Skipping Late-Winter Home Maintenance Can Cost Homeowners Thousands, Mercury Insurance Warns

Rhea-AI Summary

Mercury Insurance (MCY) urges homeowners to perform late-winter maintenance to avoid costly spring repairs. Targeted steps—gutters, roof/attic checks, HVAC tune-ups, plumbing inspections, and sealing gaps—can limit water intrusion, structural damage, and higher contractor/material costs. Industry figures cited: average delayed repair > $5,600 and neglect can raise costs ~7% per year.

Mercury offers a checklist and prevention guidance to help reduce long-term repair expenses and protect property value.

Key Figures

Average delayed repair cost: $5,600 Annual cost increase from neglect: 7% Cost multiple from delay: three to five times more +1 more

4 metrics

Average delayed repair cost $5,600 Average cost of a delayed home repair cited in article

Annual cost increase from neglect 7% Yearly increase in overall costs from neglected repairs

Cost multiple from delay three to five times more Extra amount homeowners may pay when delaying maintenance

Homeowners delaying repairs nearly three-quarters Share of homeowners who report delaying at least one repair

Market Reality Check

Price: $96.19 Vol: Volume 240,160 is at 0.94...

normal vol

$96.19 Last Close

Volume Volume 240,160 is at 0.94x the 20-day average, indicating typical trading activity before this release. normal

Technical Price at $93.47 is trading above the 200-day MA of $77.99, near the 52-week high and far from the 52-week low.

Peers on Argus

MCY was down 1.36% while close peers showed mixed moves: some down (e.g., SIGI, ...

MCY was down 1.36% while close peers showed mixed moves: some down (e.g., SIGI, HGTY, KMPR) and others up (e.g., WTM, LMND). No broad property & casualty trend is indicated by this data.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Feb 12 (Neutral)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Feb 12	Consumer safety news	Neutral	+1.4%	Travel-safety guidance tied to Presidents’ Day road trips.
Feb 10	Coverage education	Neutral	+0.1%	Advisory on jewelry underinsurance and coverage limits.
Feb 05	Policy review guidance	Neutral	+2.1%	Reminder to update homeowners coverage after life changes.
Feb 03	Community initiative	Positive	+1.9%	Hall of Heroes recognition with Anaheim Ducks for local leaders.
Jan 27	Post-storm guidance	Neutral	-1.8%	Post-storm steps for homeowners and businesses to reduce damage.

Pattern Detected

Recent MCY news has focused on consumer education and community initiatives, typically accompanied by modest single-day stock moves in either direction.

Recent Company History

This announcement continues Mercury Insurance’s pattern of consumer education releases, following recent guidance on post-storm home protection, policy updates after life changes, and underinsurance risks around Valentine’s Day jewelry. Prior items also included a community-focused Hall of Heroes program and travel-safety advice for Presidents’ Day. Stock reactions to these news-tagged items have generally been modest, with 24-hour moves between about -1.8% and +2.11%, suggesting limited direct price impact from similar educational content.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement underscores Mercury’s focus on prevention, warning that the average delayed home r...

Analysis

This announcement underscores Mercury’s focus on prevention, warning that the average delayed home repair now exceeds $5,600 and that neglected maintenance can raise costs by about 7% per year, sometimes reaching three to five times preventive spending. In context with prior consumer-education releases, investors may watch how such risk-mitigation efforts intersect with future 10-Q results, loss and LAE trends, and homeowners’ adoption of the recommended maintenance practices.

Key Terms

hvac, carbon monoxide detectors

2 terms

hvac technical

"Many of the issues we see later in spring — water damage, roof leaks and HVAC failures —"

HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning — the systems that control temperature, airflow and indoor air quality in buildings. Investors care because HVAC drives operating costs, energy use, tenant comfort and regulatory compliance; like the engine and insulation of a building, efficient modern systems can lower bills, reduce repair and replacement spending, and preserve property value, while outdated units can create unexpected expenses and vacancy risk.

carbon monoxide detectors technical

"Testing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors"

A carbon monoxide detector is a safety device that senses the presence of the invisible, odorless gas carbon monoxide and alerts people before concentrations reach dangerous levels. For investors, these devices matter because they reduce health and liability risks, affect building code compliance and insurance costs, and can influence property value and operating expenses—like a smoke alarm for a silent, colorless hazard that helps protect assets and people.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Targeted maintenance steps can help homeowners limit unexpected repair expenses

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As winter winds down, Mercury Insurance (NYSE/NYSE Texas: MCY) is encouraging homeowners to take advantage of late winter to tackle small maintenance projects that can help prevent thousands of dollars in avoidable repair costs once spring arrives. Addressing minor issues now can reduce the risk of larger, more expensive damage later in the year.

