Pennsylvania Fire Insurance
Find the right fire insurance policy for you.
Written by
Ann Herro has been writing about insurance and employee benefits for over 15 years. She has covered topics as easy as insuring a car, and as difficult as transparency in healthcare costs.
Many Pennsylvania residents assume that since their homeowners insurance policy covers damage from fire, they are completely protected against all fires in the home. Anyone who has ever lived through the devastation of a house fire will have a different story. They will tell you that no money can ever replace photos, computer data, family records, and other personal treasures. They will also tell you that without their Pennsylvania fire insurance policy, things would have been far worse.
While there is much you can do to help prevent a fire, the best course of action is be absolutely certain of what your fire insurance covers and what it does not. Take a few minutes to set up a meeting with your local member of the Trusted Choice® network. With over 27,000 member agency locations throughout the United States, there is an agent near you who is ready to help. These professionals are not tied to any one insurance company and will present you with a number of Pennsylvania fire insurance quotes for you to compare. Contact an independent member agent today.
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Residential Fires Can Be Deadly
- Over 3400 Americans die in fires each year
- There are over 17,500 annual injuries from fires
- Over 1000 American seniors die in fires every year
While most fires are preventable to some extent, some cannot be stopped in spite of taking every possible precaution. Fires can result from earthquakes and catastrophic weather events that crop up quickly and without warning. However, those are comparatively rare. If you take the time to safeguard your home properly, your chances of experiencing a devastating fire will be greatly reduced.
Are You Currently Protected?
Nearly all homes that carry a mortgage will have at least the minimum required Pennsylvania fire insurance as part of their mandated homeowners insurance. It's good to make sure you understand whether or not the protection you have is adequate and which items are covered and which are not. Keep in mind that your car is typically covered by the comprehensive portion of your auto policy. If you do not have that coverage, your car may not be protected in the event of a fire.
Your homeowners insurance is likely structured in one of two ways. If it is based on replacement value, your insurance coverage will be sufficient to restore your home and property to the condition they were in prior to the fire. Since many items and structures cost far more to replace than they cost to purchase, this is the best possible coverage. The alternative is based upon actual cash value, and replacement of the items will be the original value less depreciation.
Keep in mind that many items people assume are covered may in fact not be protected. These include highly valued art pieces, substantial jewellry, money in any form, and coin or stamp collections. It is a good idea to discuss the addition of a "rider" as part of your Pennsylvania fire insurance policy with your Trusted Choice member agent.
Fire Prevention Strategies
The best way to make sure you are never a victim of a fire in your home is to take every possible preventive measure. Here are some common-sense recommendations to minimize the chances of a home fire:
- Smoke alarms save lives. Every floor of your home should have a working alarm. To minimize nuisance alarms, do not put one in the kitchen. However, since many fires begin in a kitchen, it should be located in the room nearest the kitchen.
- Every home should have a charged fire extinguisher that is capable of handling any sort of fire. All family members should be aware of its location and how to use it.
- Avoid the use of extension cords. If you must use one, be sure it is heavy duty and keep the length as short as possible.
- When using space heaters, be certain nothing combusible is within three feet of the machine.
- Plan an escape route from every room in the house. Homes with a second story should consider a chain fire ladder that can be stored in an upstairs closet.
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Find Affordable Pennsylvania Fire Insurance Quotes
With the vast number of details included on every homeowners policy, it is best to get some help from a knowlegdeable professional. Claims are often denied by insurance companies for a number of preventable reasons. A good agent will be able to accurately assess your current coverage and suggest alternatives that can save money and improve your odds in the event of a fire.
An independent agent in the Trusted Choice network can help by assembling multiple Pennsylvania fire insurance quotes from competing insurance companies. Together you can decide how best to protect your home, your family, your car, and your precious belongings. Find your local member agent today.