Renter’s Insurance FAQs

by California Casualty | Homeowners Insurance Info | 0 comments

You found the perfect place to rent, and you’re ready to go. Moving company, check. Boxes and bubble wrap, check. Renter’s insurance? 

If you’re wondering whether you need to purchase renter’s insurance, here are the most frequently asked questions. 

What does renter’s insurance cover?

Renter’s insurance is like homeowner’s insurance but for tenants. As a start, it protects your personal belongings (that’s right, your landlord’s insurance policy will not cover your belongings) but that’s not all. It’s an important safeguard if you’re found at fault for property damage or injuries at your place (and even around the world). It also can help if you don’t have access to your apartment or home due to a covered loss. 

Renter’s insurance policies offer (1) personal property coverage, (2) liability insurance, and (3) additional living expenses when your apartment or home is uninhabitable.

What is personal property coverage?

Personal property coverage protects your possessions. If they are stolen, or damaged by fire/smoke or other covered “perils,” your policy will pay for them.  You’ll simply have to cover the smaller upfront fee known as the deductible. 

You may choose the replacement cost or the actual cash value (ACV) for reimbursement. ACV is the amount the item is worth, minus depreciation for its age. It will cost a little more for a policy that provides replacement cost since that is higher than ACV. 

With personal property coverage, you choose the amount of coverage based on how much your stuff is worth. The good thing is that your possessions are insured whether they’re at your place or away from it. For example, if you have a child away at college, who has an item stolen, your policy will pay 10% of your Personal Property Coverage C limit. 

Note: Some policies limit certain types of possessions, such as jewelry. If you want a higher limit, you will need to add it to the policy.

What is liability coverage?

Liability coverage protects you if someone is injured and you’re legally liable. It could be at your place or it could be anywhere in the world. For example, if your dog bites someone, you’re covered. The policy pays for the bite victim’s medical expenses and covers court fees if they sue you. Liability also covers accidental damages to the place by you or your guests. So, if you accidentally set fire to your apartment, you’re covered. There are limits, so talk to your insurance advisor about an umbrella policy, which will provide much greater coverage.

What is loss of use coverage?

If a covered danger, like a fire or an evacuation, causes your residence to be unfit to live, your policy reimburses you for additional living expenses. For example, if you normally spend $200 per month on food and now it’s costing you $300, the policy will reimburse the additional $100. There’s a time limit and a dollar limit on this, so check on your policy’s details. Payment will be for the shortest time required to repair or replace the damage or, if you permanently relocate, the shortest time required for your household to settle elsewhere. It’s worth noting that if you have a Coverage Enhancement, there’s no deductible.

What exactly is the deductible?

If a loss does occur, a deductible will often apply. A deductible is the amount that you are responsible for, before the policy pays anything. So, before you get replacement or ACV for your possessions, you pay the deductible out of your pocket. Your deductible could be $250, $500, or more. You have a choice on the amount of the deductible. The lower the deductible, the more expensive the policy.

Note: There are times when there is no deductible. In a personal liability policy, for example, a deductible does not apply.

What isn’t covered by renter’s insurance?

Renter’s insurance doesn’t cover every situation. It does not cover damage from earthquakes, mudslides or floods. It does not cover infestations of rodents or bugs. There’s only limited coverage for theft of jewelry and firearms. A standard policy doesn’t cover your roommate’s possessions (though you could add them as an endorsement known as “Other Members of Your Household” for little or no cost). Renter’s insurance also doesn’t consider your car as one of your possessions. You need a separate auto insurance policy.

Note: Ask your insurer about home office and business computer coverage. That’s different than a personal policy.

Is renter’s insurance required?

Renter’s insurance is not mandated by law, but it may be required by your landlord, property manager or owner. Renter’s insurance helps keep others, including you, from seeking damages from them, even though they’re not responsible for your possessions. If you accidentally start a fire, the landlord’s insurance kicks in after they pay the deductible. But they could use your renter’s policy to cover that cost, so it’s a win-win for them. 

