Renters Insurance

What is a Home Insurance Inventory and Why Do I Need One?

Posted on by Kevin O'Brien

The secret is out: Portland, Maine is a great place to live. Friendly neighbors, excellent restaurants, and safety make it a popular choice for families and retirees.

Even in a safe place like Maine, bad things can happen. If you have to file a home insurance claim you want to be confident that your insurance policy will help get life back to normal. When it comes to home insurance, you want to know that your agent is on your side. The team at Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance has been committed to you since 1933.

How Does a Home Inventory Help Me?

When you file a home insurance claim, your insurance company needs to know what you lost. Then they pay you to replace it. Imagine after a tragedy trying to remember everything you had in your home, every drawer and cabinet. It’s overwhelming.

You can avoid stress and frustration by preparing a home inventory. This creates a record of all the rooms in your home and what was in them. You can do it with a video walkthrough of your home, computer spreadsheet or even on paper. Either way, aim for as much backup information as possible, and update periodically. Recording details like model numbers and receipts are a good start. Store the inventory in a safe place, and back it up in the cloud or in your safe deposit box.

Are you buying a home or condo in the Portland, ME area? Are you considering changing insurance companies?  Call an experienced Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance agent at 207-799-5541.

We are independent agents. That means we offer you lots of choices from a wide variety of insurance companies. We will help you find the best value for the coverage you need. We’re independent and committed to you.

What is Personal Injury Liability Coverage?

Posted on by Bob O'Brien

Personal injury liability coverage fills an important coverage gap in many policies. Off-the-shelf personal and business liability policies cover Bodily Injury and Property Damage. But you can be sued for reasons that fall between the cracks.

Personal injury liability insurance fills an important coverage gap in most policies.

What Is Personal Injury Liability?

Personal injury means non-physical injuries. Some examples:

  • Invasion of Privacy – interfering with someone’s right to be left alone or to control their personal space or information.
  • Libel – writing, posting or publishing something false or damaging about someone.
  • Slander – saying or broadcasting something false or damaging about someone.
  • False arrest – detaining someone without legal authority or justification.
  • Malicious prosecution – bringing legal action against someone with the intent to harm them. Suing someone without reasonable grounds.

This coverage is not included in the standard homeowners, renters, condo or business liability policies. You can usually add it for a small additional premium.

What Are Some Examples of Personal Injury Liability Claims?

  • A person posts on Instagram about a negative experience at a restaurant. The restaurant owner sues for libel.
  • A landlord enters an apartment to check something while the tenant isn’t home. The tenant finds out and sues for invasion of privacy.
  • At happy hour, a golf club member tells others that a certain member cheats. That member sues the accuser for slander.
  • A homeowner sees someone in the neighborhood who looks suspicious to them. They call the police and detain them until the police arrive. The person is actually a fellow resident out for a walk. They sue the caller for false arrest.
  • A parent posts photos online of their child’s soccer game. Another parent sues the poster for invasion of privacy.
  • A store owner accuses teen of shoplifting. They keep them in the store until the police arrive. Even though the police confiscate the stolen items, the teen’s parents sue the store for false arrest.
  • A resident puts a large sign on their lawn, against HOA rules. Another neighbor complains. The neighbor with the sign sues the other for malicious prosecution.

What Does Personal Injury Liability Insurance Pay For?

If someone sues you for these types of injuries, Personal Injury insurance can:

  • Provide an attorney to defend you – even if the claim is baseless.
  • Pay legal fees and court costs
  • Pay settlements or judgments

Who Needs Personal Injury Coverage?

Almost everyone is exposed to personal injury liability. For example, if you or a family member:

  • Live, work or go to school near other people
  • Have a high-profile job or volunteer position
  • Use social media
  • Own income property
  • Encounter someone with a history of disputes with others.

Liability Insurance in Maine

Do you live or own a business in Southern Maine? Looking for answers about liability insurance? Contact a Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance agent in South Portland. We offer a choice of Maine’s top insurance companies. We’ll do our best to help you find the right coverage within your budget.

We’re independent and committed to you.

Artwork Insurance for Maine Homes

Posted on by Bob O'Brien

Off the shelf policies don’t provide proper artwork insurance. Homeowners, renters and condo policies have limited coverage. To really protect your collection requires a bit more.

artwork insurance is best handled by scheduling your pieces

GOOD – Basic Policies and Artwork Insurance

Home, condo and renters policies protect your belongings. They pay for damage by fire, theft plumbing leaks and 14 other perils. Personal Property (Coverage C) is the most your policy will pay. Off-the-shelf policies value your property at Actual Cash Value. That’s defined as replacement cost minus depreciation. That’s a start, but we recommend more.

