By Alan Chesler
Winter’s brutal weather is always accompanied by the migration
of “snowbirds” to warmer climes. And nowhere is that more prevalent
than in Florida, where populations swell as snow begins to fall up
north.
But in many cases, the influx of people seeking warmth also comes
with devastation to single-family homes and apartments as these
winter visitors quickly open up their residences anticipating months
on boats, golf courses and the beach.
On an increasing basis, these seasonal homes are being destroyed
when anxious residents flip on the water heater or simply activate a
fuse box too quickly, anticipating a warm shower or cool air from the
air conditioners, only to be shocked by fires or floods.
Fires and floods are ruining these homes on an increasing basis due
to months of inactivity, resulting in a ruined season for people seeking
the warmth of Florida.
Property managers, insurance agents, and maintenance personnel
must warn these seasonal visitors about the dangers of opening up a
home that has been vacant since the spring.
One of the most devastating problems results from people turning on
their water heaters quickly. This can result in a water surge that can
break hoses or create leaks in their water heater and its pipes, in most cases requiring a water heater replacement to resolve. The following are
several steps to take:
• Prior to turning on the water heater, check around the floor for
leaks that may have developed during months of inactivity
• Turn on water heater very slowly
• If the water heater is more than seven years old, consider
calling a water heater service to schedule a water heater installation in order to start fresh with a new one.
• Replace older rubber hoses with more durable metal grade
hoses
Many people have installed water detection devices that alert people
when they are away from their seasonal homes. These devices can
notify property managers, neighbors, and others in the event of a
flood.
The same care should be taken when activating for the first time
dishwashers, refrigerators, and washers/dryers. Keep in mind that
service contracts do not cover damage caused by flooding.
Also, flooding can cause significant damage, resulting in hundreds of
thousands of dollars in repair costs. In a condominium, flooding can
destroy not only the home where the flood occurred but also units
below and to the side. In many cases, this damage is covered by the
unit owner’s and not by the association’s policy.
Another common problem with opening up a home for the season is
the damage caused by activating a fuse box that is overloaded by
computers, stereo equipment, televisions, appliances, etc. In recent
years, the abundance of new electronics has put a huge burden
on older electrical systems in homes. In the not-too-distant past,
home electronics included televisions, kitchen appliances, and water
heaters. Today, the number of electronic devices has increased to
dangerous levels.
When turning on fuses in the box, listen for a hissing sound or other
noises which could indicate that wiring is bad. Another cause of
electrical fires is overloading the surge protector strips. Today, these
are frequently overloaded with every outlet plugged into a high-
performance electrical device that an older strip wasn’t meant to
accommodate.
Take a look at the multiple surge protectors in your home and take
note of how many appliances are connected – phone chargers,
multiple computers, Internet connections, several televisions, etc.
Older strips weren’t meant to handle these devices. Nor are stronger
ones of today. In addition, these strips are plugged into one wall
outlet. This, too, can cause electrical fires.
It is best to invest in a whole home surge protection with several surge protectors and plug them into
several different wall outlets. Do not use every outlet on the strip.
It is advisable to replace them every two-three years. Also, it is
recommended to turn on one device at a time so as not to overload
the surge protector strips.
Another precautionary practice is to make sure the dryer is de-linted
before using it for the first time. Lint tends to dry out over several
months of inactivity and can cause fires. This should be done after
each use, as well.
Seasonal residents must be urged to use caution when returning to
their winter homes. It’s understandable that they are excited about
leaving the snow and quickly taking advantage of the warmer climate.
But a bit of restraint and patience can make sure that their winter
stays start off the right way.
Alan S. Chesler is partner of Alan James Insurance, a diversified
insurance brokerage with offices in Sunrise. One of the firm’s
specialties is developing comprehensive insurance programs for
condominium associations throughout Florida. For more information,
call 954-838-8828 or visit www.alanjamesinsurance.com