8 Tips for Winterizing Your Home

Last year’s winter season will be remembered for bringing record-breaking snowfall to much of the country, with cities including Detroit and Chicago having some of their snowiest months on record. Parts of America were unprepared for the heavy storms, such as Georgia, where winter storms caused an estimated $25 million in damages.

Homes not prepared for such heavy snow can see damage ranging from burst pipes to a collapsed roof. Fixing these damages could be expensive, so prepping your house for the colder months in autumn is a smart approach. By following these tips on winterizing your home, you can help avoid costly repairs this winter season.

1. Fortify your roof to prevent ice dams

Ice dams, which occur when water builds up behind an ice blockage, can cause damage to ceilings and roofs by allowing melting snow to leak into a home. To prevent ice dams from forming, you need to keep the entire roof the same temperature as the eaves. Take this time to increase ventilation, add insulation, and seal off possible air leaks to be ice dam free.

2. Insulate pipes

When water pipes freeze and burst, they can cause water damage. Avoid flooding and a messy cleanup by insulating your water pipes with materials such as heating tape and fiberglass.

3. Seal air leaks

By preventing cold air from leaking into your home, you can save money on your energy bills and also make your home warmer. To reduce air leakage, place a sweep at the base of your door and apply caulk or weather-stripping around drafty windows.

4. Seal the attic

Sealing the attic is a great way to avoid heat loss through your roof in future winters. Make sure your attic insulation is 12 inches deep. If you’re going to install a new layer of insulation over an existing one, avoid using kraft-faced insulation, which can lead to moisture problems.

5. Weather-strip the doors and windows

Melting snow can lead to mold and mildew problems around your windows and doors. Seal up any gaps with weather-stripping seals or caulking to prevent moisture from getting in.

6. Inspect the furnace and chimney

Make sure your furnace and chimney are in working order before the cold weather hits. Both should be cleaned and inspected by a qualified professional each year to ensure safe and efficient use.

7. Prune your trees

Snow and ice buildup on trees can cause branches to break and land on your house. If a tree is close to your home, prune its branches and cut down any low-hanging limbs before the start of the winter.

8. Install wind-proofing materials

Strong winds can cause substantial damage to your property. To help avoid wind damage this winter, install wind-proofing features such as permanent window shutters and impact-resistant shingles

Tis the Season...for Theft Prevention

5 Tips to Keeps Your Belongings Safe from Holiday Theft

 

 

 

The holidays are a cheerful time, but while you’re celebrating, someone may be eyeing those new gifts. Beware of the burglars waiting to get their hands on your presents.

 

According to Nationwide claims data over the past three years, there were nearly 15,000 home thefts during the holidays and travel months of November, December and January.

Here are 5 tips to help avoid being a victim of theft over the holidays:

1. Save the status updates for later

Four out of five burglars used social networks last year to find out when people were not home.

 

Telling friends and family your holiday plans on social media may seem harmless, but that social media message can be an advertisement to burglars that says, “I’m not home.” Don’t let your social media behavior while you’re gone put your home at risk for a burglary.

2. Add home security devices to your gift list

Adding these items to your wish list can offer some extra protection:

• Sensor-triggered lighting
• Motion-activated webcams
• Smart phone home security

Also look into technology that lets you connect with your phone for 24/7 surveillance when you’re on the go.

3. Close the curtains before turning in

Open blinds may invite unwanted eyes, allowing thieves to check out the layout of your home, or view your belongings.

4. Don’t leave ladders up after decorating

Ladders can help a burglar gain access to your home. Once you’ve hung the outdoor lights, store the ladders and tools in a locked shed or garage.

5. Create categorized inventory lists

Put your gift list-making skills to good use and keep an ongoing record of items in your home. Free apps like Know Your Stuff can help you take inventory with pre-programmed categories and locations.

 

An inventory list will come in handy if you have Brand New Belongings insurance* coverage, which can help replace your insured belongings if they’re stolen or destroyed – regardless of age or condition.

*Optional feature. Exclusions and limits apply. Damaged items may be repaired in some cases. Details vary by state and policy language. Please consult your policy for the specifics of your selected coverages. Subject to underwriting guidelines, review, and approval.

Pool Safety Tips

There's no better place to be than in the pool when you're trying to beat the heat. Pools provide great relaxation, exercise, and fun, but they can also be very dangerous, especially for children. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children. Check out these tips to make sure that your pool stays a safe and fun place.

 

1.      Be Prepared. Everyone who is using your pool, including you and your children, should learn how to swim. You should also learn how to perform CPR on both adults and children. Teach your children pool safety tips from a young age, and remind them to follow pool rules whenever they go swimming.

