When you live in Minnesota, your home and vehicles face a little of everything: heavy snow and ice in winter, severe thunderstorms and hail in spring and summer, and the freeze-thaw swings that wear on roofs, pipes, and pavement. A few simple habits each season can help you avoid preventable damage, file fewer claims, and get the most out of your Minnesota home and auto insurance. Here at The Jansen Agency, LLC in Maple Grove, we put together this seasonal checklist to help you stay a step ahead.
Winter: Guard Against Ice, Snow, and Frozen Pipes
Minnesota winters are tough on a home. Keep gutters clear so melting snow can drain instead of forming ice dams that push water under your shingles. Keep your home heated to at least 55 degrees, even when you travel, and let faucets drip during deep cold snaps to reduce the risk of frozen and burst pipes. Disconnect garden hoses and shut off exterior spigots before the first hard freeze. For your vehicles, check tire tread and pressure, top off antifreeze and washer fluid, and keep a winter emergency kit with a blanket, flashlight, and jumper cables in the trunk.
Spring: Inspect for Winter Damage and Storm Season
As the snow melts, walk your property and look for damage that built up over winter. Check the roof for missing or lifted shingles, inspect the foundation and basement for cracks or moisture, and test your sump pump before the spring rains arrive. Trim back tree limbs that hang over your roof or driveway so they are less likely to fall during a storm. Spring is also a good time to photograph the inside and outside of your home, which makes documenting a future claim far easier.
Summer: Prepare for Hail and Severe Weather
Summer brings the highest risk of hail and high winds in the Twin Cities area. When severe weather is in the forecast, park vehicles in a garage or under cover whenever possible. Secure patio furniture, grills, and trampolines that can become projectiles in strong wind. After any major storm, inspect your roof, siding, and vehicles for dents or cracks, and report damage promptly so repairs do not turn into bigger problems down the road.
Fall: Get Ready for the Next Freeze
Fall is your window to prepare before winter returns. Clean gutters again after the leaves drop, have your furnace serviced, and replace worn weather stripping to keep heat in. Reverse ceiling fans, test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and switch your vehicles to winter-ready tires if you use them. A little maintenance now saves a lot of stress when the temperature drops.
Review Your Minnesota Home and Auto Insurance Before You Need It
Seasonal upkeep protects your property, but the right coverage protects your finances when prevention is not enough. It is worth reviewing your home insurance and auto insurance once a year to confirm your limits still match the value of your home and belongings, to understand how your deductibles work, and to ask whether add-ons like water backup coverage make sense for your situation. If you are not sure where your coverage stands, we are happy to walk through it with you, no pressure and in plain language.
Have a question about protecting your home or auto this season? Contact our Maple Grove office or request a quote, and let’s make sure you are covered before the next change in the weather.
Leave a Reply