This year has really flown by, and some of us are already starting to experience the beginnings of winter. If you haven’t already done so, now is the perfect time to begin winterizing your buildings and start preparing colder temperatures, and even ice or snow.
Check insulation
Frozen pipes can cause thousands of dollars in damages and puts unneeded stress on your church and staff. Check the insulation in your buildings to make sure it can help prevent the temperatures indoors from reaching freezing levels and causing your pipes to freeze. It’s also a good idea to consider wrapping your pipes in insulation to help further protect your property from colder temperatures.
Covering windows
Windows are a big source of cold drafts and heat loss, especially if your church has older windows. By applying window insulation kits, you can easily help reduce the amount of heat your church loses this winter. You could save money on your heating bill and help protect your buildings, as well.
Keep and maintain adequate supplies
Before snow and ice can begin accumulating on your parking lots and walkways, be sure to secure ice melt and snow shovels. Having supplies on hand will make it easier to clear pavement and help reduce the risk of slipping or tripping on snow and ice.
Snow removal
In addition to ice melt and snow shovels, your ministry should have plans for snow removal from your parking lots and walkways. Whether you hire someone to plow your parking lot, recruit volunteers to clear the snow, or do it yourself, you should have a plan in place before the snow arrives in your area.
Furnace maintenance
Your furnace will be a vital part of your ministry this winter. Consider having a winter tune-up done in addition to regular maintenance to make sure everything is in order. Having your furnace go out in the middle of the winter isn’t enjoyable for anyone and puts your church’s pipes at risk of freezing.
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.
Comments