What happens if you don’t have renter’s insurance? 

If you don’t have renter’s insurance, you’re fully responsible for any property damage or loss. You’ll have to replace your possessions in the event of theft, fire, or other perils. You’ll have to pay the medical costs of anyone injured in your apartment. You’ll have to pay for additional living expenses if your apartment is inhabitable.

How expensive is renter’s insurance?

Renter’s insurance is surprisingly affordable. For as little as $10 a month, you can get a renter’s policy at California Casualty. The cost varies depending upon the coverages you choose, the deductible, your financial responsibility score, and multipolicy discount. Even your location can have an impact. Areas with higher crime rates will have higher insurance rates. 

How much renter’s insurance do you need? 

You want to have enough insurance to cover your possessions and any potential liability. Start by taking an inventory of what you own and putting a dollar figure on replacing our possessions. Then, take a look at your liability. Do you entertain a lot? Do you have pets? Determine the potential for injuries on site or any other property damage. You also want to take into consideration the amount of assets you have – such as your savings, etc.  You want to make sure the amount you select will cover your assets.  Then, choose the deductible that is affordable for you.

Can you get renter’s insurance after you’re already moved in?

Yes. You may purchase renter’s insurance at any time. However, it’s not retroactive. You cannot buy it after there’s been damage or theft.

Not all renter’s insurance is the same. Some policies cover more than others and costs vary. Check with your insurance provider to find out the options.

This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.

Roofs and Roof Damage 101

by California Casualty | Homeowners Insurance Info | 0 comments

You have a roof over your head, but chances are you’re probably not thinking too much about it. That’s because—unless your roof needs repair or replacement— there really is no reason to worry about it. 

The best way to know if your roof needs to be repaired or replaced is to hire a professional to come out and take a look. We’ve compiled a quick guide on roofs and roof damage, including what to look for, so you’ll be well informed when it comes time to repair or get a new roof.

Types of Roofs

Roofs are made from different kinds of material. Some of the most common include:

• • Asphalt: This is the most affordable roofing material (and likely what is on your house). Asphalt shingles come in basic and also higher-end versions.
  • Slate: One of the most expensive roofs you can buy, its shingles are made from slate tiles. They are very heavy, requiring a roof system that can bear their weight.
  • Composite: These types of shingles are made from rubber, plastic and other recycled materials. They can be made to look like a cedar shake or slate roof.
  • Metal: A standing seam metal roof consists of metal panels that are locked together.

There are other types of roofing materials from concrete to clay shingles and beyond, including green roofs which use gardens to top a house. Knowing the type of roof on your house is the first step to being able to repair or replace it.

Types of Roof Damage

Punctures and cracks, loose and broken shingles, damage from moisture, and worn-out roofing materials must be addressed or your roof could fail to do its job. Here’s what you might expect due to weather and over time.

• • Water damage: Moisture gets into the cracks and crevices, and causes mildew, mold, moss, and decay. 
  • Hail damage: Large pieces of hail can make dents in your shingles and destroy the roof’s metal finishes. It can lead to roof leaks.
  • Snow and ice damage: Heavy snow and ice can put stress on your roof, potentially causing its collapse. It also puts wear and tear on your shingles.
  • Wind damage: Strong winds can rip off shingles and cause debris to hit your roof and damage it.
  • Tree or branch damage: When a tree falls on your home or if you fail to keep your branches trimmed, they can put a hole in your roof, requiring immediate action.

How to Check Your Roof for Damage

It’s a good idea to check your roof for damage after a storm or other weather event, and you don’t have to get up on the roof to do it. (Leave on-the-roof exploration to the professionals, unless you are experienced at it.)

Start with a pair of binoculars on ground level. Point them toward your roof and look for obvious damage.

