Daylight Savings Time and Home Maintenence

Aside from losing an hour of sleep and gaining an hour of daylight, moving our clocks up an hour is an excellent time to take some preventative steps to protect your home from losses. Here are some quick tips to help you and your family avoid potential disaster simply, quickly and effectively:

• Change the batteries in your smoke detector. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Division, batteries in smoke detectors should be changed at least annually, but it is very common (and recommended by Havlic Insurance) to change the batteries at each time change. It is also advised that you should test the detectors once a month.
• Change the air filters in your furnace. After a long winter of using the furnace, your air intakes will have handled all manner of dust and debris. Changing the filters can prevent fire and improve air quality inside your home.
• If you have a sump pump, test the battery backup system and make sure the lines are clear. Finished basements are quite expensive investments; protect your investment by being proactive in your water removal maintenance.
• Check your roof for damage, and check your gutters for any obstructions. After a winter that saw one major blizzard, and more than a few severe weather events, roofs and gutters this year should be checked. Checking the roof and gutters can confirm that your home is prepared to drain the springtime rains away from your home.

After a long Chicago winter, we're all looking forward to finally spending some time outside. By taking these simple steps, you can make sure your spring and summer are spend leisurely, and not cleaning up after a disaster.

Blizzard Driving Tips

With a severe winter storm headed our way in the next few days, now is a good opportunity to revisit some tips for driving in severe winter weather. These tips are re-posted from FEMA.gov's emergency website (www.fema.gov/hazard/winter/wi_during.shtm#2), and are excellent resources to reference. Remember, unless its an emergency, the best advice is to stay off the roads until they are clear.

• Travel in the day, don't travel alone, and keep others informed of your schedule
• Stay on main roads; avoid back road shortcuts

If a blizzard traps you in the car:

• Pull off the highway. Turn off the hazard lights and hang a distress flag from the radio antenna or window.
• Remain in your vehicle where rescuers are most likely to find you. Do not set out on foot unless you can see a building close by where you know you can take shelter. Be careful; distances are distorted by blowing snow. A building may seem close, but be too far to walk in deep snow.
• Run the engine and heater about 10 minutes each hour to keep warm. While the engine is running, open a downwind window slightly for ventilation and periodically clear snow from the exhaust pipe. This will protect you from possible carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Exercise to maintain body heat, but avoid overexertion. In extreme cold, use road maps, seat covers and floor mats for insulation. Huddle with passengers and use your coat for a blanket.
• Take turns sleeping. One person should be awake at all times to look for rescue crews.
• Drink fluids to avoid dehydration.
• Be careful not to waste battery power. Balance electrical energy needs-the use of lights, heat and radio-with supply.
• Turn on the inside light at night so work crews or rescuers can see you.
• If stranded in a remote area, stomp large block letters in an open area spelling HELP or SOS and line with rocks or tree limbs to attract the attention of rescue personnel who may be surveying the area by airplane.
• Leave the car and proceed on foot-if necessary-once the blizzard passes.

Frozen Pipes

A preventable hazard, frozen pipes can be extremely costly and difficult to clean up from. While pipes tend to be insulated to temperatures as low as 10 degrees, knowing how to properly prevent a frozen pipe, and how to keep a pipe from bursting once frozen can save thousands of dollars, and save you from the headache of the aftermath.

Knowing your plumbing system is a good first step. Tagging water valve shut offs can help you identify where to cut the water supply in the event of a burst pipe. Additionally, turning off the supply at the valve nearest to your outside hose spigot can cut off the most exposed area of piping to the elements. Finally, wrapping your water pipes with thermal wraps can not only keep the pipes warm when the temperature plunges, but it can also save on heating costs by minimizing heat loss as water travels from your water heater throughout your home.

If you suspect a frozen pipe, immediately cut off the water supply to that area of plumbing. Attempt to slowly thaw the frozen section-the best way to thaw it is with a hair dryer or electric heat wrap. Do not take a torch to the pipe. If you discover a slow drip or leak coming from a pipe, that's a sign that you're too late-the pipe has already burst as water begins to melt away.

As with most potential hazards, prevention is the best form of mitigation. If you plan on being away from your home, do not turn your heat off. Keep your thermostat set to 60 degrees, and make sure all storm windows are sealed shut to prevent cold leaks.

Finally, if you do discover water damage due to a burst pipe, don't delay-call your insurance agent right away. Promptly reporting the claim and allowing mitigation professionals to begin the cleanup and dryout process can help minimize the damage to your home and property.

Ice Dams

One of the unfortunate side effects of winter weather is that it creates conditions that can cause damage to your home. One of these conditions is a buildup of snow which, when exposed to the warm air escaping from an attic vent can create cascades of ice coming down from the gutters and edges of your roof. This ice builds up in your gutters, and when the snow melts, the water cannot drain properly. This creates what's called an ice dam.

Ice dams can cause significant damage to walls, ceilings and insulation inside the home, as water seeps inside the structure and wreaks havoc. While masses of icicles dangling from the edge of a roof is the hallmark sign of an issue with attic ventilation, it takes very little moisture to form an ice dam.

Simple home maintenance can help prevent ice dams and subsequent damage to the interior structure. Making sure your attic has adequate insulation and sealing all potential heat leaks is the simplest and most effective way to prevent an ice dam before it starts. Once the dam actually forms, ice melt or snow melt socks, when placed on the roof line near the gutter, can help open up a channel to drain the excess melt safely away from the structure. Finally, making sure gutters and downspouts are clear of leaves, dirt and debris can assist in safely draining water away from your home.