BETTER – Two Upgrades for Artwork Insurance

Even if you don’t have much artwork we recommend two important upgrades to the base policy.

  • Replacement Cost Coverage for Personal Property. You want the insurance company to pay you the full cost to replace damaged or destroyed items. This endorsement removes the depreciation deduction. Only your deductible applies. We sometimes call this “new for old” coverage.

    Replacement cost coverage is an option on homeowners, condo or renters policies.
  • Special Coverage for Personal Property – also called “open perils” or HO-5 coverage. This expands the causes of loss that your policy covers. The basic policy covers 16 named perils. That’s exactly what it sounds like. Only listed perils are covered. Some examples: fire; vandalism; smoke; and plumbing leaks.

    But what if you leave your window open, and rain damages your artwork? Or, someone spills wine on it? Those aren’t among the 16 named perils. You need open perils coverage for your policy to pay.

BEST – Scheduled Artwork Insurance

Scheduling your valuable articles gives the best artwork insurance coverage. That means listing and describing each piece and assigning a value to it. This is the best way to insure many types of valuables. That includes jewelry, antiques, rugs or special collections. You may see it on your policy as Scheduled Personal Property.

Important Benefits of Scheduling Artwork

  • Sets the value BEFORE a loss – it can be hard to describe your artwork after it’s completely destroyed or stolen. It’s also difficult to prove what it was worth. Scheduling it establishes the value before the loss, not after. The insurance company will pay the lesser of
    • the cost to repair the item;
    • the cost to replace the item;
    • the amount listed on the schedule.
  • Provides Special Coverage – like the open perils coverage described above. For example: hanging hardware fails and a painting crashes to the floor. The frame breaks. It’s covered! But it wouldn’t be without special coverage or scheduling.
  • Removes the deductible – most property policies have a $1000 deductible or more. But scheduled property is usually covered with no deductible at all.

Valuing Your Artwork for Insurance

Many insurers allow you to set the value of your own artwork up to a limit. Often, that limit is $5,000. Any single piece valued over that needs an appraisal to justify the value. Insurance companies may require updated appraisals every 5 years. They want to make sure the valuation stays current.

If you have a lot of art or other valuables an insurance company might require an alarm system in your home. That usually means a system that’s monitored 24/7 by a service, not self-monitored via app or cell phone.

Want to Insure Your Maine Art Collection?

Do you live in Southern Maine and need artwork insurance? Contact a Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance agent in South Portland at 207-799-5541. We offer a choice of Maine’s preferred home insurance companies. We can help you find the best value for your collection.

We’re independent and committed to you.

Why Property Insurance is More Important in a Tight Housing Market

Posted on by Bob O'Brien

It’s a tight housing market in Maine right now. Whether your rent or own, that means property insurance is more important than ever. High costs and tight supply define the current market.

  • Building material costs remain at historic highs.
  • Contractors are busy, often scheduling work months ahead.
  • Real estate inventory is very low, which means it’s hard to find temporary housing.
In a tight housing market, property insurance is more important than ever.

Whether you’re a homeowner, condo owner or renter, property insurance can help. If disaster strikes your home, property insurance may help in three ways.

Cleanup Expenses

Property insurance can pay to remove smoke odors from furniture or clothing. It can also pay to dry water-damaged property. This helps you to salvage the things you need and your favorite belongings. Without homeowners, condo or renters insurance, you would have to pay these costs out of pocket.

Temporary Living Expenses

What if your home is damaged so badly that you can’t stay there? Your homeowners, condo or renters insurance may help. It may pay the extra cost for you to stay elsewhere until you can move back or find a new place.

Since housing is tight, that can be expensive. Make sure you have enough Additional Living Expense coverage. We recommend at least 3 months’ rent cost for renters and 12 months rent cost for home or condo owners.

Rebuilding, Repair and Replacement Costs

If you own your home or condo, your property insurance may cover the cost to repair fire, water or wind damage. What if your belongings can’t be repaired? Your renters, homeowners or condo policy may pay to replace them.

  • Make sure you have replacement cost coverage. “Off the shelf” policies may only pay depreciated value.
  • Check your Personal Property coverage limit. Is it enough to replace your belongings “new for old”. Increase your insurance if necessary.
  • If you own your place, check your Dwelling coverage limit. Is it enough to rebuild? Building costs are very high in the tight Maine housing market. Make sure your policy is keeping up with inflation.