• • Check for debris that may still be on your roof or clogging your gutters.
  • See if there are damaged, cracked, or missing shingles. Get an approximate count and note their location. 
  • With asphalt roofs, look for curled edges, bubbling or blistering.
  • Check for smooth dark areas that could indicate mold.
  • Check for signs of moss. 
  • Look for signs of sagging.
  • See if your gutters or downspouts have loosened or broken.
  • Check the flashing, which is aluminum or steel used to cover joints in the roof, to see if it is damaged or loose.
  • If you do go up on your roof, check for a bounce when you walk across it. That happens if a roof is spongy from moisture.

If you have an attic, you can assess roof damage there as well.

• • Look for water stains that run from the ceiling to the walls.
  • Check for leaks.
  • Look for gaps or cracks in seals on skylights, chimney, and vents (most easily seen when lights are off in the attic and it’s a sunny day).
  • Check for any signs of animal life that could indicate a hole.
  • Look for shiners (nails sticking out on the underside of the roof). They’re easier to spot on a cold night. Moisture condenses on these nails, turning them white with frost.

If you don’t have an attic, you can still check for leaks and water stains on the ceiling, and along any walls or skylights. Wherever you find damage, take a picture if you can, as a reference for contractor repairs or your insurance company. 

Repair or Replace

On the outside– Damaged shingles are roof leaks waiting to happen. Clogged gutters are the precursor to water damage. These instances put your roof at risk for future problems. Routine maintenance and frequent checking of your roof should help you identify these risks before they become a problem.

On the inside– You may only be aware of some of the damage through your on-the-ground and in-attic check. If you believe there is significant damage, consult a professional roof inspector. They can use hi-tech equipment including infrared sensors and drones to examine your roof. 

Make sure you are protected by speaking to your home insurance provider. They will be able to review your policy with you and make sure you have the proper roof coverage that you need.

This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com

Common Furnace Problems & How to Fix Them

by California Casualty | Homeowners Insurance Info | 0 comments

The furnace is the unsung hero of winter, soldiering on to keep us warm and toasty during the most frigid months of the year. However, we give little thought to this essential household item, unless it becomes temperamental or stops working altogether. When your furnace goes out in the dead of winter, do you know what to do? Is it an easy fix? Should you call a professional? 

Here’s what you need to know before the temperature dips too low.

Clogged air filter

Your furnace has an air filter that traps dust and debris. When the filter is clogged, your furnace has to work harder. Dirty filters cause short cycling times. The lack of fresh air into your furnace causes the heat exchanger to get too hot, and shut down, which makes it hard for your home to stay warm. A furnace that doesn’t produce enough heat typically is due to an air filter problem. Plus, dirty filters hurt the air quality in your home. If you don’t keep up with air filter replacements, it could lead to a costly expense—that of a cracked heat exchanger. To prevent issues, change your filters regularly as part of your seasonal maintenance. For paper filters, change them every 3-6 months. For fiberglass filters, change them every 2 months. 

The quick fix: Change your air filter. You can tell that it’s time to do so if you hold it up to the light, and no light shines through. Make sure to insert the new filter correctly. Air filters are made to trap debris blown from one direction. Installing a filter upside-down can limit its effectiveness.

When to call a professional: If you have electrostatic filters, they can last for years if cleaned regularly. Ask your furnace professional how to change these filters. Finally, if you do have a cracked heat exchanger, that requires a professional. 

Blower issues

Furnaces that are not blowing air or those that are continually blowing air are both a problem. If your furnace is not blowing air, it could be clogged. Or it’s possible that the access door to the furnace door is off or unhinged. The safety switch on the door prevents the fan and burner from coming on unless the door is shut. Alternately, if the blower continually runs, the heat rises, which means the limit switch isn’t doing its job. It’s supposed to shut down the blower when the temperature inside the furnace becomes dangerously hot. A bad limit switch will significantly shorten the lifespan of your furnace blower.

The quick fix: For furnaces that are not blowing air, you can clean your blower fan. This requires removing the blower from the furnace. Call a technician if you haven’t done this before or if the red light is flashing on your unit, signaling a problem.

When to call a professional: A bad limit switch needs to be replaced. This has to be done by a professional.