Parking Lot Accidents and the Holidays

The holiday shopping rush is a busy time for consumers and businesses alike. As storefronts, shopping malls and shops see foot traffic reach its annual peak, the parking lots that serve these establishments see a major increase in activity. With inclement weather affecting our area this time of year, parking lots can be the scene of avoidable car accidents.

According to Business Fleet, 14% of all reported auto accidents in 2007 took place in a parking lot. 80% of all bumper scratches happen during parking, and parking lot accidents can average around $1,500 per claim, which can cause insurance rates to rise. Narrow lanes, hurried drivers and blind spots can turn a trip to the store into a headache for drivers who find themselves involved in a collision. While some accidents by nature are not avoidable, there are simple steps to avoiding parking lot collisions that you can take.

• Check your mirrors and back out slowly. In parking lots, cars and pedestrians are constantly moving. It is imperative to check all mirrors before leaving any parking space.
• Clear your vehicle of snow, ice and other visual impairments. Having a fully clear field of vision can decrease the chance of you not seeing another driver backing out or pulling into a space near you.
• Take your time. Don't be in a rush to pull out of a spot. Back out slowly, checking mirrors and looking back through your rear windshield. Proceed at all times with caution.
• Park away from the front door. While this may not seem like an appealing option during a Chicagoland winter, parking away from the front door-and away from the majority of the traffic in a parking lot-can help you avoid a collision with a pedestrian or vehicle.

Also remember, if you do have an accident, don't panic. Either call the police to have them fill out a report, or exchange information with the other driver and then contact your agent right away to discuss your options. Following those simple steps, however, may drastically reduce your chances of being in a parking lot accident this holiday season.

Winter Weather Is Here!

It's that time of year again; the time of year when snow, sleet and ice begin to be weekly challenges for drivers in our area. Simple steps can help you avoid accidents and other weather related trouble as winter takes hold.

• Slow down and increase your following distance when in traffic. If a driver in front of you has to brake suddenly, you need to make sure you have enough space to stop safely and avoid losing control of your vehicle due to slick conditions.
  
• Clear your car completely of snow and ice. This will make sure your field of vision is clear of any obstructions. Carry an ice scraper in your car and give yourself plenty of time to allow your car to warm up, and to scrape and sweep the snow away from window, headlights, windshields and your hood.
  
• Carry an emergency kit in your trunk. In the event you are stranded for any length of time, an emergency kit can help you wait for help to arrive. Ideally, the kit should include flares, warm clothing including a blanket, extra gloves and hats, and jumper cables.

Winter in Chicagoland can seem like it lasts an eternity, but by planning ahead and driving slowly and safely, you can make it through safely without incident to your destinations.

Deer Mating Season Is Here-What Does This Have To Do With Insurance?

As the seasons change here in the Chicagoland area, the hazards on the road change right along with them. From ice and snow in the winter to construction hazards in the summer, there's always something to look out for on the road. This time of year, deer mating season begins, and with it comes along the need to watch out in wooded or lightly populated areas.

Deer mating season typically runs from late October through December, but mid to late November is the peak, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Cook and Lake counties are both in the top ten in reported collisions annually, and with fewer wooded areas as a natural habitat, deer can be flushed out onto roads where they can be difficult to spot, especially at night.

After dusk and near sunrise tend to be the times where deer are most active, so it's important to watch the road at all times and maintain a safe speed, especially in wooded areas or areas with light populations. Some tips to help you stay safe:

• The single best way to avoid an accident is to be aware of the surroundings. Pay attention to deer crossing signs, and scan the roadsides for the “eyeshine” of deer (reflection of headlights in the deer’s eyes).


• At night, use high-beam lights when appropriate. This may allow the deer to be seen a few seconds earlier, giving the driver enough time to avoid an accident.


• Deer often use woodlots, fencerows, field edges or areas near water. Extra caution is needed when these habitats are close to roadways.


• Slow down around curves in areas where deer are known to occur.


• Slow down and prepare to stop if a deer is along the side of the road. There are likely more deer nearby. Deer will often follow one another single file across a road. Trying to cross through the middle of such a group often results in deer colliding with the side of the vehicle.


• Be prepared for the unexpected. Deer may stop in the middle of the road or decide to double back to the side of the road. Hard pavement such as concrete or asphalt provides poor traction for the hard and sharp hooves of deer. They may even fall down.


• If there are deer near the road, and there are no vehicles close behind, slow down, honk the vehicle’s horn in short bursts and flash the headlights.


• If deer are near the road, tap the brakes or use the emergency flashers to alert other drivers. Prepare to safely stop if the deer move toward the roadway.


• If there are deer on or approaching the road, do not slam on the brakes or swerve sharply to avoid the deer. It is instinctual to do this, but doing so may cause a loss of control of the vehicle and a more severe accident.


• Never tailgate! Always leave plenty of room between vehicles. Many severe deer vehicle accidents are caused when another vehicle becomes involved.
  

If you do happen to hit a deer, make sure you inform the police at once. Make sure you don't attempt to move or attend to the injured deer in the roadway, as this could put you at risk . Call your insurance agent right away so they can begin the process of having your car looked at and repaired.

Finally, if you enjoy venison and know a butcher in your area, the state does allow motorists to "claim" a deer hit on the road for purposes of consumption. So should this unfortunate incident occur, you can at least feel comforted by this silver lining.