Local, Professional Advice is Important   

You can buy property insurance on the internet or from a call center. But why?

A local insurance agent doesn’t cost extra. They also know the local market and can advise you before and during a claim.

As an independent agent Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance in South Portland offers a choice of many insurance companies. We can compare options for you. That saves time and money. Contact a Noyes Hall & Allen agent for more information at 207-799-5541. We’re independent and committed to you.  

    Jewelry Insurance – Is a Homeowners Policy Good Enough?

    Posted on by Bob O'Brien

    If you’re fortunate enough to have jewelry, you may wonder about jewelry insurance. Does a homeowners, condo or renters policy properly cover it? What kind of jewelry claims are covered by homeowners policies, and which aren’t?

    Off the shelf homeowners policies do a good job of insuring everyday belongings. But to keep costs reasonable, they limit coverage on unusually valuable items. That includes jewelry, watches and similar items.

    Therefore, many people choose to insure their jewelry specifically. The most common way is to list jewelry as Scheduled Personal Property on a homeowners policy.

    Jewelry insurance is limited on homeowners policies. It's a good idea to have separate jewelry coverage.

    5 Reasons to Separately Insure Your Jewelry

    1. To Cover Jewelry Theft

    Maine renters insurance policies only cover theft of jewelry up to $1,000 or $1,500. Maine condo insurance policies and homeowners policies have the same limitation.  If you separately list your jewelry (called “scheduling”), it’s covered for theft up to the listed value.

    2. Jewelry Insurance is Cheap

    Maine jewelry insurance is inexpensive. Insuring a $5,000 ring often costs less than $50 a year on your homeowners policy.

    3. To Avoid Arguing with Your Insurance Company about Value

    After your jewelry is gone or damaged, it’s hard to prove what it was worth. What size and quality were the stones? What type and grade of metal was it? Scheduling more expensive pieces of jewelry requires an appraisal. When your jewelry is appraised and scheduled, you and the insurance company agree up-front what you have and how much it’s worth.

    4. Jewelry Insurance Can Avoid a Deductible

    Your homeowners policy has a property deductible. Often that’s $1,000 or more. If you lose a stone or a piece of jewelry, you’re less likely to replace it if you have to pay that kind of money. When you schedule your jewelry, there’s no deductible. That makes it more likely that you can replace or repair it.

    5. Broader Coverage for Damage

    Homeowners policies cover your belongings for 16 “named perils”. Those include everyday causes like fire, theft, etc.  If you schedule your jewelry, it’s covered for “open perils”. In other words, if a cause of loss isn’t excluded in the policy, it’s covered. For example, losing a stone from a diamond ring is NOT covered on an unendorsed homeowners policy, but IS covered when the ring is scheduled.

    Maine Jewelry Insurance Quotes

    Do you live in Maine and own jewelry? Contact a Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance agent in South Portland at 207-799-5541. As an independent agent, we offer a choice of Maine’s top insurance companies. That means we can compare price and coverage to help you find the best value. We’d be happy to compare options for your jewelry insurance and give advice.

    In other words, we’re independent and committed to you.

    Water and Sewer Backup Insurance – What is It, and Do I Need It?

    Posted on by Bob O'Brien

    Water and sewer backup insurance coverage isn’t included in off-the-shelf homeowners or business policies. But backup of water is a very common cause of property damage in Maine. Therefore, we’re lucky that optional coverage is available and easy to buy.

    water and sewer backup insurance can help with cleanup and repair

    What is Water and Sewer Backup?

    Water and sewer backup insurance covers backup from a sewer, drain or sump. Remember, it’s not covered by standard home or business insurance. In Maine, water backup is commonly caused by high groundwater level or a plumbing blockage or malfunction. For instance:

    • A sump pump fails, causing water to flood a basement
    • A check valve malfunctions, causing a backup of sewer or water
    • A sewer drain clogs, backing up wastewater

    What Does Water and Sewer Backup Insurance Cover?

    Coverage can be thought of in steps:

    • firstly, removal of water or sewage
    • secondly, drying and disinfecting
    • then, cleanup of waste or debris
    • finally, repair or replacement of damaged property

    What’s Excluded?

    Leakage or seepage through a foundation or slab isn’t considered water backup. Moreover, it’s not covered by any insurance form.

    Leaking from plumbing or heating systems is often covered by homeowners or business policies. So it’s not included in water backup coverage.

