Winter storms are an inconvenience for most people, but for businesses they can be catastrophic. Snow, ice and below-freezing temperatures can wreak havoc on properties that are not adequately prepared potentially causing big insurance claims. Luckily, there are a few ways you can get ahead of the storm this week by following the 8 tips below.

Winterize, Winterize, Winterize

1. Leave your faucets on a slow drip to prevent pipes from freezing.

2. Keep the heat on at a minimum of 55°F in both vacant and occupied buildings.

3. Bring in any outdoor assets. This can include furniture, flags, lawn supplies, equipment and more.

4. Unhook outdoor water hoses, cover all faucets and turn off lawn sprinklers.

5. Do not leave space heaters on and/or unattended.

6. Check your heating and cooling system and perform maintenance if you notice something not running properly.

7. Know where your water meters and fire sprinkler valves are. If locked, make sure you also know where the keys are.

8. Have a backup plan if road conditions are unsafe and employees can’t commute to work.

Insure your business and assets

Your best protection against winter weather is a good commercial insurance policy – plain and simple. By making sure you have the right policy and enough coverage for your specific industry, you can rest easy knowing you won’t be left with a hefty bill in case unexpected things arise such as a pipe bursting from the freezing temperatures, a customer falling on an icy patch in your parking lot or a commercial vehicle getting into an accident during the work hours.

Even if you think your current policy insures all of the above and more, now is a good time to call your agent and double-check before the storm blows in.

Keep a watchful eye and have a plan.

Finally, make sure to watch the weather as it can change at a moment’s notice. Most businesses can’t afford to be out of commission for days at a time while waiting for the winter weather to subside, so make sure you have a plan in place. Your plan should include strategies for keeping your supply lines open, effectively communicating with employees, setting up at-home workstations when possible and, once again, making sure your insurance policy will adequately cover your business and assets.

Stay safe this week and get in touch with us to discuss or enhance your commercial insurance policy.