Regular home maintenance isn't just about upkeep — it's a critical step in protecting long-term property value and avoiding financial strain. Industry research shows that the average delayed home repair now costs more than $5,600, with many homeowners postponing routine maintenance that could have prevented more serious damage. Nearly three-quarters of homeowners report delaying at least one repair, often underestimating how quickly minor issues can escalate.

Deferred maintenance frequently compounds over time. Studies show that neglected home repairs can increase overall costs by approximately 7% per year, while homeowners who delay maintenance may ultimately pay three to five times more than they would have spent on preventive care. In addition to higher repair bills, ignoring routine upkeep can also lead to water intrusion, structural deterioration and reduced property value.

"Late winter is one of the smartest times for homeowners to focus on prevention," said Adam Bakonis, Sr. Product Manager, Property, at Mercury Insurance. "Many of the issues we see later in spring — water damage, roof leaks and HVAC failures — often start as small, manageable problems that could have been addressed earlier with routine maintenance."

With the harshest winter weather typically behind them and before spring storms arrive, homeowners have a valuable opportunity to inspect and reinforce vulnerable areas of their homes.

Why Late Winter Is the Right Time
Late winter offers a strategic maintenance window that allows homeowners to:

• Clear gutters and downspouts of debris that can contribute to water damage and ice dams
• Have roofs and attics inspected for loose shingles or moisture intrusion before spring rain
• Check heating systems one final time before seasonal shutdown
• Seal gaps around doors and windows to improve efficiency and prevent moisture issues

Mercury's Targeted Home Maintenance Checklist
To help homeowners prioritize, Mercury Insurance recommends focusing on:

• Roof, attic and gutter inspections
• HVAC system checks and tune-ups
• Plumbing inspections for leaks
• Weather-stripping and caulking around doors and windows
• Testing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Taking these steps now can help homeowners avoid more costly repairs during peak storm and renovation seasons, when contractor availability and material costs are often higher.

Through ongoing education and risk-prevention guidance, Mercury Insurance helps homeowners take proactive steps to protect their homes, manage risk and control long-term costs.

About Mercury Insurance

Mercury Insurance (NYSE: MCY) is a multiple-line insurance carrier predominantly offering personal auto, homeowners, renters and commercial insurance through a network of independent agents in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia, as well as auto insurance in Florida. Mercury writes other lines of insurance in various states, including commercial, business owners and business auto, landlord, home-sharing, ride-hailing and mechanical protection insurance.

Since 1962, Mercury has provided customers with tremendous value for their insurance dollar by pairing ultra-competitive rates with excellent customer service, through more than 4,200 employees and a network of more than 6,340 independent agents in 11 states. Mercury has earned an "A" rating from A.M. Best, as well as "Best Auto Insurance Company" designations from Forbes and Insure.com. For more information visit www.MercuryInsurance.com or follow the company on X, Instagram or Facebook.

Media interested in receiving updates from Mercury can learn more at the Mercury Newsroom

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/skipping-late-winter-home-maintenance-can-cost-homeowners-thousands-mercury-insurance-warns-302689121.html

SOURCE Mercury Insurance Services, LLC

FAQ

Why does Mercury Insurance (MCY) recommend late-winter home maintenance?

Late-winter maintenance reduces the risk of spring water damage, roof leaks and HVAC failures. According to Mercury Insurance, addressing small issues now limits escalation, lowers repair costs, and takes advantage of better contractor availability before peak storm and renovation seasons.

What specific late-winter tasks does Mercury Insurance (MCY) advise homeowners to do?

Mercury Insurance recommends roof, attic and gutter inspections, HVAC tune-ups, plumbing leak checks, weather-stripping and testing detectors. These targeted tasks help prevent moisture intrusion, improve efficiency, and detect issues before spring storms increase repair complexity and cost.

How much can delayed home repairs cost according to Mercury Insurance (MCY)?

Industry research cited by Mercury Insurance indicates the average delayed home repair costs more than $5,600. Mercury also notes neglected repairs can increase overall costs by about 7% per year, and delays may lead to paying three to five times more eventually.

When should homeowners schedule HVAC checks based on Mercury Insurance (MCY) guidance?

Homeowners should schedule a late-winter HVAC inspection and tune-up before seasonal shutdown. According to Mercury Insurance, a final heating-system check reduces failure risk during spring transition and helps ensure reliable cooling readiness for warmer months.

How does addressing maintenance now affect contractor availability and material costs, per Mercury Insurance (MCY)?

Taking action in late winter avoids peak spring demand, improving contractor access and lowering costs. According to Mercury Insurance, preventive work before renovation season can reduce wait times and mitigate higher labor and material prices during busy months.