Mercury Insurance Urges Homeowners to Prepare for Winter's Unpredictable Weather

You can't control the weather, but homeowners can prepare ahead of time by conducting a thorough inspection of their home and property before wet weather arrives. Here are a few things you can do to protect your family, pets and personal property before the rain begins to fall:

Yard

• Trim tree branches away from the home and power lines. Branches that break during severe storms could potentially damage your house or cause power outages. Inspect and remove dead branches that may snap easily.
• Move outdoor furniture and tools indoors, including gardening equipment. Cleaning and storing these items inside will prevent weather damage. Consider coating your tools with protective oil to guard against rust.
• Clean your drains. Make sure all of your drains are open and free flowing. Dead leaves and yard debris can clog drains, which will prevent excess rain water from draining properly. This could lead to pooling around your foundation, causing leaks and water damage.

Home Exterior

• Clean gutters and make sure they are securely fastened to your home. This will help direct rainwater away from the foundation of your home. Inspect the condition of gutters and downspouts and seal up any leaks.
• Check your roof for missing shingles, holes and weak spots. Work with a licensed contractor ahead of storms to make roof repairs, if necessary.
• Clean and treat your deck. Remove debris from decks to deter mold and mildew growth. Consider treating decks with a water-resistant coating — like liquid rubber sealant — to prevent weather damage and preserve your deck.
• Check the perimeter of your home for cracks in siding or peeled paint. Fill in any cracks, gaps or holes you encounter, as these can turn into bigger problems later on. Sealing these will prevent moisture from causing structural damage to your home and keep animals from burrowing inside.

Home Interior

• Check for cracked glass in windows and examine window and door frames for leaks and rot. Small leaks can go unnoticed and seep into window panes and frames. Caulk gaps with sealant and remove and replace any rotted frames.
• Examine any basement, crawl space or attic air ducts for leaks. Leaks in these less-used areas of your home can often go unnoticed, and air vents are an easy entry point for water. If the forecast calls for heavy rain, consider covering openings (inside and outside) with durable plastic sheeting.
• Check your sewer lines. A leaky or broken sewer line can allow rainwater to enter the system and backup into your home, so make sure to have your lines inspected.

"A little prep can go a long way, but it's still a good idea to review your insurance policy before winter starts. Update your home inventory and check with your local insurance agent to make sure you have enough coverage," advised Lee.

About Mercury Insurance

Mercury Insurance (NYSE: MCY) is a multiple-line insurance carrier predominantly offering personal auto, homeowners, renters and commercial insurance through a network of independent agents in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia, as well as auto insurance in Florida. Mercury writes other lines of insurance in various states, including commercial, business owners and business auto, landlord, home-sharing, ride-hailing and mechanical protection insurance.

Since 1962, Mercury has provided customers with tremendous value for their insurance dollar by pairing ultra-competitive rates with excellent customer service, through more than 4,200 employees and a network of more than 6,340 independent agents in 11 states. Mercury has earned an "A" rating from A.M. Best, as well as "Best Auto Insurance Company" designations from Forbes and Insure.com.

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SOURCE Mercury Insurance