Winter tips to prevent property losses

Some things you should know about property losses:
• The largest and most costly property losses happen during the winter months, especially when buildings are closed.
• Property losses cost time and money.
• The more losses you experience, the greater likelihood your insurance premiums will increase.
• The good news: You can stop bad things from happening. Property losses are preventable.

What you should do
• Set heat setbacks to an appropriate level to prevent freezing – about 55-58 degrees. Identify cold spots that may need to be set higher or need supplemental (and safe) heat sources. Do not add additional trip or electrical hazards with supplemental heat.
• Properly close and secure all exterior doors and windows. Some interior doors may be left open if it helps circulate heat into unheated areas. Document these on a building closure plan.
• Perform regular walkthroughs of the whole building and look for signs of damage or cold areas.
• Check unit ventilators to make sure they are functioning properly. A thermographic camera can be useful to see how cold the area is around a unit ventilator.
• Keep a list/map of key shut offs and share with staff and vendors.
• Inspect water connections and shut them down if feasible.
• Test sump pumps to ensure they’ll work when needed.
• Ensure that remote sensor devices are fully charged, that alert numbers and emails are up-to-date, and that emergency contacts understand their duties.

For more information, visit www.emiia.org/risk-management-resources/best-practices-and-resources.