You and your home have ridden out one of the coldest nights of the year; the weather is warming when suddenly you hear water running inside a room. It’s a burst pipe, which can lead to substantial damage in your home.
How much damage can a broken pipe cause? The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates that just two inches of water can cause more than $10,000 for repairs and replacement of flooded items. Six inches of water can add up to more than $30,000.
While frozen pipes are most common in northern and mountainous areas of the country, they can occur anywhere when a major polar front hits. Homes from California to Florida have suffered water damage from broken pipes after spells of severe cold.
So before the thermometer plunges, here are things the American Red Cross advises you 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
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 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, hair dryer, 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.
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.
And before the next cold front hits, call a California Casualty advisor for a free auto or home insurance policy comparison and review to make sure you are protected against winter’s fury, 1.800.800.9410.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters and nurses. Get a quote at 1.800.800.9410 or www.calcas.com.
As the temperatures cool and the leaves begin to fall, don’t think your yard work is done. Autumn is a critical time for lawns, gardens and other landscaping. What you do now will impact how nice your lawn and garden look next spring.
Did you know that fall is when Kentucky Blue Grass starts regenerating and most root growth takes place? A good feeding and watering will do wonders for that lush green carpet you dream of in the spring and summer. It is also the best time to do weed control. So what do you need to do? These tips come from Lawn Care Made Easy:
Increase the height of your mower blade; longer grass will help protect against winter’s cold
Reseed bare patches
Fertilize your lawn for a healthier spring growth
Make sure to rake or mulch leaves that can choke your lawn
Do extra weed control
Remove highly acidic pine needles that can interfere with lawn growth
Don’t forget your garden. Fall is the time to clean up old plants, add mulch and plant bulbs that will burst with colorful flowers in the fall. Treehugger.com has a list of things you can plant in your garden this fall:
Trees and shrubs
Spring flowering bulbs (tulips, crocuses and daffodils)
Emptying hoses, rain barrels and sprinkler systems
Prepare your spring garden beds and get cold frames and poly-tunnels ready for those early spring plants
Winterize any garden ponds
Give young trees and shrubs a good deep fall watering
Clean, repair and sharpen tools and find proper storage for them
Review and plan for next year
Just like your garden, when was the last time you had an auto or home insurance policy review? Have you upgraded your home, bought new appliances, electronics, jewelry or vehicles? Now is a great time to contact a California Casualty advisor to make sure you are getting the best coverage at the best value at 1.800.800.9410 or www.calcas.com.
Ask anyone who has experienced a large earthquake; the experience is not fun. Walls shake, the earth rolls, and you have no control over what might happen for the next few seconds – or up to a minute – as the roller coaster continues. Californians are more aware after the recent temblor in Napa.
Now, there is more concern as the U.S. Geological Survey has expanded their maps of earthquake prone areas. The new mapping shows 42 states now facing a reasonable chance of a damaging quake within 50 years, with 16 sates facing a high risk of damaging ground movement. Those high risk states are Alaska, Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Prepare an emergency kit, have an evacuation plan and determine how your family will communicate
Fasten shelves securely to walls
Make sure large or heavy items are on lower shelves and breakable items like bottles, glass and china are stored in low, closed cabinets with latches
Repair defective electrical wiring or leaky gas connections and install flexible pipe fittings to avoid gas or water leaks
Locate safe spots in each room under a sturdy table or against an inside wall
Hold earthquake drills with your entire family
Safety is paramount after the shaking has subsided. The American Red Cross has a checklist of does and don’ts following an earthquake that include:
Turn off water and gas main-lines to your dwelling
Stay away from downed power lines and damaged structures
Extinguish small fires
Clean up spilled medications, bleach or other dangerous liquids
Monitor updates with battery powered or hand-crank radios
Offer help to those who might be trapped or need special assistance.
Once you are in a safe place, contact your insurance company. Keep in mind that earthquake damage is not a part of most people’s home insurance policy; separate earthquake coverage needs to be purchased. Earthquake insurance is available as an endorsement to California Casualty homeowners in California, Oregon, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Rhode Island and California Casualty has partnered with GeoVera to underwrite earthquake insurance for homeowners in California, Oregon and Washington. If you need earthquake protection, call a California Casualty advisor today at 1.800.800.9410.
From pulling weeds to cleaning floors, it seems that work around the house never ends, but it’s a lot easier to tackle before winter storms and cold weather move in. As we enjoy the last few months of summer, now is a good time to do maintenance that will prevent damage, prepare your home for winter, and add lasting value.
Do an energy audit and start fixing insulation and cracks
Insulate hot water pipes
Clean patio furniture
Scrub your concrete
Patch concrete and asphalt cracks
Prune or remove problem trees and shrubs
Clean exhaust fans
Fix the fence
Make your landscaping “critter proof”(deer, rabbits and other animals can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your plants and trees)
Doing regular maintenance can not only protect your home, but it can enhance the value of your largest investment. Most realtors and home repair experts say simple projects can add thousands of dollars to your home’s worth. Wikihow.com is a great resource with tips that give the best payback:
Clean and reduce the clutter around your home
Spruce up your yard
Repaint the interior and exterior
Upgrade your lighting and light switches
Add wood trim
Don’t forget another vital piece to preserving your home and all the things that come with it; insurance. Now is the time to get a home insurance update and policy comparison to make sure your precious items are fully covered at the best value. Have you made improvements that could land you big discounts? Don’t forget that bundling your auto and home can offer big savings. Call a California Casualty advisor today for a no hassle policy review at 1.800.800.9410.
