Home Safety Articles

Does Renters Insurance Cover Fire Damage?

How to Drain a Water Heater: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Start a Fire in the Fireplace

Insuring Homes with Swimming Pools: What to Know

How Can I Help Prevent Pipes From Freezing?

Fall Home Maintenance Tips : Farmers Insurance®

In a Flash, Lightning Can Fry Every Appliance (and More) in a Home. But Saving Homes From Lightning Strikes Isn’t Impossible.

Lightning can destroy appliances and cause serious harm to your property. Learn how to identify and reduce damage from lightning strikes to your home.

Homeowner’s Guide to Summer Home Maintenance

Fixing, cleaning and maintaining a home while it’s warm and dry is like shopping for winter holidays in July. It pays to get it done early — before bad weather can cause emergencies.

Blackouts Can End in a Blink. What Happens When the Lights Are Out for Days or Weeks?

Own a Home Built Before 1980? Your Electrical System Might Need Some Attention

What They Grabbed Before a Natural Disaster Hit

When This Man Awoke to Strange Sounds, He Expected a Thief, Animal or Ghost

A Hurricane Destroyed His Home. The Renovation Was a Bigger Disaster.

Caught in Chaos, They Made the Best of a Worst-Case Scenario

“A Smoke Alarm Saved My Life”

The piercing sound of a smoke alarm saved this homeowner's life.

From Scorpions to Monsoons to — Yes — Snow, Home Maintenance in Arizona Requires Ingenuity

From scorpions to monsoons, home maintenance in Arizona requires ingenuity. Here’s how to protect your home from desert weather and wildlife.

In a Blackout, Reaching Out for Help Requires a Plan. Low-Tech Solutions Might Save the Day

Rescue Stories from the Houston Flooding: “We’d Bang on Roofs and Listen for People Inside”

You Have to Think like a Bad Guy to Protect Your Home

They Had Minutes to Pack and Flee Before the Flood

Homeowner's Guide to Spring Home Maintenance

They Stole His Identity and Made Off With $50,000 Before He Had a Clue He'd Been Robbed

It's One of the Smartest Ways to Add Square Footage (and Value) to Your Home

It can also be one of the most dangerous additions. Building a deck expands outdoor living space, but before adding or upgrading, find out what these seasoned builders recommend to help make decks safer and more durable.

“We Prepared for Two Inches of Water, Not Five Feet.”

Linda Marcus and her husband Jesse thought they were prepared but a flood but a sudden storm changed their lives forever. Read more.

They Wanted a Bigger Living Room. They Got an Indoor Waterpark

She Raced a Fire That Scorched 40,000 Acres in 12 Hours and Lost Almost Everything

It Sounded Like Artillery Shells Hitting the Roof

I Can Still Hear the Sound of the Fire

"You Could Hear Crackling and Popping... Like Kindling in a Fireplace."

When Your Teenager Tells You, “I've Got This”

This Mom’s Trouble Sounded like a Million Trains Coming

Even if your home is considered outside the danger zone you could still be at risk Learn about the importance of flood insurance before disaster strikes.

Living with the Parents Again, but under Your Roof

When Cathy Gallub's mother died in 2012, it didn't take long to realize her 92-year-old father could no longer live on his own.

High Winds Can Cause More Havoc Than You Think. Is Your House Ready?

Evacuating Natural Disasters with Children

Your Roof Can't Wear a Puffy Coat in Cold Weather. Here's How You Can Keep It Cozy.

Dog Showers, Catios (AKA Cat Patios) and More Home Renovations for the Truly Pet-Obsessed

How Can Insurance Help Me Prepare for a Flood Disaster?

This Guy Helped to Repair and Rebuild a Crucial Part of 22,000 Homes After Hurricane Katrina

A Home Fire Story: “the Cat Was Swaddled in a Firefighter's Jacket Getting Oxygen”

Fire damage destroyed her family's home. Read her story, plus expert tips to help you go beyond the basics of fire prevention.

At 2 A.M., I Woke Up to See the Bedroom Walls Bowing In

Tornado survivors and disaster preparation experts share real-world insights that may help you prepare for a major twister.

The Backyard Disasters That Cause More than $118 Million in Damage Each Year

Nine Steps to Help Get Hurricane Ready

The Essential Survival Guide for Blizzards