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Preventing Ice Dams From Forming on Your Roof

Friday, January 13th, 2012

Eliminate Your Ice Dams

An ice dam is an accumulation of frozen water in the gutter system and at the roof edge that prevents subsequent drainage of melting snow from leaving the roof/gutter system. Ice dams are common in areas that receive heavy snow buildups.

In most cases, ice dams begin inside the house, when heated air leaks up into the unheated attic. In the winter, the roof above the unheated attic is cold. When warm air leaks into the attic, it creates warm areas on the roof, which cause the snow on the exterior of the roof to melt. The melting snow moves down the roof slope until it reaches the cold overhang, where it refreezes. The process continues, causing ice to build up along the eaves and form a dam. Eventually, this dam forces the water to back up under the shingles and sometimes into the ceiling or wall inside the home. This phenomenon may cause structural framing members to decay, metal fasteners to corrode, and mold to form in the attic and the wall surfaces. Few homeowners policies pay for ice dam removal. Interior or exterior damage, however, caused by an ice dam on the roof is typically covered under a special perils homeowners form.

There are measures that home owners in colder climates can take to reduce the chance of ice dams, including the following.

  • The services of a professional should be employed to remove heavy snow from your roof. This eliminates one of the ingredients necessary for the formation of an ice dam. Professionals are also able to address emergency situations in which water is flowing into the house structure. This is accomplished by making channels through the ice dam to allow the water behind the dam to drain off your roof. However, the channel becomes ineffective within days and is only a temporary solution to ice dam damage.
  • Your ceiling/roof insulation should be increased to reduce heat loss by conduction. Some state codes require an R-value of 38 above the ceiling for new homes. In narrow spaces, insulation products with high R-value (6–7) per inch are recommended. It is imperative that the ceiling be made airtight to prevent warm air within your home from flowing into the attic space.
  • Verify that there are sufficient soffit and gable end vents in your attic. These help to quickly vent any of the warm air that does get into the attic out into the atmosphere.

 

 

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Four Seasons of Insurance – Winterize Your Boat

Friday, December 2nd, 2011

Winterization Tips

  • Make a checklist of things to do from owner manuals, prior owners’ lists and your own experience. Select the date for haulout while still warm enough to manage maintenance chores.
  • Decide on storage indoors, at a boat-yard, home or in-water and let the marina know when you want to get back in the water. Make sure the boat is adequately supported by stands and oriented for the least wind resistance.
  • Pump out bilge and remove or protect anything that can freeze. Flush and replace engine fluids and filters.  Carry out maintenance as recommended by engine owner’s manual.
  • Close seacocks and place duct tape over all hull openings and vents.
  • Remove and store electronics, batteries and cushions in a clean, dry place.
  • Install moisture-absorbent products in the cabin and lockers to prevent mildew. Cover the vessel with a tarp or shrink-wrap supported by spars or framework to provide for air circulation.

Many boat service facilities and dealerships provide winterization assistance.  If you do not feel comfortable winterizing your own vessel, you  can hire a professional to handle the process.  However, this time of year is very busy, so  schedule your winterization as soon as possible.

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Simple Steps to Keep Your Home Safe During Winter Months

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

November steps to keeping your house warm, safe, and secure.

Check Foundations

  • Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation.
  • Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house.
  • Tuckpoint or seal foundation cracks. Mice can slip through space as thin as a dime.
  • Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation.
  • Secure crawlspace entrances.

Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

  • Some cities require a smoke detector in every room.
  • Buy extra smoke detector batteries and change them when daylight savings ends.
  • Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and / or water heater.
  • Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they work.
  • Buy a fire extinguisher or replace an extinguisher older than 10 years.

Prevent Plumbing Freezes

  • Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency.
  • Drain all garden hoses.
  • Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
  • Drain air conditioner pipes and, if your AC has a water shut-off valve, turn it off.
  • If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees.

