Safety & Maintenance Tips – Page 6

Sump Pumps

By Stephanie McLain, Claims Adjuster

If you have a basement, chances are you have a sump pump. Unless you built your house yourself, it most likely just came with one and if you’re lucky, you’ve never had to use it. This unsung hero plays an important role in the first line of defense against a basement filling with water for whatever reason. As you think about it, you may think you don’t know much about them.

You may find yourself asking:

How do sump pumps work?

How important are they?

What happens if my sump pump fails?

Does my policy cover this?

These are great questions and you should know the answers so that you’re prepared in the event you either need to use the sump pump or your sump pump does not work.

How do sump pumps work?
Well, very simply actually. The pump is placed in a sump which is a pit or hole in the ground in your basement that is used to collect water filling your basement. Since it’s collecting the water in one location, it’s easier to pump it up its line and out of the house.

How important are they?
Importance varies by many factors such as your location, house type, etc. If you already have a sump pump, you probably need one and you should maintain it. If you are building a house, check with a contractor about the importance of installing one in your home.

What happens if my sump pump fails?
Damage is possible. If your sump pump fails, you are at risk of suffering water damages in your basement to your dwelling and your personal property. It is important to maintain your sump pump and have it checked annually if not semi-annually.

Does my policy cover this?
In the event damages occur, it’s a good idea to have coverage. As always, speak with your MAX agent about water back up and sump pump coverage. These coverages will help bring you wholeness in the event your sump pump fails and damages occur. Your MAX agent can go over what is and isn’t covered so that you’re knowledgeable and prepared for whatever may come. The key is getting the coverage. This is an optional endorsement and must be selected prior to damages occurring in order to take effect.

Next time you scoff at the eyesore in the corner that happens to be your sump pump, just remember, that sump pump is constantly on guard to keep your basement dry.

Stephanie McLain

Tech enthusiast (not pro), photographer hobbyist, boy mom, animal lover, and Insurance Adjuster

When Stephanie isn’t at work she’s trying new things from food, tech, games, hair colors, etc. Stephanie and her husband of 2 years live with their 2 boys, 1 fostered cousin, 2 dogs, 1 snake, and 1 fostered bearded dragon. Her goals are to experience the best life has to offer. They like to explore as a family everything from the outdoors, new towns, new games, or even new concepts or ideas for the house.

Flood Preparation Tips

By Stephanie McLain, Claims Adjuster

Rain waters the crops, grows the flowers, and floods the rivers. That almost all sounded really pleasant. Rain is a necessity for life, but it can also cause disaster. Flooding is often thought to be a slow rising process similar to watching lava slowly roll along. However, flooding can occur almost instantly– thus the term flash flooding was coined. Even if it’s not raining in your area, rain in another area or previous rain can trigger flooding. Since it is impossible to stop the flood, the best option is to be prepared.

As with any major emergency, your household should have a flood plan. You should look to your local community for information on the flood risk to your area. You may even discover that your town has a local flood plan as well. Local authorities may be able to provide information about relocation routes and centers in flood prone areas. You should also call your insurance agent and see if he/she sells flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program so that if/when disaster strikes, you’re not stuck paying 100% out of pocket trying to piece your home back together. More information about the National Flood Insurance Program can be found at www.floodsmart.gov.

A great way to prepare for any emergency is to have an emergency kit. This will need to be tailored to your family and their needs. For a list of items, go to www.ready.gov/build-a-kit.

If a flood is likely and you’ve been given advance notice to evacuate, do so before the flood comes. It is very dangerous to drive through water across roadways. If you’d like to try and reduce damages to your property, you can move items to the highest point possible in your home, turn off gas, electricity, and water, and secure loose objects.

Take care of yourself, your pets, and check on your neighbors. Floods can be devastating in a flash and many are underprepared when they occur.

Recovery after a flood is possible. There are many things that you can do to get things underway. Check with authorities before returning home to make sure that you take an approved route, and that it’s clear to return. Be safe this spring!

Stephanie McLain

Tech enthusiast (not pro), photographer hobbyist, boy mom, animal lover, and Insurance Adjuster

Water Monitoring Devices

By Stephanie McLain, Claims Adjuster

If walls could talk, they may have wonderful stories to tell. If pipes could talk, you’d probably save a ton of money on plumbing costs. Well, a winner of 2018’s Best of What’s New Home Awards is here to translate your house’s pipes — Flo by Moen is the all-in-one security system for your home water. The world is changing: first you needed security for your home, then your car, now your water. This is a brilliant idea on preventing water damage, so hear me out.

To avoid water damage, you start with preventing it. The system is installed on the main water supply line to the home. Because it is installed on the main water supply line, the device can monitor all water entering the house. It has three sensors which monitor water flow, pressure, and temperature. These sensors, paired with some algorithms, are what enable Flo by Moen to detect and protect against leaks, burst pipes, and more!

Each night the system will run a health test. Flo can detect leaks as smalls as one drop per minute which more often than not go undetected until after there is extensive damage.

Your smartphone will act as your command center. This is where you will get alerts and shut off your water as necessary if you have a cell signal or are connected to Wi-Fi. Luckily, if you’re unresponsive, Flo by Moen is also smart enough to shut the water off itself should something catastrophic be occurring.

