WASHINGTON, D.C. - Large portions of the country are forecast to experience extreme winter weather this weekend, which could cause damage to property in the form of frozen pipes bursting, downed trees or tree limbs, and potentially collapsed roofs or decks from heavy ice and snow. Taking steps to prevent property damage and being ready to file an insurance, if needed, can save homeowners time and headaches.

"The insurance industry is closely monitoring impacts from this weekend's extreme winter weather and companies are prepared to help their policyholders by processing claims as quickly as possible," said Bob Passmore, department vice president of policy, research, and international for the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA). "Residents in impacted areas should take steps now to mitigate potential damage, such as insulating pipes around the interior and exterior of your home."

What damage from winter weather does homeowners insurance cover?

• Standard homeowners policies typically provide coverage for damage caused by wind, snow, severe cold, freezing rain, as well as damage from a tree limb that falls on your house or damage from the weight of ice and snow that fall on the home.
• Freezing conditions such as burst pipes or ice dams are also typically covered. However, there is generally a requirement that the homeowner has taken reasonable steps to prevent these losses by keeping the house warm and properly maintaining pipes and drains.

What damage from winter weather is NOT typically covered by homeowners insurance?

• Food spoilage and any expenses incurred from staying in a hotel during the storm, which usually fall under additional living expenses (ALE), are not commonly insured when the cause of loss is an extended power or water service outage. Some policies may allow some limited coverage for food spoilage if the property was physically damaged, but this varies by company.
• Damage to pools may not be covered. Pool filters and pumps are not normally considered covered property, with exclusions generally present in the policy, though that may vary by company. Similarly, other electrical and plumbing components for a pool are also not considered covered property, except in situations where the electrical and plumbing is connected to the home or foundation. In these cases, there may be some coverage available depending on individual policy language.

How can I be ready to file an insurance claim?

• Have a copy of your insurance policies (home and auto) ready.
• Save your insurers' toll-free claims number to your cell phone, download their app, or have their claims website bookmarked so you know where to go to file your claim.
• Complete a home inventory by taking photos and/or videos of your belongings, as well as the interior and exterior of your home.

What should I do if my property is damaged during extreme winter weather?

• Homeowners should document the damage via photos or video, and save all receipts related to making temporary repairs and identifying damage, including any communications that help show reasonable efforts were made to address the damage in a timely manner.

What steps should I take to prevent damage?

• Insulate interior pipes under kitchen and bathroom sinks, garages, attics, basements, and crawl spaces, and pipes leading to the exterior of the home.
• Open the water faucets in your sinks to allow a slow trickle of water to maintain the flow of water in the lines and help prevent freezing.
• Identify the location of the main water shut-off valve and make sure it is easily accessible in case a frozen pipe bursts and you need to shut the water off.