    How Much Does Water and Sewer Backup Insurance Cost?

    Water backup insurance usually has a separate coverage limit. The minimum amount is often $5,000. Most companies’ offerings max out at $25,000. Cost varies by insurer and coverage limit. Prices start around $50 per year, and can be as high as $250. Business insurance policies are different. So check with your agent about coverage for your business.

    How do I Choose a Water and Sewer Backup Coverage Limit?

    First evaluate your exposure. How much damage would inches of water cause? For instance, do you have finished space in the lower level of your home? Do you store anything damageable there? Moreover, cleaning, drying and disinfecting often costs $5,000 or more. And that’s before repairing or replacing any damage. The average water damage claim is more than $11,000.

    I Don’t Have a Sump Pump. Do I Need Water and Sewer Backup Insurance?

    You can still suffer water backup without a sump, because water can back up from any drain or sewer in the lowest level of your home. However, if you have none of these, you probably don’t need water backup coverage.

    I Have City Sewer and Water. Do I need Water and Sewer Backup Coverage?

    Backup can occur from public utilities, private wells or septic systems. Above all, it matters whether you have a sewer, drain or sump, not what kind of services you have.

    Need Help? Ask an Agent

    In conclusion, water and sewer backup coverage can be an important addition to your insurance.

    Do you live in Maine? Have questions about water and sewer backup insurance? Contact a Noyes Hall & Allen agent in South Portland at 207-799-5541. We offer a choice of many of Maine’s top insurance companies. In other words, we can help you find the best fit and value for your insurance. Because we’re independent and committed to you.

    Maine Renters Insurance Isn’t Only for “Stuff”!

    Posted on by Bob O'Brien

    Portland apartments need Maine renters insurance

    Many Portland area renters think they don’t need Maine renters insurance. “Nothing I have is worth that much,” they’ll say, or “I don’t have a lot of stuff.”

    Most people think of renter’s coverage as protection for stuff, and nothing more. After all, renters insurance is inexpensive and it doesn’t even cover the building you live in. So how important can it be, especially if you don’t think you have anything valuable to protect?

    Plenty important.

    Stop Thinking Only about “Stuff”

    You have more to protect than you realize. Luckily, renter’s insurance is a cost-effective way to bundle that protection. For example:

    Temporary Living Expenses

    What if a fire or other disaster forced you out of your place? You could stay with friends or family, but how long? How long would you want to? Portland Maine rents are expensive. And hotels are even more expensive. Loss of use coverage helps with those additional expenses.

    Personal liability

    If someone trips and injures themselves in your unit, they could sue you. If your dog bites someone at the park or the beach, they might file suit, too.

    Yes, lawsuits happen, even among friends. Renter’s insurance can help cover legal expenses and even judgments against you. (Some dog breeds may disqualify you from renters insurance. Be sure to notify your agent of all dogs in the household.)

    Personal property

    Wait, doesn’t this mean your stuff? Well, yes.

    But really, this coverage protects your finances. Don’t think you have anything valuable? Mentally add up everything you own: electronics; clothing; musical instruments; and, yes, that old couch. Now imagine how much it would cost to replace it all with new stuff. It’s probably a higher number than you thought — and that’s why renter’s insurance is so important.

    Portland Maine Renters Insurance

    Renting in the Greater Portland area? Call a Noyes Hall & Allen agent in South Portland at 207-799-5541, or start your Maine renters insurance quote online. We offer a choice of more than a dozen insurance companies. That means we can find the best value for you, whether you’re renting a Munjoy Hill two-family, a Scarborough apartment or a whole house in Falmouth. We’re independent and committed to you.

    Revised with permission from the original author, Safeco Insurance®.

    Moving to Portland Maine? We Can Help

    Posted on by Bob O'Brien

    During the height of the COVID pandemic, many people were moving to Portland Maine. 2020 was a banner year for people relocating to the city and nearby towns. And the trend continues.

    Looking for a safer place to live, work and play? A desirable place to raise a family? A slower pace? More affordable than larger Northeast cities? Portland offers all of this. So do nearby suburbs like South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Falmouth, Cumberland and Westbrook.

    Moving to Portland Maine is a popular choice for people looking for a small, safe, outdoor foodie city.

    Portland Maine is a Safe Area

    Maine’s crime rates are among the lowest in the nation. Our roads are safer, too: traffic deaths are about 10% below national average. Portland suburbs are especially safe, with lower density and nightlife.