Prepare Landscaping & Outdoor Surfaces

  • Trim trees if branches hang too close to the house or electrical wires.
  • Ask a gardener when your trees should be pruned to prevent winter injury.
  • Plant spring flower bulbs and lift bulbs that cannot winter over such as dahlias in areas where the ground freezes.
  • Seal driveways, brick patios and wood decks.
  • Don’t automatically remove dead vegetation from gardens as some provide attractive scenery in an otherwise dreary, snow-drenched yard.
  • Move sensitive potted plants indoors or to a sheltered area.

Prepare an Emergency Kit

  • Buy indoor candles and matches / lighter for use during a power shortage.
  • Find the phone numbers for your utility companies and tape them near your phone or inside the phone book.
  • Buy a battery back-up to protect your computer and sensitive electronic equipment.
  • Store extra bottled water and non-perishable food supplies (including pet food, if you have a pet), blankets and a first-aid kit in a dry and easy-to-access location.
  • Prepare an evacuation plan in the event of an emergency.

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Five Steps to Prepare Your Home for Winter

Monday, October 10th, 2011

 

Don’t wait until the snow flies – begin your winterization now!

As we say farwell to our boats, sun tans, and golf clubs, lets remember some simple steps you can take to keep your home safe during the winter months.   I’ve posted 5 steps that you need to do in October, and next month will be November steps.

1. Furnace Inspection

  • Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace and clean ducts.
  • Stock up on furnace filters and change them monthly.
  • Consider switching out your thermostat for a programmable thermostat.
  • If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when water appears, close them.
  • Remove all flammable material from the area surrounding your furnace.

2. Get the Fireplace Ready

  • Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds.
  • If the chimney hasn’t been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote.
  • Buy firewood or chop wood. Store it in a dry place away from the exterior of your home.
  • Inspect the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing.
  • Check the mortar between bricks and tuckpoint, if necessary.

3. Check the Exterior, Doors and Windows

  • Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them.
  • Use weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows.
  • Replace cracked glass in windows and, if you end up replacing the entire window, prime and paint exposed wood.
  • If your home has a basement, consider protecting its window wells by covering them with plastic shields.
  • Switch out summer screens with glass replacements from storage. If you have storm windows, install them.

4. Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts

  • If your weather temperature will fall below 32 degrees in the winter, adding extra insulation to the attic will prevent warm air from creeping to your roof and causing ice dams.
  • Check flashing to ensure water cannot enter the home.
  • Replace worn roof shingles or tiles.
  • Clean out the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear away debris.
  • Consider installing leaf guards on the gutters or extensions on the downspouts to direct water away from the home.

5. Service Weather-Specific Equipment

  • Drain gas from lawnmowers.
  • Service or tune-up snow blowers.
  • Replace worn rakes and snow shovels.
  • Clean, dry and store summer gardening equipment.
  • Sharpen ice choppers and buy bags of ice-melt / sand.

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Four Seasons of Insurance – Flood Insurance Revisited

Monday, August 29th, 2011

by Sam Engardio

Earlier this year I posted a blog about the importance of flood insurance. With the arrival of Hurricane Irene I thought I might re-post a document on myths and facts of  flood insurance. For those who don’t have flood insurance, it usually takes 30 days for a policy to go into effect.

Myths and Facts

However, there are ways to help you expedite insurance claims should any wind or other property damage occur:

  • Keep a record of your insurance policy numbers and the contact information for your insurance agent nearby.
  • Conduct an inventory of your valuables and other belongings. Walk through your home with a video recorder or camera and take pictures. It will prove helpful should you have to file a claim.
  • Place important documents, like bank account and insurance records, in a waterproof container, or better yet a safe.
  • Secure patio furniture and other loose objects. Garbage cans, umbrellas, toys, grills and other objects that can become missiles in high wind and damage siding, windows and doors.
  • Trim loose or dead branches from trees and shrubs. This is especially important if they’re near power lines.
  • Protect windows. If you have storm shutters, close and secure them. Owners of homes in very vulnerable areas may want to cover windows with plywood or boards. Taping the windows won’t save them, but may make clean-up easier if they do break.

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Distracted Driving: A big problem for people on the road a lot

Monday, August 8th, 2011

Four Seasons of Insurance – by Sam Engardio

Being someone who spends time in my car daily, I’m always amazed at the people on their cell phones, or drinking yummy lattes, or maybe reaching over to grab something from the other seat.  I am even more amazed at the young drivers and their need for instant everything.  I thought it would be wise to share with everyone some surprising statistics. Twenty percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. (NHTSA).

