{"id":40796,"date":"2026-01-24T17:49:33","date_gmt":"2026-01-24T17:49:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/keeping-homes-safe-during-this-bitter-cold-country-financial-shares-winter-weather-tips-directly-with-clients-combatting-historic-cold-weather-blast\/"},"modified":"2026-01-24T17:49:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T17:49:33","slug":"keeping-homes-safe-during-this-bitter-cold-country-financial-shares-winter-weather-tips-directly-with-clients-combatting-historic-cold-weather-blast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/keeping-homes-safe-during-this-bitter-cold-country-financial-shares-winter-weather-tips-directly-with-clients-combatting-historic-cold-weather-blast\/","title":{"rendered":"Keeping homes safe during this bitter cold, COUNTRY Financial\u00ae shares winter weather tips directly with clients combatting historic cold weather blast."},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"main-body-container\" itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p>Bloomington, IL, Jan.  24, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) &#8212; As severe winter weather and cold weather are hitting much of the nation, COUNTRY Financial is embracing new and innovative approaches to help clients keep homes safe, avoid losses, and keep rates affordable. COUNTRY is reaching out directly to clients across the country to provide useful information to avoid the kinds of home losses and damage when frozen pipes burst during cold weather.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cClients are often the best line of defense to protect their homes during intense winter weather and cold,\u201d says Jesse Kohlbecker, COUNTRY Vice President of Claims and Client Services. \u201cBy embracing a few simple but valuable practices, people can safeguard property and prevent the kinds of home losses that occur this time of year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Inside the home<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Keep the thermostat at a consistent temperature<\/strong> to maintain a stable environment and prevent pipes from freezing.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Set the heat to at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit when not home<\/strong> to ensure a home stays warm enough to prevent freezing.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Allow faucets to drip<\/strong>\u202fto prevent pipes from freezing in cold weather.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Keep the garage door closed<\/strong> to keep the cold air out and the warm air in.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Open cabinets regularly to let warm air circulate,<\/strong>\u202fespecially under sinks and near exterior walls.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Open doors throughout the house <\/strong>to circulate warm air and\u202fmaintain an even temperature throughout the home.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Outside the home<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Disconnect garden hoses and cover hose bibs with a foam cover<\/strong> to prevent frozen pipes.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Wrap insulation around exposed water pipes<\/strong> to protect them from freezing temperatures.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Visit all sheds, garages, barns on the property <\/strong>and take steps to protect them from the cold.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Clean out gutters <\/strong>to\u202fprevent ice dams and potential water damage.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Clear storm grates of leaves or debris<\/strong> to ensure proper drainage and reduce flooding risk.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Confirm sump pump(s) operate properly and install a sump pump alarm<\/strong> to help prevent basement flooding.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Emergency preparedness tips<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Bring in or secure<\/strong> patio furniture, grills, and other outdoor items that could become projectiles in high winds.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Trim trees and shrubs<\/strong> by removing dead or weak branches that could fall and cause damage, either independently or with the help of a professional.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Know how to safely shut off utilities, <\/strong>such as gas, water, and electricity, in case of an emergency.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>More details can be found here: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globenewswire.com\/Tracker?data=NV4d4SKvnauAPM-6m1a5KINCzQ3oCFexKKtzVQY-lveVNRUvCtOzezYLHKp-j6t6wNrVfT5VO3czJnD32sVoqJJ6fwK2IkP2yoNDImjJEn3kpHtIKPA7YjrEHMvfbzB_q2obKDMfetE1DBLz2t4xDlYuCgXn-DU5DpHDDWAsbH_OGfYVogoykOu1pGKjUmL7xAcoRRIBmuMkNQQtTHJeAnb-GDgFw1nW2aUAZdqwedIFoMOOWV6oiHUBKN-ncwOg\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Winter Home Maintenance Checklist - COUNTRY Financial\">Winter Home Maintenance Checklist &#8211; COUNTRY Financial<\/a>.<br \/>\u00a0\u00a0<br \/><strong>Media Contact: <\/strong>David Beigie\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globenewswire.com\/Tracker?data=cFVbuDX4ANeudjyOpVSoVGuBL7eW8NTZ12gIuK-gZx7Hn8N3adX-B3I5BNG4xPFPfhbpfOP6RqFxcYfiyYZQ_x6WwezXxqUeVfnGvad7r0pUSlU1r9HNUxMA3QLZWsmVUtnxChYIC5Rhg-2AXrNEDQ==\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"david.beigie@countryfinancial.com\">david.beigie@countryfinancial.com<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cell: 425-829-0453<\/p>\n<p><strong>About COUNTRY Financial\u00ae<\/strong><br \/>COUNTRY Financial serves about one million households and businesses throughout the United States and offers a full range of financial products and services from auto, home, business, farm and life insurance to retirement planning services, investment management and annuities.<\/p>\n<p>    Contact Info<\/p>\n<p>Jennifer McDade<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globenewswire.com\/Tracker?data=HZz3tiL-eo84BV9dLVcJz1Jtf1Qxzu0wmgI-sN4aOttpqLRKJEgB5yg5j_FGmU-gJgVVNcToTrNt-Jze1avLk8RlOxpjcXlsoShlnsmrnRQB-L9G-KIsJ2gw-jQxFFFWcsRRcczUHbCPCwOgIAfuJw==\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"jennifer.mcdade@countryfinancial.com\">jennifer.mcdade@countryfinancial.com<\/a><br \/>+1 309-287-1358<\/p>\n<p>\n            <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bloomington, IL, Jan. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) &#8212; As severe winter weather and cold weather are hitting much of the nation, COUNTRY Financial is embracing new and innovative approaches to help clients keep homes safe, avoid losses, and keep rates affordable. COUNTRY is reaching out directly to clients across the country to provide useful information [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":40797,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/ml.globenewswire.com\/Resource\/Download\/2c8054cd-d097-408f-b53e-34c129931ce7","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40796","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-globenewswire"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40796","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40796"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40796\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40797"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40796"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40796"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40796"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}