Everything You Need to Know about Your Home’s Air Filters

by California Casualty | Homeowners Insurance Info | 0 comments

You probably don’t think much about the air you breathe in your home, but maybe you should. That air can be filled with tiny debris- including dead skin cells, pollen, dirt, and bacteria, and breathing too of it much over time could be unhealthy. Fortunately, your home’s air filters trap these particles, helping keep your whole family healthy.

What exactly is floating in the air?

• • Dust – We see it on our tables and abandoned trinkets on our mantle, but where does dust come from?  The bulk of dust varies home to home, but basically dust is ‘anything that can flake off’ including dead skin cells, pet fur, food, dirt, pollen, pieces of books, carpet upholstery, debris from outside, etc. If not properly cleaned, mold, bacteria, and dust mites are all likely to inhabit dust and pollute your air.
  • VOCS – Your furniture, your belongings, and the building materials in your walls also give off gases. These are known as VOCs, volatile organic compounds. They are floating in the air and affect your air quality. You probably also are breathing in gases released from cooking and cleaning. In addition, pollutants can travel in from outside. You might even have mold if there is humidity in your home. 

You won’t necessarily smell or see any of these, and exposure to these particles is pretty much unavoidable. Over time, these compounds can build up in your system and lead to illness. That’s why air filters are so important. They can trap alot of the unhealthy particles. (They won’t however trap mold. You will need a separate treatment to get rid of the source of the moisture and remove the mold.)

What are air filters?

Air filters resemble rectangular cardboard frames filled with a material that looks and feels like pleated or woven coffee filters. When air is forced through the filter, the particles become trapped in the material. You’ll find air filters in your heating and cooling system, and as part of your furnace. Typically, a house will have one or two intake vents that require an air filter but you may have more depending upon the number of floors.  

One size does not fit all.

Air filters come in different standard sizes and thicknesses. The measurements are printed right on their frames. Check the size of your vent openings so you’ll know which ones to buy. Air filters work best when they fit snugly. That way air goes through it and doesn’t leak around it. However, you should not have to bend or crush the filter to make it fit. While filters range from about one to five inches in thickness, most HVAC systems are built for one-inch thicknesses.

What are air filters made of?

Air filters are made from various materials, which allows them to collect different-sized particles. Most filters are disposable but there are some that are considered permanent and can be cleaned and used again. Here’s what you might find at your local hardware store:

• • Disposable fiberglass: The most common type, this collects bigger particles. 
  • Disposable pleated: This is made of cotton or polyester, and is able to pick up large and small particles. It is the most affordable.
  • Disposable electrostatic: This type has electrically charged fibers to collect smaller particles. It is slightly more expensive than the disposable pleated.
  • Permanent electrostatic: This type is washable and can be reused. While you need to clean it regularly, you also will need to replace it every 6-8 years. It’s more expensive than disposable filters. 
  • High efficiency pleated: This type is thicker than many others, as much as 4-5 inches, which doesn’t work for a lot of systems. It can trap the smallest particles, and is more expensive. 

How good are they at trapping particles?

Air filters come with a rating scale that tells how well they trap particles. This rating is called MERV, short for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. MERV ratings were established by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioner Engineers. 

• • MERV 1-4 provides the basic level for the lowest cost.
  • MERV 6-8 offers good filtration and is most commonly used in homes.
  • MERV 9-12 is above average and can trap smaller particles.
  • MERV 13-16 offers the highest quality and removes particles as small as 0.3 microns.

It’s important to note that the higher the MERV rating, the lower the airflow. That means your system will have to work harder, which could be more expensive and also lead to a shorter system lifespan. Consult a professional HVAC technician to provide a recommendation for your system and needs.

How to change your filters

Changing an air filter is quick and easy. Follow these steps. Use a ladder if the vent you are trying to reach is high up.

• • Turn off your furnace. 
  • Locate the filter compartment. Remove the door or service panel. 
  • Slide the old filter out and put the new one in.
  • Use a rag to clean any dust on the vent. 
  • Repeat with intake vents throughout your home.
  • Turn your furnace back on.