• Of those killed in distracted-driving-related crashed, 995 involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction (18% of fatalities in distraction-related crashes). (NHTSA)
• In 2009, 5,474 people were killed in U.S. roadways and an estimated additional 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes that were reported to have involved distracted driving. (FARS and GES)

• The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers was the under-20 age group – 16 percent of all drivers younger than 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving. (NHTSA)

• Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)

• Using a cell phone use while driving, whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver’s reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (Source: University of Utah)

In our modern world of instant communications, instant gratification, maybe we should look forward to: instant love by our families when we arrive home safely, or instant smiles when we meet friends out for dinner and everyone arrives in one piece or seeing your neighbor’s  kid (under 20) driving defensively and avoiding distractions.  Safe travels everyone!

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Back to School! Coverage for College Students

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

Four Seasons of Insurance – by Sam Engardio

Soon the weather will be getting cooler, football season will be in the air, and college campuses will be buzzing with activity. The time to send college students back to school is right around the corner, so make sure you are prepared with the right coverage.

How much “stuff” could you fit in a dorm?
Students away at college may not have much space, but they know how to fill it! From clothes and shoes, to expensive books, computers, digital cameras, televisions, microwaves and of course the mini-fridge…college students can have a significant value of personal property with them at school. So, is it covered?

The answer is yes. While some companies limit the amount of Coverage C in campus housing to the typical 10% off-premises limit, others will provide coverage up to the Coverage C limit for personal property of a full-time student away at school.  It’s a simple phone call to our office to let you know what your current policy covers.

Can I insure my child’s computer?
Yes! Either through scheduling your computer, or making it part of the contents, or staff can help you decide what’s best for your college students needs.

Helpful hints on students and vehicles
Wheels left behind – Students who are away at school over 100 miles without a vehicle can be rated as part time operators and given the Distant Student Discount.

Cruising campus – Students who take vehicles with them to school should have the garaging location address for their vehicles added to the policy. Also, for in-state schools the territory should be updated based on the address during the school-year while the vehicle is kept there.

Other items to consider…
Parents love to keep in touch…but what happens if a student loses his/her cell phone at school? Under a basic policy, this would be covered as personal property and subject to the policy deductible. However, some companies have endorsements that can cover the cell phones for all family members regardless of location and without a deductible.

Bicycles are a common mode of transportation on college campuses. Depending on the value, it may be beneficial to schedule this item to obtain broader coverage and also avoid losses being subject to a deductible.

The above article provides only a general description of the coverages. For complete descriptions, please go to the actual policy language.

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Identity Fraud on your Home Insurance? “It’s a Smart thing to do!”

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

Four Seasons of Insurance – by Sam Engardio

During the summer months more people are traveling and using their credit cards more often, on their iphones,  in different areas of the country and letting their kids use them for different outings. While traveling and the summer months are great, it tends to expose you more readily to Identity Theft.

The fastest growing white-collar crime in the country is Identity Theft. The United States Secret Service indicates that the actual losses resulting from identity theft exceeds 700 million.

Did you know that many home insurance policies now offer some protection, at very little cost!

We’ve all heard the latest news that a bank, large retail chain, or even a local gas station data was comprised and resulted in your personal information being vulnerable. This is causing you to worry about your personal data being stolen by someone and ruining your credit. The Identity Theft endorsement added to your home insurance policy will help with the cost associated to (lost earnings, fees, and expenses associated with restoring your credit rating and reapplying for loans or credit).

