Summer brings grilling, pool days, and porch nights — but a few of the season's most common insurance claims come from things most homeowners never see coming. Here's what to watch for this month.
1. Your grill is too close to the house (or on the deck)
Radiant heat and flare-ups can ignite siding, eaves, or overhanging branches faster than you'd expect — and vinyl siding is especially vulnerable. Grilling on a wood or composite deck adds another risk: grease drips through the boards and pools underneath, out of sight, until it's not.
Rule of thumb: Keep grills at least 10 feet from the house, clear of anything overhead, and off the deck if you can.
2. Mulch can catch fire on its own
Bagged mulch piled against the house — or sitting in a hot truck bed or driveway before it's spread — can heat up internally as it decomposes. In July's heat and humidity, it can smolder or ignite with no spark at all.
Rule of thumb: Keep mulch beds a few inches off siding, and don't let bags sit in direct sun for long before spreading.
3. An undisclosed trampoline or pool can complicate a claim
Most homeowners policies require you to tell your carrier about a trampoline, pool, or diving board. Skip that step, and a guest injury could turn into a coverage dispute instead of a straightforward claim.
Rule of thumb: Adding a pool or trampoline this summer? Call your agent first — it's a five-minute conversation that can save a major headache later.
4. E-bike and power-tool batteries left charging overnight
Lithium-ion batteries — in e-bikes, scooters, hoverboards, and cordless yard tools — have been behind a growing number of house fires. They burn hot and fast, often overnight while everyone's asleep.
Rule of thumb: Charge on a hard, open surface away from exits, and unplug once it's full instead of leaving it topped off all night.
5. Your garage remote left in a hot car
If your car is broken into (or stolen) with a garage remote inside — and your registration in the glovebox — a thief now has a way into your house, not just your car.
Rule of thumb: Keep the remote with you, or use a keypad/smart-garage app instead of a clipped-on remote.
Have questions about your coverage for any of these? Reach out to your Camargo Insurance agent — we're happy to walk through your policy.