This is a slight departure from my usual offering, relating to the history of Medicine Hat and the surrounding area but a recent event caused me to reflect and I thought it prudent to offer some timely advice to subscribers to my blog. My wife and I annually spend the winter months way down south not unlike many of our friends and the issue arises as to the legal requirements to maintain insurance coverage while we are away. Furthermore, it is not unusual for us to spend extended periods (a week or more) away from home during the spring, summer and fall as opposed to the cold seasonal months. Indeed, we spent 4 or 5 days away from home this Christmas ourselves. Please share to those who might benefit from this timely advice. It is entitled, “Flooded and Uncovered: The Hidden Deadline in Your Homeowner’s Policy” The Water Damage and the 48-72 Hour Unoccupied Residence Clause in the Standard Homeowner’s Policy in Canada.
"The Mad Hatter Historian"-William J. Anhorn KC-A Medicine Hat Prolific Writer, Amateur Genealogist and Local Historian
Hi, Bill! Many, many thanks for passing along this information; I hadn’t really given this area very much thought!
Concerning toilet tanks, we replaced both our toilets after we moved into our condo, but a few years after they were installed both of their tanks developed cracks and the toilets had to be replaced (luckily we discovered the cracks before any damage was done).
Living in a condo, waterwise we are “at the mercy” of the residents living above us, and a few years ago a resident went away for a weekend and her toilet was running. One morning I got out of the shower, heard a strange noise, and looked up just in time to see one of the bathroom’s walls peeling away from the ceiling. This was accompanied by a mini Niagara Falls gushing out of a hole in the same wall–luckily the “water gods” were on my side, and the gusher was going into our bathtub, so the wall was the only thing in our unit that had to be repaired. I think it is the most “interesting” shower I’ve ever had, but it’s not an experience I want to repeat!