What if your filter looks clean when you go to change it? 

• • Check and make sure it’s fitting well with no gaps. 
  • Make sure it’s not upside down. Arrows should point toward the fan or your system.
  • Try a filter with a higher MERV rating to catch more.

How often should you change your filters?

A clean air filter makes your heating and cooling system more efficient. This can save you money, as much as $9-$22 a month. Manufacturers usually recommend changing your air filter every 60-90 days. However, if you have pets or allergies, you may want to replace them more frequently. Create a calendar alert so you will know when to change yours.

Pro Tip: Hold your filter up to the light. If you can’t see light through it, it is time to change it.

In addition, you may want to add pet-friendly plants that also help with indoor air quality. Finally, make sure to protect your home with the right insurance for added peace of mind. After all, your home is your greatest investment.

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.

Home Insurance 101

by California Casualty | Homeowners Insurance Info | 2 comments

You’ve bought your dream home and it’s time to get it insured. You want to choose the right coverage to fully protect your investment. While you have a basic idea of what home insurance probably covers, you may not know the particulars. 

A homeowner’s policy is actually a “package” of coverages. It protects your home from specific events that can damage your property, and provides additional living expenses if you are unable to live there due to an insured loss. It also protects your personal belongings. In addition, your homeowner’s policy covers you for lawsuits or liability claims that might otherwise be your responsibility if you accidentally injure other people or damage their property. Here’s the breakdown from A to Z (or in this case, F).

Coverage A: Dwelling

Dwelling coverage refers to the structure of your home. This includes the roof, walls, floorboards, cabinets, and bath fixtures. The easiest way to think about it is that if you could tip your house upside down, the dwelling is everything that remains attached.

What is covered: This insurance covers open perils. That means a loss is covered unless it’s excluded by your policy. Coverage A generally covers direct physical loss due to fire/smoke, lightning, windstorms and hail, explosions, vandalism and theft. If one of these perils destroys your home, your insurance provider will pay to rebuild it up to your policy limits. 

What is not covered: If it is listed as an exclusion, it is not covered. Typically, natural disasters such as flooding and earthquakes are not covered by dwelling coverage. You can add these coverages with a separate policy or an endorsement added to your property policy.  

Coverage B: Other Structures

If your pool is in the ground or installed permanently above the ground on your property, it is covered under Coverage B – Other Structures. This is an insurance term describing a detached structure on your property. Other structures include pools, fences, gazebos, sheds, etc. However, if your pool is above-ground but portable, it is considered part of your personal property and covered by Coverage C – Personal Property insurance. 

What is covered: This insurance covers open perils. That means a loss is covered unless it’s excluded. 

What is not covered: Typical exclusions include flood, earthquake, or wear and tear.  For other structures, the coverage limit is generally set at 10% of your home’s coverage limit. That means if your home is insured for $200,000, the coverage limit for your detached garage would be $20,000. For an additional premium, you can add an endorsement to increase your coverage.

Coverage C: Personal Property

Personal property coverage protects your possessions, such as furniture, clothes, sports equipment, and other personal items. Again, if you could tip your home upside down, everything that would fall out is considered personal property. This coverage protects these items whether they are in your house or off-premises.

What is covered: If your possessions are stolen, or damaged by fire/smoke or any of 16 covered “perils,” your policy will pay for them subject to your deductible. For personal property coverage on a homeowner’s policy, you typically get 50 or 75% of Coverage A, the total amount of coverage for your home. You may choose 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. 

What is not covered: There are dollar limits for certain items, such as jewelry, firearms, animals, cars, planes. See your policy for a full list. You may choose to purchase additional coverage to ensure your valuables are fully insured. 

Coverage D: Loss of Use

If your home is damaged in a covered loss, it may not be livable. If that’s the case, you would need to stay somewhere else. Loss of Use, also called Additional Living Expense, covers you for any necessary increase in living expenses, such as lodging, food, and gas.

