Fireworks may get all the bang in the July Fourth safety lectures, but the bigger threat to homeowners could be lurking under the sink.
A Mercury Insurance analysis of five years of homeowner claims during the Independence Day holiday period found that water damage, weather-related losses and theft generated far more claims than fireworks. Water damage topped the list, with 537 claims and nearly $10 million in paid losses, compared with 54 fireworks-related claims.
So while Americans are busy telling relatives to back away from the Roman candles, the washing machine hose may be plotting a far more expensive holiday weekend.
Weather and tree-related damage ranked second, with 293 claims, while theft and vandalism came in third with 113 claims. Mercury said theft and vandalism claims rose nearly 23% during the July Fourth holiday period compared with a typical summer weekend, suggesting empty homes may be as attractive to opportunists as free hot dogs are to relatives.
The insurer said homeowners should still follow fireworks rules, keep explosives away from homes, cars and dry vegetation, and have a hose or extinguisher nearby. But it also recommended checking outdoor plumbing and irrigation systems, trimming weak tree branches, securing patio furniture, locking garages and gates, using lights or cameras, and not broadcasting travel plans on social media.