    Maine earned high marks for low COVID death rates during the 2020 pandemic. Cumberland County had about 1/3 the infection rate of the rest of the country: 11,500 cases per million. Rural Maine had even lower rates. 

    Moving to Portland Maine: Room to Spread Out

    The Portland Maine MSA is home to about 250,000. That’s 390 people per square mile. Even Portland, the state’s largest city, only has about 3,000 people per square mile. Portland is the ideal size for a small city: about 70,000 people.

    Like the outdoors? Sailing, hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, cycling and beaches are all a short distance from home.

    Prefer to be entertained? Portland has choices. Live music venues, theatres, professional sports teams, museums and more.

    Portland Maine’s Foodie Culture

    Portland has a national reputation for restaurants, breweries, distilleries and food. The proximity of local farms and seafood adds to its farm-to-table culture. Portland was Bon Appetit’s Restaurant City of the Year in 2018.

    COVID restrictions limited indoor restaurant dining in 2020. But it was too much a part of Portland’s identity to disappear. The restaurant scene remains vibrant, and is spreading to other towns. South Portland, Yarmouth, Falmouth and Biddeford all have many great restaurant choices.

    Moving to Portland Maine? We Can Help You Settle

    Whether you’re buying a house or a condo or renting an apartment, our agents can help with insurance. We’ll send proof of renters or hazard insurance to your landlord or lender. We can provide you with the insurance card which you need to register your vehicles in Maine.

    First time homebuyer? We make the insurance part easy. A 10-minute phone call is all it takes to start. Or, you can compare Maine insurance quotes online at our website. When you’re ready for help, Noyes Hall & Allen agents are known for responsiveness and knowledge. We’ve earned great customer reviews.

    Call a Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance agent in South Portland at 207-799-5541. We’re independent and committed to you.

    Is Skunk Spray Covered by Insurance?

    Posted on by Bob O'Brien

    A Portland, Maine woman recently had an unwelcome guest. A skunk snuck into her home and sprayed 4 times inside before police could remove it. What a mess! The home and everything in it must be deodorized.

    Does Home Insurance Cover Skunk Spray?

    Will home insurance cover the cost to remove the smell? It depends on whether you bought “off the shelf” coverage or upgraded. It also depends whether your insurance company uses the latest edition of the coverage form (spoiler alert: in this case, the latest is NOT the best).

    Skunk Spray Damage Coverage in Basic Homeowners Policies

    The most common home insurance form is the ISO HO 00 03. Many Maine insurance companies use it. It’s tried and tested over decades. Insurance people call it “HO-3”.

    Insurance Services Office (ISO) updates the form periodically. Each insurer decides which edition to use. In Maine, some insurers still use the 1991 version. Many use the 2000 edition. A few have adopted the 2011 edition.

    Before the 2011 edition, “off the shelf” HO-3 policies covered skunk spray damage to buildings. Damage to contents was not covered by the basic policy.

    The 2011 edition excludes “discharge or release of secretions by any animals”. Even building damage is no longer covered for skunk spray in the 2011 form.

    Which Homeowners Policy Edition do You Have?

    Your insurance policy should list coverage forms. The first two letters are the coverage type – “HO” for homeowners. The next four digits are the form number. Basic homeowners are 00 03. Condo policies are 00 06. Renters policies are 00 04. The final four digits are the month and year of the edition. For example, HO 00 03 05 11 is the 2011 edition of the basic homeowners policy.

    Can You Buy Extra Insurance for Skunk Damage?

    We recommend “open perils” coverage for contents. That covers skunk spray damage on the pre-2011 forms. Ask your agent if you’re eligible for that.

    Unfortunately, we know of no way to add skunk spray coverage to the 2011 edition of the policy. The exclusion in the 2011 form denies coverage for skunk spray to both building or contents. You can’t buy it back. That stinks (sorry, we couldn’t help it).

    What if a Skunk Sprayed My Vehicle?

    You may have purchased “other than collision” coverage on your auto insurance policy. Some people call this “comprehensive” coverage. Most common auto insurance policies in Maine cover damage by animals. That includes skunk spray. So, if a skunk gets into your car and sprays, you probably have coverage. As long as you purchased “other than collision” coverage.

    Action Items:

    • Check your property insurance policy’s coverage form and edition date
    • Ask your agent if you have “open perils” coverage. If not, get a quote to add it if you’re eligible.
    • If you’re on the 2011 homeowners form, ask your agent for a quote with a company that uses one of the older editions.

