rise. Many people may be driving on roads they’ve never been on which increases accidents. Sometimes they also feel rushed. Families often also participate in a social drink or two when gathering with family so it is known that drinking and driving related incidents can also see an increase.
Did you know?
The National Fire Protection Association has stated that deep-fryer fires can destroy 900 or more homes causing about $15 million dollars in property damage. Candles also play a factor causing 11,600 fires and $438 million dollars in property damage. Dryer and washing machines are also known to cause around 22 home fires. These all increase during the Thanksgiving holiday.
American Heritage Insurance Group realized that many people may not realize the potential hazards they leave in their homes when travelling for Thanksgiving. To keep you safe, we researched for common tips to protect your home or apartment to the best of your ability.
8 Tips to Avoid Thanksgiving Claims
- Don’t leave appliances on as you depart. Not only could this cause a fire, hoses can break too leading to water and other damages. This holds true specifically for washers, dryers, and dish washers.
- Turn off the water to your hoses. Specifically for your washing machine, if a hose breaks, you could return home with severe water damage.
- Set Alarms. If you have a home alarm, make sure you set it before leaving. Not only can they detect a break in, but normally these are equipped with fire alarms as well. If you don’t have one, make sure you lock and secure all doors and windows. Also, inform a trustworthy neighbor or friend who can check on your home while you are away.
- Door. If you don’t have a deadbolt on your outside doors, now might be the time to invest in them. They can be extremely beneficial as an extra step of security for your home.
- Timers for Lights. Burglars are less likely to strike if it appears that someone is home. Don’t be afraid to set a lamp or two on a timer at different times of the day and night.
- Don’t Invite Intruders. The most simple way to keep your travel plans under wraps is to not post it on social media. There are burglars out there who specifically use social media posts to target homes. If you have a desire to post about your trip, do it after you’ve returned home to prevent any targeted break-ins.
- Wrap Your Pipes. This is for colder weather areas. Wrapping your pipes can prevent them from freezing. Also, leave your water heater on just a little to keep the water from freezing.
- Paper Security. Any important documents you may be leaving in your home should be properly secured in a safe deposit box or fire proof safe. You never know what you could be returning home to and it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
These insurance tips were provided by PCIAA.net.
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