Similarly, you can purchase a Water Hero, which is also installed on the main water line and runs via your cell phone. With the Water Hero, you can set up “Home Mode” and “Away Mode” where the alerts are different depending on the mode.

For example, if the device is in Home Mode, the owner states he usually has it set to alert him if water has been running for 15 minutes and to shut it off if it’s been running for 20 minutes. Alternatively, if it is in Away Mode, he has it set stricter where if the water runs for 1 minute while away, it alerts him and if it runs for 2 minutes, it will shut the water off. These controls are completely customizable by the consumer.

For more information on how Wi-Fi water shut off valves work and two more products, check out this article from DIY Smart Home Guide’s website.

The Water Hero starts out at $649 and Flo by Moen is listed at $767.70 MSRP. Although these prices seem high, many customers note within the first 6 months they detect a leak they didn’t know about. If your home insurance deductible is $1000, avoiding just one claim will pay for the device and that is definitely worth thinking about.

About Stephanie

Tech enthusiast (not pro), photographer hobbyist, boy mom, animal lover, and Insurance Adjuster

No Endorsement: The products identified above are examples of smart home technology that may prevent water damage to homes. The information in this article about products is for informational purposes only. MAX Insurance has not purchased or tested and does not endorse, recommend, certify, or approve any product mentioned above. We have no affiliation or relationship with any manufacturer or supplier of any product described in this article. We make no representation or warranty with respect to any such product nor to its quality, reliability, or integrity. We do not vouch for the truthfulness or accuracy of any information from any third-party about its product. If you choose to purchase or use such product, it is at your own risk and you are responsible to use it in accordance with directions from its manufacturer or supplier.

Spring is Fast Approaching

By Stephanie McLain, Claims Adjuster

Spring is fast approaching. We will finally dig ourselves out of the snow and have a chance to smell the tulips. However, as with every new season, there comes new perils. Spring is like a big sister in charge of babysitting her two younger and very destructive brothers, Wind and Hail. Sometimes, she goes places alone and it’s fantastic. Other times she has to drag her siblings with her and they kick up a lot of dust and throw things at windows.

What do we do when children are coming into our lives? We baby proof the house. So what should we do when spring and her little brothers are headed our way? Prep the house! There are a few fairly inexpensive things you can do to save you from a possible nightmare so why not just knock them out early?

Clean your roof. That’s right, clean it. Kiplinger.com notes if dark streaks and stains cover your shingles, then they likely have an algae problem. Moss can cause asphalt shingles to curl or lift and blow off in high winds. You can get rid of both the dirty look and the potential claim by using a garden sprayer and a 50/50 solution of water and bleach, which you rinse off after 10-15 minutes.
Clean your gutters. I know more cleaning, but they don’t call it Spring Cleaning for nothing. When you don’t have clean gutters, your home is at risk. The website Squeegeepros.com notes that water can seep through your roof or collect at your home’s foundation and seep into your basement. This can slowly destroy your foundation and create MOLD. Both of which are very expensive to fix. Cleaning the gutters however is not so pricey.
Clean out the cellar, if you have one. Most people tend to use their cellar as a storage unit. However, in an emergency, your high school yearbooks and college keepsakes aren’t near as important as your life. Clear the boxes out to that you have a clutter free space to go in the event of a tornado.
Clean out the garage. The garage is a catch all for our things that don’t belong outside, but don’t quite belong in the house either. However, when hail comes knocking, your car shouldn’t suffer. Before the hail reaches your town, maybe at least try to shuffle things around so that you can squeeze your car in the garage when you need to.

Yes this list is all about cleaning. But a little cleaning goes a long way, which can save you a lot of hardship in the event a spring storm strikes near you with those little brothers Wind and Hail.

About Stephanie

Tech enthusiast (not pro), photographer hobbyist, boy mom, animal lover, and Insurance Adjuster

Frozen Pipes

By Stephanie McLain, Claims Adjuster

Oh the weather outside is expensive. Hmm…I don’t think that’s how the song goes exactly. However, if you don’t take proper precautions, even if winter is your favorite season, it can quickly turn into a costly one. Your home is threaded with pipes. These pipes allow for modern living to function beautifully.

However, when cold weather comes to town, those pipes can get a little congested. Water expands as it freezes which can cause your pipes to burst and, depending on the location or severity of the freeze, can cause costly repairs to start piling up. Luckily, frozen pipes are fairly easy to prevent as long as you pay attention to the weather.

The Red Cross’s website provides these helpful tips on How to Prevent Frozen Pipes:

Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.

Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.

When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe – even at a trickle – helps prevent pipes from freezing.

Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.

If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.

If you’re going to travel, be sure to have someone check on the house. Even if you do set your thermostat to a reasonable temperature, there is always the chance that the power could go out. House sitting and peace of mind are more affordable than a flooded house or all new piping.

Helpful products to look into are smart thermostats. You can control these thermostats from your phone in the event you forgot to adjust the temperature, or if the weather takes a sudden shift while you’re out of town.

In the event you do have a loss, our team is here to help you restore wholeness and assist you in your time of need.

Source: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm/frozen-pipes.html

About Stephanie

Tech enthusiast (not pro), photographer hobbyist, boy mom, animal lover, and Insurance Adjuster