Home Insurance Articles
Considering Fire Hazards In Your Home When Buying Homeowners Insurance
2010-03-21
Often, it is the hazards from within a home that damage it far more than any from the outside. Fortunately, home insurance coverage takes this into account. While there are any number of outside forces and weather patterns which are beyond a home owner's control - theft, vandalism, flood and earthquakes, just to name a few - there are also things within a home that can both increase the risk of damage, and also increase home insurance rates. One of the most set of common problems that many homes have is multiple fire hazards. These, even more than leaky pipes or bad shingling, can be both dangerous to your home and your home insurance coverage.
But how do you know if your house contains multiple fire hazards? There are a few signs to watch out for. First, check your wiring. The easiest place to do this is the basement, as if it is unfinished, the wiring will be exposed. Any home built in the last twenty years should no longer have what is known as "knob and tube" wiring. Any older home or poorly built home that has this type of wiring is at far greater risk for fire. Secondly, check to see what kind of load you're putting on your outlets. If you have every outlet filled with constantly-running devices or if you have multiple power bars and extension cords hooked up to your outlets, you could be risking a serious fire.
Sometimes, your home is a fire hazard simply because of its location. In many suburbs, homes are now built extremely close together, and the materials used to hold their siding on are often very flammable. This means that if the house next door is set ablaze, yours could soon follow, even if you have no fire hazards to speak of. One last thing to consider is your use of open flame - be it a fireplace or candles. Be extremely leery about leaving either of these things burning for an extended period of time, and never leave either unattended or burning if you leave the home, even for a moment. A pet or child knocking over a candle could result in a disastrous event.
The potential for fires in your home will contribute to your ultimate home insurance rate. Your initial quote will likely include a basic price for a home of your type and location, and there will be some fire-related information taken into account. If, however, you ever need to make a claim and a fire hazard in the home is deemed to be the cause of the damage, it could mean higher rates or a dropped policy. Making sure your home is fire-safe is always a hot idea.