It's time to bring out your light jackets and flannels for the cooler weather! 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.
Gutters
Those beautiful autumn leaves can turn into major headaches when it comes to your gutters. Gutters clogged by leaves and other debris can lead to water and ice damage down the line. Gutters should be cleared of debris before and after the leaves fall. Be sure to take proper safety precautions when working on a ladder.
Windows
Check windows for cracks, separation, weather stripping, drafts, and proper latching. Take time to clean the interior and exterior windows of the church. Check with your local energy provider about possible window replacement programs to provide your church with energy-efficient windows.
Landscape
Completing seasonal tasks such as cutting grass, trimming hedges, raking leaves, etc., will help ensure your church is pleasing to the eyes of your members and the community. Check your sidewalks, walkways, and other hard surfaces for cracks and potential trip hazards. Pay attention to your parking lots by filling in potholes and clearing dangerous debris like glass or nails. Finally, make sure all your handrails are secure and structurally sound.
Furnace Maintenance
Your furnace is sure to get plenty of use this winter, so check it and ensure it's in great shape before the cold weather arrives. If your furnace breaks down in the middle of a snowstorm, it can potentially cause frozen pipes or other significant damage to your building.
Equipment Check
Make a plan to examine and perform necessary maintenance on all of your seasonal equipment before the winter weather hits. After completing the repairs, move your fall and winter equipment like doormats, shovels, leaf blowers, and snow blowers to where they will be easily accessible.
Lighting
Take a stroll around the property at dusk. Take note of when lights come on and ensure that all lights function correctly. If streetlights are out, be sure to contact your local government agency to have them fixed or replaced.
Fire Safety and Prevention
Arrange to service or replace fire extinguishers. Your local fire department may be able to help you with this process. Also, check the batteries in all the smoke detectors throughout the church. Replace dying batteries and wipe away dust and debris.
Plumbing and Insulation
Check faucets, drains, plumbing, and the surrounding insulation for leaks and corrosion. Perform general maintenance and repairs where necessary.
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.
With UMIP coverage, we will be there when you need us. Churches have unique needs. As a part of the denomination, we understand the unique needs of United Methodist churches and their operations, which is reflected in our coverage options. Your ministry deserves outstanding insurance, and UMIP works for you each day to help protect your church's people, property, and finances.
Let's talk! Contact us at 484-654-3380 or at UMI@sovinsurance.com.
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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