It costs mere pennies a day, yet many renters don’t get insurance to cover their electronics, clothes, furniture and other valuable possessions. Many renters are under the assumption their landlord’s insurance will cover their goods if there is a fire, a flood, or a tree falls onto the structure. Sure, the damage to the building will be covered, but not the contents inside.
With another winter storm slamming the eastern third of the U.S., insurance experts warn it could be a very cold reality for renters, and even homeowners who do not have property insurance, if a winter malady should hit.
Renters insurance covers fire or lightning, windstorm or hail, freezing of plumbing systems, theft, and more. Also, keep in mind, if someone is injured at the domicile you rent, renters insurance can help protect you if there is a liability lawsuit.
Renters insurance can be purchased for as little as a couple hundred dollars a year, but statistics show as many as 70 percent of renters go without the coverage.
It’s officially the Holiday Season! The season of holiday lights, holiday shopping, holiday parties, and…
Home Robberies.
As you travel to visit family and friends this holiday season, be aware that the high rate of travel also leads to a spike in home robberies.
Here are some tips for keeping your home and possessions safe while you’re away:
Install a quality home security system with burglary monitoring AND fire protection: The best defense against home robberies is a working security system. Be sure that you test your system before you head out of town to make sure you’re good to go. Also, double check that your security system hasfire alarm capabilities. A fire doubles in size every 30 seconds, so the quicker your system can alert authorities, the better
Keep your valuables out of clear site: Can you see your plasma TV from your front windows? Do you keep any jewelry near a window in your bedroom? Have a sweet sound system for all to see in your living room? Walk around the outside of your house and notice what you can see just by looking in. Before you leave town, move as many valuable out of view as possible. Close the doors of your entertainment center and put all jewlery in a locked, secure location
Make mail & newspaper arrangements: Piled up newspapers and mail are a huge tip-off to would-be robbers. Before you leave town, either stop your mail and paper service or ask a trusted neighbor to pick them up for you. If you have a reliable neighbor you trust, this is a better option than alerting the post office that you are out of town. Again, the less people who know you are away, the better
Take stock of your yard: Don’t keep any valuable sporting or gardening equipment outside while you’re out of town. Move everything that you can indoors or into the garage. Also, be aware of what you leave out by the trash. If you receive an expensive item, like a TV or a computer, for Christmas, don’t just leave the box by the trash- that’s advertising an expensive item in your home. Instead, break it down and bring it to recycling
Remove a burglar’s cover: Tall and overgrown trees and shrubs are welcome hiding spots for criminals. Cut away any tall tree branches that reach upper story windows and protect against attacks from above. That doesn’t mean you need to cut down every plant in your yard. Just keep things manicured
Do NOT broadcast your plans: No matter how tempting it is to brag about your upcoming getaway to your social media friends, keep your plans off the internet (until you return and show off your amazing pictures, of course!). The fewer people who know that you are gone, the better. Also, do not change your answering machine to say you are out of town. You never know who may ring you up while you’re gone, and you don’t want strangers to know that you are out
Make your house look ‘lived in’: Take steps to make it look like someone is at your house. Here are some ideas:
Ask a neighbor to park their car in your driveway. Anyone watching your house will see a car coming and going and be less likely to realize you’re away
Ask someone to shovel your drive if it snows while you’re away
Install outdoor and indoor lighting systems. Motion-sensor varieties are good for outdoor areas because they can stop robbers from using the cover of darkness to commit crimes. Timer varieties are good for indoors because lights turning on and off helps maintain the appearance that someone is home
Double check your locks & entrances: Go around your house and check every door, lock, deadbolt and window. Make sure you have a solid perimeter. If your deadbolts are 10-15 years old, you need to make sure they can still withstand force. If not, replace them before you leave. For windows, look into using a dowel rod (long, skinny sticks sold at the hardware store). You can wedge them into the window frame to reinforce windows and give them more strength, as robbers cannot force windows open with a rod in place
Don’t leave any hidden spare keys: Keep a secret key hidden on your property in case you or a family member gets locked out? Most people do. And that’s exactly why you should make sure you do not leave that key on your property when out of town. Robbers will check under rocks and around property for keys left ‘hidden’
Tell neighbors you trust or law enforcement that you are leaving: While it’s important to minimize the number of people who know you are gone, do alert neighbors whom you trust or members of your trusted neighborhood watch program. That way, they can keep an eye out for any suspicious activity at your house. Also, look up the non-emergency number for your police department and let them know you will be leaving town.
Be aware: Pay attention around your neighborhood. Is someone going door to door asking if a particular person is home? Has a car been parked suspiciously? These are both signs of people checking for unoccupied homes. Be alert to any behavior that is out of the ordinary and be sure to alert local law enforcement.
And last, but certainly not least, travel safely and ENJOY your holiday season with your loved ones!
