Every year, thousands of homeowners file home insurance claims for damages caused by trees. Encroaching roots, broken branches, and falling trees can all wreak havoc on a home and the homeowner. Between calling insurance and taking care of the damages, the whole process can become quite a headache.
Homeowners can take steps to prevent tree-related damages to their homes with the help of local arborist experts and standard know-how. Keep reading to discover how to handle tree-related emergencies and stop them from happening in the first place!
Getting to the Root Causes of Tree Damage
Understanding what can cause trees to damage a home in the first place is essential to preventing incidents from happening. All parts of a tree can cause severe damage to a home, from its leaves to its roots.
- Leaf-Related Damages: Leaves are an unexpected cause of home damage. They can quickly clog drains and block vents and gutters of a home, leading to potential flood risk. If a yard has leaf build-up, it is more likely to experience flooding or irrigation troubles.
- Trunk and Branch Related Damages: The most commonly known cause of tree-related damages is the trunk or branches. Lighting, heavy winds, or just time and wear can result in the trunk or branches of a tree breaking, sometimes right into the path of a home’s windows or roof.
- Root Related Damages: The roots of a tree are a hidden source of trouble for a home. Roots that have encroached on a home’s foundation can lead to concrete settlement and the occasional enlargement of foundation cracks. Additionally, tree roots can damage plumbing pipes running underground and can cause sewer line leaks or pipe collapse if left unchecked.
Preventing Tree Damages to Your Home
Regardless of the cause, tree damages are largely a costly project to repair. While homeowners insurance covers quite a lot of tree-related damages, insurance companies typically require a fairly large deductible be paid first before covering any other damages, and not all damages are always covered by policies. With that in mind, preventing tree damages to your home should be a priority.
Homeowners should start their preventative steps by hiring a tree service company to come out and give a tree inspection for any tree hazards. Tree hazards range from limbs being too close to powerlines, which can cause electrical shortages and fires, to damaged boughs posing a risk to the rooftop of a home.
During the inspection, the tree service will be able to decide if tree trimming or tree pruning is necessary to prevent branches from harming a home, and can help homeowners decide if a tree needs to be removed for safety concerns.
Importance of Tree Maintenance
Without proper tree maintenance, tree emergencies are more likely to happen. Proper maintenance keeps trees healthy and strong. A good rule of thumb for homeowners is to have a professional tree care service come out at least once a year to examine a home’s trees, usually in the spring and autumn. The tree service will prune and trim any limbs that might pose a fire or damage hazard, make sure there are no pests or illnesses weakening the tree, and give an overall assessment of any risks that the plant may pose to the home.
How to Handle Tree Emergencies
When a tree falls into the home, you will certainly hear it. It’s natural to feel panicked, but staying calm is essential to handling tree emergencies.
Step 1: Make sure no one is injured and call 911 for assistance if first aid is needed.
Step 2: If electrical wires, gas lines, or sewer mains appear damages, contact the local utility department. Do not attempt to handle this yourself or go near the damaged utility.
Step 3: Take pictures of both the tree and any damages you can see for insurance purposes.
Step 4: Call the experts. Call your home insurance and file a claim, they’ll have to send someone out to look at the damage. Insurers may also refer you to the appropriate authorities for taking care of any utility damage.
Step 5: Contact a local tree care expert to have the damaged tree taken care of. Do not attempt to haul a broken tree away yourself. Most cities have rules for how a tree can be removed and where it goes once removed.
Any Town Tree Is Ready to Help!
When tree troubles are threatening your home, don’t wait to take action. Call your local tree care service, like the experts at Any Town Tree, to take care of the problem before it becomes a disaster.
At Any Town Tree, we’re ready to help you with more than just trimming and pruning trees. From tree and shrub care maintenance to tree removals, our experts are here to help!