Having a home insurance policy gives you much-needed protection and added peace of mind in your investment--and with most mortgage lenders, home insurance is required. However, if you do need to file a claim on your home, there's also a chance that your policy premium could increase as a result. For this reason, homeowners should take steps to avoid unnecessary home insurance claims by following some basic preventative measures around the house.

Regular Dryer Duct Cleaning

House fires are a common cause of home insurance claims, but there's a lot you can do to avoid extensive fire damage in your home--aside from simply changing out your smoke detector batteries on occasion. One possible cause of house fires is a clothes dryer duct that's clogged with lint; dryer lint is highly combustible and can easily lead to a house fire. Avoid this by vacuuming out your dryer ducts annually (you can even hire a company to do it for you).

Tree Trimming and Removal

Fallen tree branches or even a completely toppled-over tree can not only damage your home, but could put you and your loved ones at risk of serious injury as well. To avoid injury and a home insurance claim, keep an eye on the trees on your property and know when it's time to trim a tree or remove it. Some common signs a tree needs removed include:

• rotted or decayed root structure
• substantial leaning
• extensive dead branches

You should also take the time to prune trees on your property (or hire a tree service to do this for you) as a means of avoiding damage claims with your home insurance company.

Annual Roof Inspections

Another leading cause of home insurance claims is water damage, which can be caused by anything from a burst pipe to a leaky roof. Fortunately, a major roof leak is easily avoidable when you have annual roofing inspections done. During these inspections, a roofing professional can alert you to any potential problems (such as missing shingles) so you can have the necessary preventative repairs done as soon as possible.

Installing a Security System

Lastly, if you don't have one already, you might consider installing a security system as a means of reducing your chances of a home insurance claim related to theft or vandalism. A monitored or non-monitored security system can even help to lower your insurance rates while giving you added peace of mind.

For more information, contact an insurance company like Kerr Agency.