 

2.      Be Alert. There should always be at least one adult watching the children in the pool at all times. This responsible adult should have a phone nearby in case of emergency. Never allow anyone to swim alone, even if they know how to swim. Never swim after taking anything that impairs your judgment or slows your reaction time, such as alcohol or medications.

 

3.      Install Fences and Gates. The fence around your pool should be at least four feet tall. A safe pool gate is both self-latching and self-closing. The latch on the gate should be located above a child's reach. You can also install pool and gate alarms to alert you when anyone goes near the water.

 

The fence around your pool should be at least four feet tall. A safe pool gate is both self-latching and self-closing. The latch on the gate should be located above a child's reach.

 

4.      Pay Attention to Decks and Ladders. The same basic safety rules apply to all types of pools, but above-ground pools also have decks and ladders. Put a guard rail around the entire deck. Ladders into the pool should be easily removable, or swing up out of the reach of children, and securely stored when the pool is not in use.

 

5.      Keep Your Pool Area Safe. Try to locate pools away from the house, instead of using it as a fourth wall. Locate lawn furniture, trees, and shrubs at a safe distance from the pool fence. These items present a hazardous way to climb over the fence and into the pool area. If you have an in-ground pool, put a clearly visible dividing line between the shallow end and the deep end. Visibly mark the depth of the water throughout the pool. Children might accidently fall into the water reaching for toys, so make sure that they are stored safely away from the pool.

 

6.      Perform Safety Checks and Pool Maintenance. Check your pool and equipment routinely to be certain that it is clean and working properly. Loose or unsecured ladders, fences, or guard rails could be very dangerous, so make sure to test these areas frequently for sturdiness and stability. Inspect nails, bolts, and other sharp objects that could protrude from your pool, deck, or equipment and cause injury.

 

7.      Be Aware of Entrapment. A major cause of drowning accidents is drain entrapment. Drain entrapment is when a body, article of clothing, hair, or jewelry is caught in a drain that is not working properly. The best way to prevent entrapment is to advise children to stay away from drains. Everybody going into the pool should have no loose clothing or jewelry on and have long hair tied back. Consider installing automatic shut-off systems and verify that your drain covers are compliant with safety standards.

 

8.      Know what to do if an Accident Happens. The electrical cut-off switch and pool pump switch should be clearly marked and easy to reach. You should know how to shut these switches off quickly if an emergency were to occur. In the event of an entrapment, insert a small object in between the person and the drain to break the suction, and then roll them away from the drain. It would be nearly impossible to pull a person away from the drain without breaking the suction first. Accidents happen even at the safest pools, so have a first aid kit nearby at all times.

Enjoy longer days and warmer nights while protecting your investment

Summertime is the best time to be outside enjoying the weather. Make sure your deck or patio is ready for the summer sun by keeping in mind the seasonal maintenance tips below.

• Check deck or patio for possible deterioration and safety hazards such as loose boards and protruding nails.
• Check electrical outlets for potential fire hazards such as frayed wires or loose-fitting plugs. Be sure not to overload electrical outlets, fuse boxes, extension cords or any other power service.
• Check all window and door locks to ensure correct functioning. Make sure all locks are secure and there are no holes in any of the screens.
• Inspect recreational equipment for proper operation and possible dangers (e.g., Are swing sets secure, and do they contain any rusty bolts?).
• Carefully inspect your toilet. Look for the erosion of plastic floater valves, and check all pipe connections.
• Clean or replace your furnace filter.
• Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct and space under the dryer. Remove all lint, dust and pieces of material.
• Inspect washing machine hoses periodically, and replace hoses that show signs of wear or leakage.
• Have your roof inspected by a professional once every few years to identify areas of potential leakage.

SMOKE ALARM SAFETY TIPS

               

Smoke alarms save lives. Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast and you need smoke alarms to give you time to get out.

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
• An ionization smoke alarm is generally more responsive to flaming fires, and a photoelectric smoke alarm is generally more responsive to smoldering fires. For the best protection, both types of alarms or a combination alarm (photoelectric and ionization) should be installed in homes.
• Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.
• Smoke rises; install smoke alarms following manufacturer's instructions high on a wall or on a ceiling. Save manufacturer's instructions for testing and maintenance.
• Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year. If an alarm “chirps”, warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.
• Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they are 10 year old or sooner if they do not respond properly.
• Be sure the smoke alarm has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
• Alarms that are hard-wired (and include battery backup) must be installed by a qualified electrician.
• If cooking fumes or steam sets off nuisance alarms, replace the alarm with an alarm that has a "hush" button. A "hush" button will reduce the alarm’s sensitivity for a short period of time.
• An ionization alarm with a hush button or a photoelectric alarm should be used if the alarm is within 20 feet of a cooking appliance.
• Smoke alarms that include a recordable voice announcement in addition to the usual alarm sound, may be helpful in waking children through the use of a familiar voice.
• Smoke alarms are available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These devices use strobe lights. Vibration devices can be added to these alarms
• Smoke alarms are an important part of a home fire escape plan.