    Do you live in the Portland Maine area? Have questions about home, condo, renters or auto insurance? Contact Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance in South Portland at 207-799-5541. We’re independent and committed to you. We offer a choice of many of Maine’s preferred insurance companies. One of them is likely a good fit for you.

    Don’t Be Left in the Dark – Safely Survive a Power Outage

    Posted on by Kayla Bachelder

    by Kayla Bachelder, Concierge Agent, Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance

    Ahh, a stormy night at home. Nowhere to be. You’re on the couch with a nice cup of tea, wrapped in your favorite blanket, about to watch your favorite movie.

    What’s that? Did the lights flick—oh no!  Power outage!

    Silence. The dog growls in the sudden darkness. The cat springs from his favorite spot on the back of the couch, causing you to spill your hot tea everywhere. Complete chaos! How long will the power be out? What will go wrong before the lights come back on?

    The Ultimate Defense: Generators

    If you have an automatic generator, nothing changes. Critical heating and cooling systems and lights stay on. You continue to sip your tea, pet your cat and watch your favorite movie (some insurers offer a homeowners discount for automatic generators – ask your agent).

    If you have a portable generator, it takes a few minutes to hook it up. Then you can power your most important appliances and lights. You may now carry on with your night.

    Tips for portable generator owners:

    • Save instructions for properly setting up your generator. Don’t rely on your memory to do it safely.
    • Protect yourself from carbon monoxide. Never use a portable generator indoors. Keep portable generators away from windows.

    For the Rest of Us

    Be Prepared Before the Power Goes Out

    Power outages can be unpredictable, and you never know how long your power may be out. Always be prepared.

    • Prune trees back from your house.  Even healthy tree limbs can succumb to wind or ice storms. Reduce the risk of damage or loss of electricity. Remove limbs that overhang your home, fences or driveway. 
    • Keep your chimney clean.  People who rarely use their fireplaces or wood stoves often postpone chimney cleaning. During ice storms, we’ve seen house fires caused by dirty chimneys. 
    • Always have plenty of fuel for your generator and any outdoor cooking appliances.
    • If you have an electric sump pump, consider installing a gravity activated backup.
    • Create an emergency blackout kit. Store it somewhere accessible. It won’t be helpful in the back of a closet, or out in the shed.

    Emergency Blackout Kit Essentials:

    1. Basic first-aid supplies
    2. Flashlights (avoid using candles)
    3. Drinking water
    4. Extra batteries
    5. Emergency numbers & contacts (incase your cell battery dies)
    6. Backup supplies for your children and pets: diapers, food, etc.?
    7. Canned food is always good to keep on hand in case you can’t get to a store.

    Preparing for a Regional Emergency

    After a big storm or other regional emergency, power may be out for several days. Are you prepared?

    When a Big Storm is Forecast

    • Freeze containers of water to help keep refrigerated food cold.
    • If your water comes from a well, fill your bathtub with water. This will allow you to flush toilets, etc.
    • If you rely on an electric sump pump to keep your basement dry, lift items off the floor.

    When the Power Goes Out

    • Leave the refrigerator and freezer closed. A Full freezer will hold food safely for up to 48 hours. A refrigerator will keep food cold up to 4 hours. After that, in cold weather, store food outdoors, in coolers.
    • Turn off electric appliances that were on at the time. This can help avoid a power surge when the electricity comes back on.
    • In winter, open kitchen cabinets to allow the warmer air in the house to reach your water pipes. Pipes are often against cold outside walls. Those walls are even colder when the house has no heat or hot water running through the pipes.
    • If you don’t have a fireplace or wood stove, go elsewhere if the temperature drops too low. NEVER use a gas cook stove or oven to heat your home.
    • Use gas or charcoal grills or camping stoves outside – never indoors.
    • When driving, treat an inoperable traffic light like a four way stop.

    When the Power Comes Back On

    Check cooking equipment and other appliances to make sure they’re off.

    Unsure if your food is still good? Toss it! Better to be safe than sorry. Make a list of the items you discard. Some homeowners insurance policies cover spoilage of refrigerated food. Contact your insurance agent to see if your policy does.

    Answers to Your Insurance Questions

    Do you live in Southern Maine? Have questions about insurance for frozen pipes or food spoilage? Concerned about water backing up into your basement? Call a Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance agent in South Portland at 207-799-5541. We’re independent and committed to you.

    We offer a choice of Maine’s preferred home, condo and renters insurance companies. We can help you find the best insurance value and answer your questions.