In the meantime, while your deciding to add this to your policy there are several things you can do to help guard your information online. These days, many of us do most of our shopping and banking on the web. With all those account numbers and passwords floating around out in cyberspace, it’s easy for someone to grab your info and go on a spending spree – while you pick up the bill. Below are some tips to help minimize your risk:

  • Clear your logins and passwords. This is especially important if you’ve been working on a public computer. Change logins and passwords monthly.
  • Pay for online purchases with your credit card, which has better guarantees under federal law than your online payment services or your debit card.
  • Be alert for phishing, a trick in which spam or pop-ups mimic legitimate banks or businesses to obtain your personal information, which they use to access your accounts. Always verify that you’re on a familiar Web site with security controls before entering personal data.
  • Monitor your bank and credit card statements. Check your accounts regularly so you know when something’s awry. Purchases you didn’t make should be obvious—like a gas fill-up halfway across the country.
  • Verify your mailing address with the post office and financial institutions. Identity bandits may fill out change of address forms so that delinquent credit notices remain off your paper billing radar.
  • Monitor your credit report. By law, you’re entitled to a free report every year from each of the three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). Request one every four months, changing bureaus each time. You can order the report directly through each agency, or at annualcreditreport.com. Use this URL—there are hordes of knockoff sites that will try to charge you for your report and other needless services. Scan it for abnormal activity, such as accounts or credit cards you didn’t open. (And don’t fall prey to faux free credit report advertisements.)
  • Shred sensitive documents. Buy a shredder and regularly shred outdated bank statements, credit card applications, bills, and anything with your personal information before tossing it into the trash or recycling. Junk mail often includes some of your personal details.

Does it make sense to pay for ID theft protection if you’ve taken all these precautions? It depends on your spending habits and overall level of caution. You might want to invest in an identity theft protection service if:

  • You do lots of online banking or shopping.
  • You don’t have time to monitor your information on your own.

To find out more please contact our Personal Insurance Department staff, any of our person insurance specialists can help you review your home insurance policy and determine if adding Identity Fraud/Theft Endorsement is a good idea for you.

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Four Seasons of Insurance – Boating Season in Michigan

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

by Sam Engardio

Boat Season is here in Michigan!

We thought it would be nice to remind everyone about the  “Mandatory Education and Age Requirements:

Motorboat Operations:

  • Youth 12 years of age and younger may not operate a powerboat with a motor greater than 35 hp under any circumstances.  However, they may operate a boat powered with an engine 6 hp and greater, but no more than 35 hp only if they are directly supervised onboard by a person at least 16 years of age.  Boaters less than 12 may operate a boat powered by a motor of no more than 6 hp without restrictions
  • Youth 12 – 15 of age may legally operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 6 hp only if they have passed a boating safety course approved by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and carry with them their boating safety certificate, or are accompanied aboard by a person at least 16 years of age.
  • There are no restrictions for operators 16 years of age or older

Personal Watercraft Operations:

  • No one  under the age of 12 may operate a PWC
  • Youth 12 year of age and less than 14 may operate a PWC if they have received a boating safety certificate dated prior to January 1, 1999.  If not, boaters of this age must meet all of the following conditions in order to operate:
  1. The PWC is designed to carry at least 2 people and the youth operator is accompanied solely by their parent or legal guardian
  2. The youth operator and accompanying parent or legal guardian have taken and successfully completed a boating safety course and have in their possession boating safety certificates
  3. The PWC is equipped with an Engine Cut Off Lanyard which is attached to the accompanying parent or legal guardian
  4. Operators 14 years of age or older, or persons born after December 31, 1978 may operate only if they have taken and successfully completed a boating safety course and have in their possession a boating safety certificate.
  5. Persons born before December 31, 1978 may operate a PWC without restrictions.

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Four Seasons of Insurance – Who needs flood insurance? Everyone!

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

by Sam Engardio

Spring is here, and summer just around the corner - a welcome relief after what most of the country experienced as a pretty brutal winter. News reports in January noted that snow was on the ground in 49 states, apparently a modern record. Snow melts, and when combined with Spring rains produces a real risk of flooding. We’ve already seen drastic effects of this in other parts of the country, but those of us residing in Southeast Michigan are not exempt from this risk. What many people don’t realize until it’s too late is that flood is excluded as a covered peril in almost all property insurance policies. Flood coverage is available however, the primary source being the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the federally sponsored program. This insurance may be purchased through Kapnick Insurance Group. Learn more about myths and facts regarding the NFIP by reading the brochure published by FEMA.

Click Here to access this document

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