Malfunctioning thermostat

The thermostat is the control center of your home heating system. When it’s not working properly, your furnace won’t function at its best either. It could be cycling on and off more than usual or fail to produce enough heat. The fan could be running constantly. This drains the battery and causes your furnace to work inefficiently. 

The quick fix: For electronic thermostats, try replacing your thermostat’s batteries. For manual thermostats, take off the thermostat cover and dust the inside with a small brush. Look for a tripped circuit breaker and reset it, or a blown fuse and replace it. Set the fan on auto and see if your furnace runs constantly through all heat settings.

When to call a professional: If your wires are connected but the thermostat isn’t working properly, call an expert. He/she will be able to test the wires individually to determine which is faulty.

Pilot light/electric ignition

Your gas furnace has a pilot light, which ignites the natural gas pumped into the main burner. Your electric furnace has an electric ignition, which performs a similar function. If these are not working properly, you could have problems getting heat. A gas pilot light should be blue; that indicates it’s burning properly with enough oxygen. If it’s flickering yellow, that could be a sign of excess carbon monoxide or dirt built up on the intake valve, preventing oxygen from feeding the flame. 

The quick fix: If it’s a gas pilot and it’s simply gone out, try relighting. It. If it’s an electric ignition, check to make sure it’s not a tripped breaker causing the problem. You can also try turning off your furnace’s supply of power, wait for 10 minutes, and turn it back on.

When to call a professional: If you relight the gas pilot and it keeps going out, call a professional. If the pilot is yellow or orange, that also warrants a professional look. It could be caused by an old igniter or a faulty temperature limiting switch.

Rumbling, squeaking, and rattling noises

If your furnace is making noises, chances are something is wrong. A high-pitched squeal could be a frayed or slipped blower belt, which helps your furnace fan run. Worn-out ball bearings could cause a scraping sound. If your furnace makes a loud sound when you start it up, that could mean there’s oil buildup in the chamber and it’s ignited all at once. Rattling could be caused by a loose duct. Whistling could be caused by a clogged air filter.

The quick fix: If you hear whistling, try replacing the air filter. If your furnace is rattling or vibrating, make sure loose ducts are screwed down properly. You can also try to add some pads under the furnace to level it.

When to call a professional: If you hear a scraping sound, turn the furnace off immediately and call a professional. Do the same if there’s a loud sound upon starting up the furnace. It’s a good idea to get sounds checked out to prevent future problems and potentially dangerous situations.

Leaking water

Standard furnaces don’t produce water but high-efficiency models do. There are several causes for a furnace leaking water, including a clogged condensation tube or drain hose. Loose connections, cracks, and holes can also cause water to leak. Condensate pumps typically last for 3-5 years; they can also start malfunctioning after that time.

The quick fix: Turn off the system either by the switch on the unit or the breaker. Clean up the water from around the base. You can use a wet-dry vacuum if needed to unclog the condensate drain line. 

When to call a professional: You will need a professional to replace your condensate pump and any other parts.

Safety first

Keep in mind that do-it-yourself furnace repair does present some potential safety issues, from fire and other winter home hazards to carbon monoxide poisoning. Small repairs done improperly can lead to bigger issues, and you might void the warranty on the appliance if you accidentally cause a larger problem. Unless you received training in furnace repair, limit your fixes to the simple ones. Leave any mechanical repairs to the professionals.

Homeowner’s insurance covers repairs or replacement of furnaces if they are damaged by a covered condition on your policy, such as water damage from a burst pipe. Check with your policy provider to find out more.

This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.

8 Winter Maintenance Tips for Renters

by California Casualty | Homeowners Insurance Info | 0 comments

Winter is here and while some renters may not be responsible for every task- like snow or ice removal- this season, there are still important steps you need to take as a tenant to make sure your home or apartment is ready for the cold months ahead.

Follow our renter’s winter maintenance checklist below. 

