Homeowners – Give Your Trees a Check-Up

by California Casualty | Homeowners Insurance Info | 0 comments

The first Arbor Day in America took place April 10, 1872 in Nebraska City, Nebraska, when a proposed “tree-planting holiday” saw an estimated one million trees planted in the state in one day. Almost 150 years later, our love of trees remains strong as ever—they give us beauty, comfort, shade, protection, and a living expression of the seasons.

However, the benefits of living with trees also come with risk, especially for home-owners. Falling trees or branches can damage your home or even injure people. They can fall on power lines, leading to outages or fires, and their roots can damage pipes, foundations, and utility infrastructure. If a tree grows on your property, you are legally responsible for damage or injuries caused by it.

Since it’s difficult to tell when a tree might fail, here are 7 signs that could indicate bad tree health and a hazardous situation in the making.

How to Spot Tree Health Trouble Signs:

1. Leaning Trees. A little lean is normal, as most trees don’t grow straight, but if you see cracked or buckling soil—especially on the opposite side of the lean—that’s an indicator of stress. Another sign is exposed roots around the tree’s base.

2. Multiple Trunks. A tree with multiple trunks can break if the trunks are weakly attached. Check for cracks and splits where the trunks meet.

3. Dead Branches. As a normal part of their growth cycle, trees will shed dead branches, called deadwood. Most will eventually fall but keep an eye out for branches with a diameter of 2 inches or more—these are more likely to cause damage when they fall.

4. Fungi or Mushrooms. Fungi growing on the tree’s base or roots signals decay. These organisms feed off the tree’s internal cells, compromising its structural integrity.

5. Cracks. Large cracks in a tree’s trunk or branches require immediate attention. Most worrying is horizontal cracks in the trunk; however, any significant crack is a sign that the wood is weak or has already begun to fail and it’s only a matter of time before it snaps.

6. Cavities. Although not always the case, tree cavities can signal internal decay. Check for peeling bark and hollow or decayed areas, especially where branches meet the trunk. If you notice ants, birds, squirrels, bees, or raccoons spending a lot of time on trees that don’t provide food, it may also be a sign that there’s an internal void.

7. V-Shaped Branches. Look at where branches attach to the trunk:  those unions should look more like the letter U than V. Tight V-shaped forks are more prone to break than the more open U-shaped ones.

When To Call an Arborist

Some of the above hazards can be addressed relatively easily. For instance, you can prune branches and use cabling to stabilize a small or medium-sized tree that’s leaning. However, if you notice serious hazards or are dealing with especially large or old trees, it’s safest to contact a certified arborist.

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.

If You “Put a Ring on It”, Insure It

by California Casualty | Homeowners Insurance Info | 0 comments

February is the month of love. If you choose to show your love with an expensive piece of jewelry, you’ll want to protect that enduring representation of your love.

One of the best ways is to purchase scheduled personal property (SPP) insurance, sometimes called a floater.

Here’s why: While your renters or homeowners’ insurance policy covers jewelry for theft or being destroyed in a fire, that coverage is limited. The average Valentine’s Day ring or necklace purchase is about $1,500, the average spend for an engagement ring is $6,000.

Scheduled personal property insurance provides higher coverage for your precious items, like high priced jewelry with coverage above and beyond what home insurance provides.

And, here’s the best part, SPP pays even if that prized piece was accidentally lost or damaged – such as losing a diamond down the sink or toilet. There is no deductible and SPP provides a replacement at the full insured amount. SPP usually costs about one to two percent of the item’s value.

Scheduled personal property isn’t just for jewelry; you might need the endorsement if you have:

• Fine art
• Furs
• Rare coins or money collections
• Expensive cameras
• Firearms
• Fine silverware
• Stamp collections

And even if you already have gold and jewelry or a rare watch covered with scheduled personal property coverage, you may need a review. Gold and diamond prices have climbed the past few years, and you may not have enough protection for their new value.

Don’t wait until your precious items are lost, stolen or damaged to find out if you have enough coverage to replace them; contact a representative today.

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.

Freezing Out Broken Pipes

by California Casualty | Homeowners Insurance Info | 0 comments

The plumbing in your home could be in danger when temperatures dip below zero, and the last thing you want to deal with when it thaws is a burst pipe, which can lead to substantial damage in your home.

All that water can eat through drywall, destroy carpets and fry electronics. The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates that just two inches of water can cause more than $10,000 in repairs and replacement of flooded items. Six inches of water can add up to more than $30,000!

Before the thermometer plunges, here are things you can do to prevent pipes from freezing:

• Disconnect outside hoses from faucets
• Insulate water pipes, especially along exterior walls and unheated areas
• Add insulation to walls and attics where pipes may run
• Know where the shutoff valve is to your home

Once the sub-zero weather hits you should:

• Let faucets drip to prevent freezing
• Keep the thermostat above 55 degrees
• Make sure garage doors are closed
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinets to allow warm air to circulate around the plumbing

So you’ve prepared and kept as much heat as possible going to cold areas, but the cold air still froze a pipe; what now? Stay calm but act as quickly as possible to:

• Locate where the pipe is frozen
• Open the nearest faucet to relieve pressure when the ice thaws
• Slowly warm the pipe with a heating pad, hairdryer, space heater or wrapping it with hot towels – never use a blow torch or open flame

If the pipe has cracked or broken, immediately turn off water at the main water valve and call a plumber. Shutting off the water will prevent further damage.

And if you have damage from a broken water pipe:

• Try to prevent further damage
• Contact your insurance company as soon as possible
• Take photos or video of the damage
• Don’t make permanent repairs until the insurance company adjuster inspects the damage
• Keep all of your receipts for emergency repair work or temporary housing if you are forced out of your home or apartment

Once a pipe freezes, odds are it will happen again. Here are some tips to prevent it in the future:

• Hire a plumber to relocate to a warmer area
• Add more insulation in walls, attics and crawl spaces
• Wrap the pipe with electric heat tape, when temperatures drop, plug it in

Remember, if a burst pipe sends water into your home, contact a California Casualty Claims advisor as soon as possible; we can help get you started on the clean-up.

For more information visit:

https://bit.ly/30Q8dvP

https://bit.ly/36nEewu

https://rdcrss.org/2vmD9bp

https://bit.ly/3aG6xJW

https://bit.ly/2vnJ9Rj

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.