September is here and fall is upon us. Before the cold weather and snow come to your neck of the woods, be sure your church is preparing to maintain its buildings through the colder months. Consider our fall checklist below to help prepare your church for what lies ahead.
Gutter Cleaning
Autumn leaves are one of the most iconic images of fall, but they can also be one of the biggest hassles of the season. Gutters clogged by leaves and other debris can lead to water and ice damage down the line. Be sure you’re having them cleaned by a qualified professional or add leaf guards (also by a qualified professional) to help avoid unnecessary damage.
Roof Inspection
In addition to cleaning your gutters, be sure to have your roof inspected for missing shingles, other damage, or wear and tear. Exposed roofs experience an increased risk of water and structural damage with the freezing and thawing that comes with winter. It’s much easier to replace a few shingles now than an entire roof later.
Furnace Maintenance
Your furnace is sure to get plenty of use this winter, so before the cold weather is here, have your furnace checked and make sure it’s in good enough shape to last the winter. If your furnace breaks down in the middle of a snowstorm it can potentially cause frozen pipes or other damage.
Repair Damaged Walkways
Slips, trips, and falls are one of the most common causes of injuries. If you haven’t yet made any necessary repairs to your parking lot, walkway, or stairs, now is the time to do them before snow and freezing temperatures arrive.
Begin Winterizing
In addition to the tips we’ve already covered, it’s a good idea to begin winterizing your church’s buildings while the weather is still moderate. Check the insulation on pipes, place weatherstripping and plastic over windows and doors, and start accumulating salt, shovels, and other supplies you’ll need for winter.
We hope these tips will make it easier to prepare your church for the colder months.
This content has been prepared by United Methodist Insurance Company (UMI) for informational purposes only. No article or document may accurately contemplate all possible scenarios or church resources. As such, this information is meant to foster discussion by the individual church and its members to develop a plan tailored to its own circumstances. UMI is providing this information with no warranties or guarantees of any kind and it should not be viewed as legal, financial, or other professional advice. All liability is expressly disclaimed. Any claim examples described herein are general in nature, may or may not be based on actual claims, and are for informational purposes only. Any coverage available for a claim is determined from the facts and circumstances of the claim as well as the terms and conditions of any applicable policy, including any exclusions or deductibles. In the event of a conflict with the content herein, the terms and conditions of any issued policy will control. Individual coverage may vary and may not be available in all states.
The commercial insurance coverages for United Methodist Insurance are sold and serviced directly or indirectly by Sovereign Insurance Agency (CA Lic. No. 0B01380) ("Sovereign") and underwritten by various available insurance markets. Sovereign pays United Methodist Insurance a royalty for the use of its intellectual property.
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