1. Know your responsibilities. Before the cool weather hits, schedule a meeting with your landlord or property manager to see what your responsibilities will be for the winter and what will be taken care of by the property owner. In an apartment, some winter responsibilities, like laying down salt, plowing driveways, heating and cooling tune-ups, etc. are taken care of by the complex. But if you are renting a home, you will need to check for clarification– with your landlord or take a look at your lease agreement- on whose responsibility it will be to make sure your home gets properly winterized. 

2. Test out the heat. It’s better to know early on if there are any problems, so run the heat for a bit even if it’s not yet cold enough. Be on the lookout for odd smells when the heat is on. Take note of any issues, such as inconsistent heat throughout your apartment or house. You can ask your landlord about scheduling regular inspections of your HVAC system, chimney or fireplace. Regular maintenance of your appliances helps keep everything in good working order. Remember to check the batteries in your digital thermostat if it has them. Also test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. You may need to replace batteries on your own, but you could always ask your landlord for a reimbursement on your purchase. 

Pro Tip: Turn your ceiling fans on low in reverse (clockwise when looking up) to circulate warm air and help save on heating costs. 

3. Clean inside and out. Just as you might do spring cleaning, it’s time to clean for winter. Vacuum the vents and change out the filters in your HVAC system to improve air quality. Remove dust and dirt from fans, radiators, heat registers. Sweep under appliances. Clean the drains in your sinks, bathtubs, showers, and dishwashers. While you’re at it, check for any signs of dripping that could signal a problem, and alert your landlord immediately. Clean your garbage disposal. If you’re renting a home, clear any debris in your yard. Remove wet leaves from gutters – or alert your landlord. If they remain, water can back up, causing leaks and ice dams and ultimately damaging your home’s roof and siding. 

4. Check for drafts. As a renter, you’re responsible for paying utilities. Make sure you’re not losing heat this winter to cracks or openings near windows or doors. Weatherstripping is the most likely to be landlord-approved, but you also could caulk to fill in these areas if allowed. Speak to your landlord about what is approved and what has been done in the past. And don’t forget to cover or remove your window air conditioners to prevent additional drafts.

5. Protect your water lines. If you’re in a house, disconnect and drain garden hoses, turn off the sprinkler system, and cover outside faucets with insulating foam covers (your landlord may have these from previous winters, so check with them before purchasing any). If the temperature drops below 20 degrees, keep one or more faucets running slowly to keep the line from freezing. Open up cabinet doors where pipes are located to allow warm air to circulate and warm the pipes. Always know where your water main is located in case you have to shut it off. Call your landlord if you suspect a pipe has frozen or broken. He/she may direct you to point a space heater at the frozen pipe or call a repairman to take a look. 

Pro Tip: If you go on vacation this winter- even if it’s just for a few days, don’t turn the heat completely off. Leave it at least 55 degrees to prevent any problems with frozen pipes.

6. Prepare for snow and ice removal. Generally, apartment complexes and landlords are responsible for snow and ice removal in public areas, but you may need to clear these potential hazards on your own if you are renting a home. Know the state laws for snow removal and your landlord’s policies. Consider buying a snow shovel and some salt/ice melt if you don’t have it. Some communities prohibit the use of salt so you can use synthetic ice melt or cat litter. Talk to your landlord immediately if your notice any damage from snow or ice. 

7. Have an emergency plan. Extremely low temperatures are dangerous and can even be life-threatening, especially coupled with snow and ice. Sign up for severe weather alerts with your town or county and have a disaster plan in place, along with an emergency kit fully stocked with food and water. Notify your landlord of any issues as soon as possible before they spiral out of control. And know the emergency contact number to call or text if the heat or power goes out. 

8. Protect your home. Starting at around $10 a month, renter’s insurance is an affordable option and a necessity for renters. Your landlord’s coverage will not cover your personal items. Being well prepared is your best defense against unwanted surprises this winter. And at such a low cost, this coverage will pay for itself. 

Pro Tip: Bundle your renter’s policy with a California Casualty auto policy and you may qualify for discounts on your premiums! Speak to an agent today to see how much you can save. 

This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.