The Thanksgiving holiday is right around the corner. It is just as important to make sure you are as meticulous when it comes to your homeowner’s policy as you are when planning for the big meal.
There are three times as many home fires on Thanksgiving Day than any other day throughout the course of the year. Grease and frying oils are often the culprits behind this increase due to their combustibility. Cooking oil vapors and grease can ignite into a blaze with just a small spark. If a grease fire ignites in a pan, most times putting a lid on it is the best way to combat the blaze. Moving the pan from the stove only increases the chance of the fire spreading to other parts of the kitchen and dining area.
When using a deep fryer , a fire extinguisher should always be kept close by. The cooking oil needs to be heated to 350 degrees and anything above that temperature causes the oil vapors to become highly combustible. Fryers should be used on a level surface and children should be kept far away. If a turkey is not fully thawed when it hits the pot oil will splash. These oil splashes result in severe burns to the skin.
Depreciated Cost Vs Current Market Value
When it comes to homeowner’s insurance and the holidays, there are a few things to consider. If you have a fire inside or outside of your house , how will you be compensated by your insurance company? A homeowner’s insurance policy can pay you actual cash value which represents a depreciated amount for your things. Let’s say the cabinets catch fire. An adjustor will look at the damage, figure out the cost when they were brand new and then depreciate their value based on their age. Another option is that you can get replacement cost which means depreciation is not with held and you get a current market value reimbursement to replace the things that were damaged.
What About My Garage or Barn?
Often overlooked on a home policy is the coverage of separate structures. A separate structure is defined as anything separate from the main house structure. Separate structures include detached garages, sheds, and sometimes swimming pools. What happens if you are grilling or deep frying behind the house and your detached garage or a custom built shed burns to ground? A separate structure is not part of the regular homeowner’s dwelling coverage. The home policy has a section for separate structures and the coverage amount is only 10% of what the home has.
Before you enjoy the holiday with your loved ones, spend some making sure your house is safe. Check the batteries in your smoke detectors, make sure your fire extinguishers are fully charged, and pull out your most recent copy of your homeowner’s policy and let the Suppa Agency review it.
Give us a call at 412 -238-8200 and we will make sure your policy is ready for the holidays!