Heat Wave Planning for Clients with Vacant Home Insurance

Clients that have vacant home insurance policies generally do a good job maintaining a house for the 6 month to one year period it is empty or unoccupied. This means they generally have a property manager, have someone visit the home, or trust a reliable college student down the street to make sure the snow is shoveled and the bushes are trimmed.

However, one big mistake people make, and this can lead to damage in high heat, is to have a vacant home sealed up very tight with little to no air flow. If there is any source of moisture in these situations the home can become a breeding ground for mold and mildew. These mold and mildew claims are not covered by vacant home insurance or for that matter most homeowners insurance policies in most States.

Whenever possible a dehumidifier should be running in the basement at all times. The only way this is possible is for the dehumidifier to empty into a drain or if someone is entering the home at least once every 48 hours to empty the unit.

If this is not possible the house should not be sealed up ultra tight. The good news is, even if all windows are shut most (especially older) homes have at least some air flow on all levels of the house.