Winterizing

Winterizing Your Home 

Can Save You Money!

A little work now can save you when winter hits.

What can you do?

Install Weather stripping and Caulking

Stand in front of your window and door frames. Do you feel any cold air coming through? If so, you have found a place you will want to seal better. Home insulation will make a big difference in your energy costs. Seal these spots with caulk or weather stripping. You may want to consider using an insulating film on windows. It isn't only about keeping cold air in. You want to prevent the warm air from getting out also.

Buy a Programmable Thermostat

Newer homes come with these, but older homes may need to replace them. You want to program the thermostat to turn down when you are not in the house and come back on right before you return. (especially if no one is at home during the work day!) This can save you quite a bit of money!

Run Ceiling fans in reverse 

Heat rises, so reversing your ceiling fans to turn clockwise will push the hot air down. This will circulate warmer air through the room which will lower the time the heater will kick on.

Install a "Chimney Balloon"

You can lose quite a bit of heat through your chimney flute. You can insert a chimney balloon and blow it up until it fills the chimney walls. If you want to use the fireplace, simply let the air out and pull the balloon down. Re-insert it when you are done using the fireplace.

Turn Down the Water Heater Temperature

Most water heaters are set up at 140 degrees, but you can reduce the temperature to 120 and save money on water heating costs. Experts suggest running your hot water for 3 minutes and testing the temperature. Do this on 2 days to see if the temperature is consistent. If it is over 120 on both, you could lower your water heater temperature.

Insulate Water Pipes

You should always insulate outdoor faucets and pipes. You also want to look at pipes that may be exposed indoors as well (basement, attic, under sinks). You can wrap them with a towel and tape or buy foam covers at a hardware store. This can save you thousands of dollars on avoidable damage from burst pipes!

Most of these fixes are inexpensive and can save you money for years to come!

There are three ways to request a quote for your insurance needs: 

* Visit our website

* Email us

* Call Brockman Premier Insurance  877-987-8683  

Home Insurance Claims

To Claim or Not to Claim- 

That is the Question

Why do you have insurance? Insurance is meant to make you whole again in the case of a loss. That is the entire reason why you have insurance. But just because you file a claim, does that mean you will automatically be "made whole"? Quite often the answer is No. And on top of that, your rates will most likely go up because you filed that claim; even if the claim doesn't pay out. This can be so frustrating!

   There are several pieces to the claim puzzle that must come together before a carrier will pay out a claim. It is in your best interest to know those pieces before you make the decision to file a claim. If you don't have all of the claim puzzle pieces, your claim will not pay out. Now, you can complain and switch carriers, but chances are, it won't be any different with the next carrier. Insurance is one of the most regulated industries out there. They cannot just decide what they will and will not cover. There are rules they have to adhere to (or pay the legal consequences). And whether you know the rules or not, you are subject to them as much as the carriers are. Here is what you need to know before you file a claim:

1. Is it a covered loss? Different types of home insurance policies cover different perils.

   Basic form policies cover fire/lightning, windstorm/hail, explosion, riots, aircraft, vehicles, smoke, vandalism and theft. 

   Broad form policies cover all of the basic perils, plus falling objects, weight of ice/snow, accidental discharge of water, cracking/burning, collapse, freezing and sudden electric current.

   Special form policies cover every peril except what is specifically excluded. 

What type of policy do you have? If you do not know, contact your agent. 

This is good information you want to know.

2. What type of deductibles do you have? There are many options! 

     The deductible is the amount you will pay before your carrier will pay out the remainder of your claim amount. Your home insurance policy most likely has a deductible that is a percentage of your dwelling value(the cost to rebuild your home in the case of a total loss). Common deductibles are 1% or 2%, but you can go higher. Your home policy can have a flat rate deductible instead, but these are not very common and can cost more if they are low. The lower your deductible is, the higher your premium will be. There is one deductible for your wind/hail claims and a different one for everything else (All Other Peril (AOP)). For example, if your dwelling value is $250,000 and you have a 1% deductible, you will pay the first $2,500 of any claim. 

3. Is it worth it to file that claim?

   Before you file a claim, you want to have a certified contractor come, survey your damage and give you an estimate of the cost of repairs. If you have repairs in a lower amount than your deductible, it makes no sense to file a claim. You will not receive any benefit from the carrier and your rates will go up at your next renewal because you filed a claim. For example, if you have a tree hit your house and it just damages a piece of your roof, chances are it will not cost $2,500 to repair a section of the roof. You would not file a claim. On the other hand, if you have a fire and your entire kitchen has to be rebuilt, it will most likely cost more than $2,500. In this case, you want to file the claim.  You will pay only $2,500 for repairs that could possibly cost more than $10,000.    

   There is quite a bit more that goes into if or how a claim is paid out. There are too many scenarios of what is and is not covered for me to try to explain the particulars here. Plus, I am not a licensed claims adjuster so I am not the expert on your claim. Each claim, with each policy, with each carrier will be handled separately (and differently). But when you are deciding whether or not to file a claim, examine the three 3 things I’ve explained before you even consider calling the carrier. I would call your agent first if you are unsure. Many carriers will file the claim after talking to you; even if you just called with an inquiry and never said the words, "I need to file a claim." But if you have done your homework and you are going in with your eyes open, then your chances for a beneficial outcome increase! 

There are three ways to request a quote for your insurance needs: 

* Visit our website

* Email us

* Call Brockman Premier Insurance at 877-987-8683  

Frozen Pipes

Protect those pipes!  

Winter brings hazards that need to be taken seriously. When the weather is freezing and there is ice and snow, we know to drive slower (I hope!) We know to walk more carefully outside. But what about inside our homes? What harm can come to our safe, warm home from the ice outside? One of the biggest risks in Winter is Frozen Pipes.

Generally, damage from pipes bursting is covered under your home insurance policy as "sudden and accidental" water damage. But water claims are usually expensive which doesn't look good on insurance history (meaning higher rates in your future). Here are some tips to avoid those water claims:

PREVENT FROZEN PIPES

 The first thing you should do is protect the pipes exposed outdoors. 

Water in pipes can freeze. The water will expand in the pipes as it freezes, which can cause pipes to burst. This can cause untold damaged to your home and belongings.  You can buy insulation at your neighborhood hardware store. You can also take old socks, sweatshirts or towels and wrap and tape them over the pipes. Remove the hose before insulating the faucet. You may also want to insulate indoor piping that is in an unheated area, such as the attic or any crawl space. This is especially true for homes in areas with harsh winters. Moving water is less likely to freeze, so drip your faucets on freezing nights. You don't need to run the water, a slow drip will work just fine.   

IF PIPES ARE FROZEN

   If you turn on your faucet and no water comes out, chances are your pipes are already frozen. You want to thaw them as soon as possible. The longer they stay frozen, the more likely they are to burst. You should always assume the pipe may already have a tear and shut off your water at the main water valve. It is often in or near the garage. But walk your property and make sure know where it is and what tool you need to turn it off quickly. There are steps you can take to thaw the pipes yourself. But if you are not comfortable with your handyman abilities, call a plumber. 

THAW FROZEN PIPES

   If you want to try to find and fix the frozen section yourself, start with the closest exposed pipe to the faucet(s) and wrap it with rags or towels. Pour a little hot water over it until the water flows again. Do not EVER use a hair dryer or electric heater near frozen pipes. As the water thaws, it becomes a fire and/or electric shock danger if the water sprays as it thaws.
If your home does incur water damage, call your Insurance agent. They will have contacts to clean up water damage. 

There are three ways to request a quote for your insurance needs: 

* Visit our website

* Email us

* Call Brockman Premier Insurance at 877-987-8683