AAA offers home insurance tips for summer safety

Editorial by AAA

Getting ready for summer is more than opening the pool and buying sunscreen! You prepared your home for winter, now it's time to get ready for warmer days. Consider adding these tasks to your list to keep your summer carefree:

•Inspect your roof: Look for damaged or buckling shingles or tiles, and have them replaced.

•Trim your trees: Prune tree limbs regularly to keep them away from your home, decks and outbuildings in case strong winds and precipitation cause them to break. If a tree is too close to your home, consider having it removed.

•Clean out your gutters: Remove leaves, sticks and other debris so spring showers can flow freely. Make sure gutters are secure and downspouts drain away from your foundation.

•Test wood on your home for water damage: Use a screwdriver to test for soft wood and repair or replace it as needed.

•Check for appliance leaks: Look for signs of leakage around your washing machine, dishwasher, refrigerator, water heater and other appliances that use water.

•Clean your dryer vent: Nearly 3,000 home dryer fires happen every year according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Cleaning dryer vents can prevent about a third of those fires. Make sure to clean your lint trap after every use.

For more information on auto and homeowners insurance, contact your local AAA office or visit AAA online.

As upstate New York's largest member services organization, AAA provides nearly 860,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1900, AAA has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Visit AAA at www.AAA.com.