Download these NFPA safety tips on smoke alarms (PDF, 219 KB).

Rising Flood Insurance Rates Take Effect Amid Government Shutdown

Land-owners in low-lying flood zones were dealt a huge blow on. Oct. 1, as current law is letting National Flood Insurance rates rise as high as 25-percent a year over the next five years, unless the government moves on the law it passed last year. Despite the lapse of the new rates, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators and Reps, including members of Louisiana's delegation, has pledged to continue to fight for lower flood insurance rates.

Flood insurance for Louisiana homeowners (and many other areas in the Gulf states) is simply a fact of life. But as the increase of incident continues to rise, the costs associated with repairing and reimbursing for flood damage has gone up. So says the numbers compiled by the Government, and indirectly led to the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act, passed last year.

"After 45 years, flood risks continue and the costs and consequences of flooding are increasing dramatically," says the FEMA fact sheet on the 2012 legislation. "[So] In 2012, Congress passed [Biggert-Waters Act] which calls on FEMA to make a number of changes to the way the NFIP is managed...Key provisions of the legislation will require the NFIP to raise rates to reflect true flood risk, make the program more financially stable, and change how FIRM updates impact policyholders."

 

These updates have come up often over the last year, as Louisiana and other federal legislators have fought to reign in those rates, mostly with success. But now the fight over flood insurance rates stalled right along with the budget bill that wrought the current government shutdown, meaning that many homeowners could see their rates continue to rise by as much as 25-percent per year, until the newly calculated risk is met.

Louisiana finds both Sen. Mary Landrieu and Sen. David Vitter looking to recalculate the risk, and more importantly, the out of pocket expense for homeowners of the region.

"Our message is very clear today: The government may be in the process of shutting down, but my colleagues and I have our eyes on finding a solution for the five-million Americans—and almost 500,000 Louisianians—who have flood insurance policies that are facing significant rate increases today," said Sen. Landrieu at a press conference held this week. "Our flood insurance program is not functioning the way it should and is putting a great number of people at risk."

Landrieu pointed out that this problem was manufactured by Congress—and partly by the FEMA elevated flood zones–and that is needs to be fixed by Congress.

"My colleagues and I are working very hard and across party lines to find a solution. Whatever solution we find and agree to, we want to make it retroactive to help homeowners who are facing rate increases today. They should not be punished because Congress has not fixed this problem."

Should You Downsize Your Home for Retirement?

 

When the kids left for college, you had big dreams for their unoccupied bedrooms. Your daughter’s room had potential to become the art studio you’ve always wanted. And your son’s room? Say Namaste to your new yoga studio. Now, as you look back, you realize those rooms have barely changed. So moving toward retirement, you’re starting to wonder if you really need all the extra space. To help you make educated decisions about your retirement options, here are four things to consider as you decide if downsizing is the right choice for you:

 

1. Location

 

The first step is deciding where you’d like to move. Consider these things:

• Where are your children/grandchildren living?
• Where are your friends spending their retirement?
• Do you like to travel a lot or do you prefer to stay close to home?

 

2. Lifestyle

 

Consider the impact that a move will have on your quality of life, particularly your social life:

• If you’re thinking of moving far, does your new community have clubs and organizations to help you get involved?
• Consider your hobbies and interests. Are you moving to a place where you’ll be able to do the things you enjoy?

 

3. Finances

 

It’s important to understand that selling your home and moving into a smaller one doesn’t promise financial stability in retirement. Assemble these costs into a spreadsheet for your current home and a few homes in areas you’d like to move to get a good sense of how your expenses would change:

• Mortgage payments (this mortgage calculator can help)
• Utility costs
• Maintenance and upkeep
• Property tax
• Home insurance costs
• Cost of living expenses

 

4. Emotional needs

 

Finally, don’t discount your emotional attachment to your home. After all, it is where you raised your children. Your practical side (and your financial advisor) might be telling you that moving is a financially responsible decision. But if you think moving will make you unhappy, it’s worth discussing with your financial advisor to see if there are other options that could keep you in your home.

 

Deciding whether to downsize in retirement is a big question that is best answered after a lot of research, advice (seek out your financial, tax and legal advisors) and careful planning. What other things are you considering as you decide if downsizing is the right move for you?

Tips From A Nationwide Expert

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PREVENT HOME BURGLARY WHILE ON VACATION

Click the link to view the slideshow provided by the Nationwide Blog and read the helpful tips on how to prevent a break-in while you're away.