Home and personal safety resource centre

This resource center provides useful tips to protect your family and your home. Please spend a few minutes reviewing the articles below. If you have a specific question that you would like us to answer, please email us and we’ll do our best to respond.

For hundreds of other helpful articles created specifically for homeowners, condo owners, landlords, and tenants, visit our resource centres.

The complete guide: Break-in + theft prevention

Learn how to prevent break-ins and burglaries, both for your home and for your vehicle. Plus, a guide to post-theft insurance considerations.

Preparing for earthquakes

It’s important you are prepared for when an earthquake hits. Learn how to create a home and mobile emergency preparedness kit, evacuation routes and plans for your family and home insurance considerations so you have the proper coverage.

Preventing water damage

Water damage can be a homeowner or renters worst nightmare. Whether you live in a condo or large house, these tips are quick to implement and can save thousands in potential damages should the unexpected happen.

Preparing for wildfires

Learn how to protect your family, home and important belongings from wildfires. Get tips for fireproofing your home and preparing your property for protection.

Preparing for rainy weather and minimizing flood damage

Learn the top tips to prevent water damage during Canada's rainy and wet winter season. Also, learn how to avoid a flooded basement and insurance considerations if there is a flood or water damage.

How to prevent common household fires

Learn about the safety precautions you can take to prevent a household fire. Including tips for candle, kitchen, dryer and light fires so you can protect your home, belongings and family.

Securing your identity and smartphone

Identity theft and fraud can be devastating. Learn how you can prevent it from happening to you and how you can recover if it does. Also learn how you can be protected with the right home insurance and identity theft coverage.

Preparing for windstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes

Learn about windstorms, tornadoes, and other dangerously windy situations, including how to prepare your home and the insurance considerations.

Avoiding accidents in your home

Accidents are always prone to happen around the home. Learn the common ones and how to prevent injury with tips for falls, cuts, burns and more.

Preventing bicycle theft

Bike theft is a large problem across Canada and the United States. Learn how to prevent it from getting stolen and what you can do if it is stolen. Also learn how your bike can be covered with insurance.

Ice dams and your roof

An ice dam is not something that forms in a river; it's something that forms on your roof. Learn what causes ice dams, how to prevent them, reduce potential damages and how home insurance can protect you.

10 ways you can prepare for overland flooding

Learn the top 10 ways you can prepare for an overland flood. A flood can happen without warning and can severely damage your property and belongings, so it's important you're prepared.

What to do after a water backup occurs in your home

Learn what you need to do after a water or sewer backup occurs in your home and you how you clean and restore your property back to its original state.

Wood burning stove safety tips for your home

There are many safety precautions you need to take with a wood-burning stove. Learn safety tips, what kind of wood to use, how to clean a wood-burning stove and much more with this guide.

How to prevent ski and snowboard equipment theft on the slopes

Snowboard and ski equipment can cost thousands of dollars. Learn how to protect these belongings while on the mountain, and what you need to do if your skis or snowboard is stolen.

Home holiday safety tips for pet owners

The last thing you want on your holidays at home is for your beloved pet to get sick. Use these prevention measures and safety tips to make sure both you and your animals have a safe and happy holiday.

Hosting Christmas parties: Safety and liability tips

The holidays and Christmas time can be a great period to have guests over and host parties. There are many liability considerations you need to be aware of, especially if there is alcohol involved. Learn how you can protect yourself and your guests from any liabilities.

Fire extinguisher guide for your home

Learn all about fire extinguishers with this guide. We’ll go over the different fire classes, types of extinguishers, how to use them and answer other commonly asked questions about fire extinguishers.

Fire escape ladders guide for your home

Knowing how to use a fire escape ladder can be the difference between you and your family getting out of a house fire safely. Learn how to use a fire escape ladder, what you need to consider when purchasing, features to know about and other considerations.

The best way to organize and store your digital photos

When you ask people what "things" they would rescue from their burning house, common answers - the photograph album or a computer with their digital images.

How to hang outdoor Christmas lights

Christmas lights continue to be very popular with revellers, because they delight family, friends, neighbours & passers-by with their brightness and shine.

Household appliance dangers and prevention tips

Generally, home appliances run smoothly, but they also pose hazards if not maintained properly or used correctly. Learn how to prevent these dangers that appliances can present with these tips.

10 cheap tips to stay cool in the summer

If you’d prefer to save money & conserve the resources needed to produce electricity, learn how to keep your home cool without draining your bank account.

Canadian flood maps: Is your home in a flood zone?

Flood damages seem to increase in Canada every year. Learn if your home is in a flood zone, what this means for you as a homeowner and how you can protect your home with flood insurance.

Winter snow removal across Canada

It is that time of year when most of Canada is covered with a blanket of white snow. Many adults cringe at the additional chores that come with snowfall.

25 outdoor Christmas decorating ideas for the holidays

To help you make your home feel more festive, we've compiled a list of 25 Outdoor Christmas Decorating Ideas for the Holiday.

Pets at home - Canadians spend how much?

If you have a pet in your home, and you spend a significant amount of money on it, you're not alone. Pet spending among Canadians is at an all-time high.

Guns and homeowners insurance

Are firearms covered by homeowners insurance? It's common for Canadians to own guns, but how will this work with your home insurance? Learn what's covered, how it's covered, if you need a separate liability policy, and tips for keeping your gun safe at home.

Home flooding: Preventing, planning, protection and recovering from a flood

Flooding can be devistating. Learn what you need to do to plan for a flood, how to prevent flooding damages and steps to recover your home and belongings after.

How to prepare your family for a fire

In the event of a home fire, you and your family will want to be prepared for how you'll deal with the situation. Learn how to prepare a family evacuation plan, best practices and how to set up a smoke detector.

Working from home during the COVID-19 outbreak

Working from home or telecommuting is a reality for many during the COVID-19 outbreak. Learn how this will affect your home insurance and find tips to keep a clean and productive home workplace.

Enjoying Christmas trees safely

Learn how to prevent Christmas tree related fires that could damage your home and ruin your holidays, as well as other safety tips to consider when decorating the tree.

Recognizing, preventing, and exterminating bed bugs

Learn how to identify bed bugs in your home, and how to prevent them. Learn about bed bug extermination as well.

Power outages: Causes, preparation, and what to do during and after

Learn about power failures and their causes. Find out how to prepare for an outage, plus what to do during and after an outage.

Propane tank safety guide

Learn how to safely transport, use, and store propane tanks at home. Plus, how propane expiration dates work and insurance considerations.

Home generator guide

Learn about home generators and how to decide which one is right for your home. Plus, safety, fuel storage, and home insurance tips.

Mould in your home

Learn what causes mold to develop in your home, what you should do if you find some, and about home insurance coverage for mould.

Everything you need to know about working from home in Canada

This is your source for everything about remote work—finding a job, setting up your home office, paying your taxes, getting insured, and more.

What not to flush down the toilet

Don't even think about flushing these 10 unflushable items down the toilet. Or, worst case scenario, learn how to unclog your toilet here.

How to prepare your home for a snowstorm

Learn how to prepare your home for an upcoming snowstorm, and what to do during and after the storm. Plus, home insurance considerations.

Radon gas: what homeowners, buyers, and sellers need to know

Learn about radon gas and the risk it poses to homes. We cover potential health issues, what buyers + sellers should know, and mitigation options.