Alberta’s extreme cold has many wondering what damages are covered — and what damages aren’t — if something goes wrong at home.
According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), damage to your home during a severe cold is already covered.
“Things like freeze, wind, hail or fire — those are things your insurance policy covers,” said Rob DeBruis, national director of consumer and industry relations at IBC.
Frozen pipes, leaks, and any other damage to the home — or its contents — are covered by insurance.
But if your furnace breaks down? This is the responsibility of the homeowner.
“One thing to keep in mind is that if your furnace breaks down, and it freezes some pipes, the actual furnace itself is not covered by insurance,” De Bruis said.
Justin Penny, principal at Hydro-Flo Plumbing and Heating Ltd., offers some suggestions for staying warm if your furnace breaks down.
“Well, the first thing you’re going to do is make sure you have some heaters,” Benny said. “You can use your furnace to heat the house. Then put space heaters in the mechanical room near your water meter.
Other suggestions to help minimize damage to your property from extreme cold include not shutting off the water main to avoid it freezing; Or open the taps slightly to allow a small stream to flow because running water takes longer to freeze.
“In the main common areas, yes it can be warm — maybe 10 or 12 (degrees).” “But in all the little places in the corners, if there’s water there and you turn it back on, all of a sudden you have a frozen water line and a leak,” Penny said.