What is covered: Your policy will provide a flat percentage toward living costs, usually 30% of the Coverage A amount. 

What is not covered: Some states have time limits on when you can use this coverage. Payment will be for the shortest time required to repair or replace the damage, or if you permanently relocated, the shortest time required for your household to settle elsewhere.

Coverage E: Personal Liability

Personal Liability protects you if a claim is made or a suit brought against you for bodily injury or property damage caused by an occurrence to which coverage applies. Liability covers you at your place or anywhere in the world. 

What is covered: If you are found liable, the policy will pay up to its limit of liability for damages for which an insured is legally liable. This can include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and permanent scarring. The policy also provides a defense in court, if needed, for the policyholder. This is at the insurance company’s own expense.  

What is not covered: You are only covered up to your policy’s limit. Coverage starts at $100,000 but should be increased to a minimum of $300,000.  You want to consider how much the home and all of your assets are worth and select an amount up to $1,000,000. If you have a pool, hot tub, trampoline or other attractive nuisance which is likely to attract children, consider adding an umbrella policy for additional coverage.

Coverage F: Medical Payments & Other

If you are not liable, but your guest was injured through his/her own fault, then Coverage F – Medical Payment to Others may cover your guest’s medical bills. 

What is covered: Under Coverage F, the insurance company will pay the necessary medical expenses to a person injured on the insured location with the permission of an insured, or off the insured location if the injury is caused by the activities of an insured or caused by an animal owned by an insured.

What is not covered: You and your family are not covered. This is only for guests, and they are only covered up to the limit of your policy.

A Word About Deductibles

Generally, the higher your deductible, the lower the cost of your insurance premium. Since the deductible is the amount your insurance provider will subtract from an insurance payout, you’ll want to select a deductible that you’re comfortable paying out-of-pocket after a loss.  

Common Home Endorsements

You may add specific endorsements to your homeowner’s package of policies for additional coverage. Here are some of the most popular ones.

Scheduled personal property (SPP) Coverage is for items that have higher values above your personal property coverage limits. This includes heirlooms, watches, jewelry, instruments, and furs. SPP offers much broader coverage for your precious items – if you misplace a set of earrings, they are covered; if a diamond falls out of a ring, or a guitar breaks, they’re covered. There is no deductible if the covered items are stolen, lost, or damaged. Insurance pays the lowest of the four options: repair, replace, actual cash value or the amount of insurance.

A Water Back Up and Sump Discharge or Overflow Endorsement covers two potential losses: (1) if the sewer backs up into your home via the sewers or drains or (2) if your sump pump overflows or discharges. The amount of coverage and the deductible vary by states. The endorsement comes with a maximum amount of coverage ($5,000 or $10,000) and its own deductible ($250, $500 or $1,000).  

Home Day Care Coverage: This extends your liability coverage to those in your care. Most states require you to have it for licensing, and parents also may request to see proof of this coverage.

Refrigerated Property Coverage: When there is a power outage, the food in your refrigerator could spoil. A standard homeowner’s policy may cover the costs of replacing some of the food. A refrigerated property policy provides additional coverage. A refrigerated property policy adds up to $500 of coverage for property, such as meat that spoils because of a power outage or equipment failure.

Special Computer Coverage: With everyone working remotely, computers have become our lifeline. Consider a special computer coverage option to ensure you are covered for your devices: desktop computers, laptops, tablets and smart phones. With this coverage, you will receive more money for your devices if they are damaged than with traditional homeowner’s.

Permitted Incidental Occupancies: If you have a home-based business, this endorsement increases the coverage for your business property. This includes furniture, equipment, and supplies.

Ordinance or law coverage helps you bring your home up to current building codes for repairs and/or rebuilding.

Identity fraud coverage covers the expenses associated with identity theft.

Remember that you can ask for ways to lower your home insurance costs when you purchase a policy. You may be eligible for group discounts. There are discounts if you have a burglar/fire alarm. There also is a cost savings and convenience of paying in full with most policies. 

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.