Hanover Home Report: Homeowners in 2025 Have Numerous Opportunities to Enhance Safety

New data indicates growing homeowner awareness of risk prevention options

WORCESTER, Mass., June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A new report from The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG) suggests that homeowners have significant opportunities to protect their most valuable assets. The 2025 Hanover Home Report: Loss Prevention, released today, highlights areas where increased adoption of preventative measures and new technologies could drastically reduce the risk of costly damage.

The Hanover, a major player in the property and casualty insurance market, tapped The Harris Poll to survey over 1,100 American homeowners. The goal: to understand how homeowners are safeguarding their residences and their awareness of potential risks. The findings offer a mixed bag — some positive signs, but also areas where homeowners could sharpen their strategies.

Water Damage: A Persistent Threat

• The Risk: Non-weather-related water damage remains a frequent driver of insurance claims, impacting a substantial number of homeowners annually.
• The Awareness: A solid 79% of those surveyed are familiar with water sensors, while 76% have heard of automatic water shutoff devices.
• The Action: The implementation rate, however, lags. Only 16% have installed water sensors, and a mere 13% have put in place automatic shutoff devices.

Structural Safety: Defending Against the Elements

• The Risk: Wind and hail damage consistently generate a significant volume of home insurance claims each year.
• The Awareness: Awareness of protective measures is relatively high, with 61% cognizant of fortified roofs and 59% aware of wind-rated garages.
• The Action: While awareness is improving, adoption rates still need a boost. Only 17% of those surveyed have utilized fortified roofing materials, and just 10% had wind-rated garages installed. A look back at The Hanover’s 2024 Home Maintenance Report revealed that only 38% of homeowners had checked their roofs in the past year. This year, that number rose to 57%, potentially indicating that increased focus on roof protection is making a difference.

Fire Prevention: A Critical Line of Defense

• The Risk: Fires can be catastrophic, often leading to substantial financial losses, making their prevention a top priority.
• The Awareness: The vast majority of homeowners are well-versed in fire safety, with 99% aware of smoke detectors and 97% familiar with fire alarms.
• The Action: While awareness is high, there’s room for improvement in action. 67% have installed smoke detectors or ensured their presence, and 62% have cleaned their dryer vents in the past 12 months. A critical point: servicing HVAC systems or changing filters is key, and 57% of homeowners have taken this step within the last year.

The Hanover report offers actionable steps for homeowners:

• Embrace Technology: Installing water sensors and automatic shutoff devices. These are relatively inexpensive and can dramatically reduce the impact of water damage.
• Regular Property Inspections: Making a habit of annual checks of water heaters, roofs, and HVAC systems can catch potential problems early.
• Proactive Maintenance: Trimming trees and cleaning gutters regularly can prevent wind and hail damage, especially before harsh weather arrives.
• Fire Safety First: Installing smoke detectors and monthly dryer vent cleaning are simple yet effective measures.

“As weather patterns shift and risks evolve, it’s crucial that homeowners take proactive steps to protect their homes and their significant financial investments,” said Daniel C. Halsey, president of personal lines at The Hanover. “While we’ve made progress, especially in raising customer awareness, there’s a need to empower homeowners to act to protect their properties.”

The 2025 Hanover Home Report: Loss Prevention reinforces the value of adopting new technologies and strategies for homeowner protection. With the help of their insurance agents, homeowners can be better prepared for monitoring and maintaining their homes, thereby reducing the chances of costly damage.

To dive deeper into the complete findings of the 2025 Hanover Home Report: Loss Prevention, please click here.

About The Hanover

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is the holding company for several property and casualty insurance companies, forming one of the largest insurance groups in the United States. Through partnerships with independent agents, the company offers insurance solutions, covering small and medium businesses, homes, autos, and other personal items. For further details, visit hanover.com.

This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide any coverage or guarantee prevention of loss. All products are underwritten by The Hanover Insurance Company or one of its insurance company subsidiaries or affiliates (“The Hanover”). Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions and is subject to the company underwriting guidelines and the issued policy. This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not provide any coverage. (For more information visit www.hanover.com.)

Survey Methodology

The 2025 survey was conducted online in the United States by The Harris Poll for The Hanover from March 25 – 27, 2025, encompassing 1,111 adults aged 18 and older who own a home. The margin of error is +/- 3.6 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.

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SOURCE The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.