Safety

First Winter as a Maine Homeowner? Avoid the “Big 3” Headaches

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This recent blast of cold weather reminds us that winter’s coming. Every year, some clients of our Maine insurance agency report water or ice damage to their property. Many of these come from people who are spending their first winter since buying or significantly renovating their homes.
Every house is different; depending upon the roof shape and slope, landscaping, location and elevation, some homes are more exposed to winter’s peril more than others.
Here are a few tips to help you and your home weather your first winter together.
cold weather thermometerSNOW
• Watch for snow accumulation on the roof. Heavy snow load can lead to roof collapse. A roofing contractor will often be a good source for a reputable snow removal service.
• Remove snow from basement stairwells, window wells and all walls.Melting snow can lead to water damage and moisture intrusion.
ICE DAMS
Ice Dams are an accumulation of ice at the lower edge of a sloped roof. A warm attic melts snow, causing water to run down and refreeze at the roof ’s edge, where it’s much cooler. If ice builds up and blocks water from draining off the roof, water is forced under the roof covering and into your attic or down the inside walls of your house.Anatomy of an Ice Dam

• Keep your attic well ventilated so it maintains a temperature close to that of the outdoors, which will minimize the risk of ice dams forming.
• Make sure your gutters are clear of leaves and debris.
FREEZING PIPES
Pipes in attics, crawl spaces and outside walls are particularly vulnerable to extreme cold. To keep water in your pipes from freezing:
• Fit exposed pipes with insulation sleeves or wrapping to slow heat transfer.
• Seal cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations near water pipes with caulking.
In bitterly cold weather:
• Keep cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate around pipes.
• Keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets connected to pipes that run through an unheated or unprotected space.

Maine Homeowners – Thinking About a Pellet Stove?

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Pellet stoves are hot. Over 50% of stoves bought in the U.S.  in 2008 were pellet-fueled, according to the Pellet Fuels Institute.

A Wood Pellet StoveAny kind of wood-burning appliance causes concern for fire insurance companies. Insurers are often slow to adapt to new technology, since they rely on experience statistics to help them set rates and underwriting guidelines. However, most insurers understand the popularity of these stoves, and are trying to accomodate home owners who use them.

Operated and maintained properly, well-built stoves can be a safe, economical way to heat your home. If you buy one, your insurance company will probably ask some questions about it. Here are some of the insurance company guidelines we’ve seen.

5 Keys to Making Your Pellet Stove Insurable

  1. Make sure your stove is UL listed. Many U.S. insurers will only insure American or Canadian built pellet stoves.
  2. Many companies will only insure top-fed stoves. Bottom and side-fed stoves are considered to be harder to consistently maintain. This may change with future designs and as more experience develops.
  3. Avoid an appliance that is capable of burning Standard PFI rated pellets. Some insurers will not accept them.
  4. Although manufacturers’ requirements may be more lenient, insurance companies tend to require the same heat shielding and fireproof hearth as they would for a standard wood stove.
  5. If your stove has a power exhaust vent, many companies require a 1 foot projection of the vent from any combustibles (e.g. siding) through an approved thimble. Because power exhaust vents require electricity, several insurers require a battery backup or generator to prevent a puff-back in a power outage.

It’s always smart to ask your agent or insurance company before installing a wood-burning appliance. If you have any questions, contact Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance .

7 Tips for a Safe Halloween from a Maine Insurance Agency

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Halloween is a lot of fun, especially for children. It is also one of the most dangerous nights of the year. Here are 7 tips to make sure the scares remain all in fun.

photo of a jack-o-lantern

For Trick or Treaters

  • Be Visible – Carry a flashlight; apply light-reflecting material to costumes.
  • Stay Together – Travel in groups, stay in well-lit areas and cross only at corners – never between parked cars.
  • Inspect Childrens’  Treats – Never eat unwrapped items. Throw away any suspicious candy.

At Home

  • Keep jack-o-lanterns away from areas where children may tip them over or get too close. Even better: use battery-operated lights.
  • Remove lawn furniture and other obstacles from your yard. Children don’t always use the sidewalk.
  • Keep pets inside and away from the door. Halloween night can be stressful, even on the friendliest pet.

On The Road

  • Drive more slowly and carefully than usual. Children may be running, wearing dark costumes, or darting into the street. And , of course, drive sober!

Buying, Selling or Renting? Better Know About Maine’s New CO Detector Law

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  Beginning November 1, 2009, a new Maine law requires smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in every rental property, and in any residence purchased after that date.

 

As always, insurance companies will allow Homeowners insurance discounts for smoke detectors and other protective devices.

Detectors Required

    • Must be 120V with battery backup and powered by the building’s electrical system.
    • Plug in units are acceptable, as long as they have a battery backup.
    • Detectors must be in each unit, near bedrooms for apartments or rental homes – even seasonal or occasional rentals.
    • Must be photo-electric type if located within 20′ of a kitchen or bathroom.

 

Buying a Home?

Buyers (not sellers) must certify that these detectors are in the property in order to close on a purchase & sale agreement. The Maine Dept. of Public Safety is drafting a certification form which will be used for this purpose.

For more information:

 

Slips and Falls Can Be Costly. Protect Your Friends – and Yourself!

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Maybe it’s all the rain and snow we’ve had this year. Maybe it’s the economy . Maybe it’s the increase in ads for plaintiff attorneys. Whatever the cause, it seems we’ve seen an increase in slip-and-fall liability claims lately.

Our agency would normally see one or two slip-and-fall accidents in a 6-month period. This year, we’ve seen almost that many every month. On stairs and in parking lots, in retail stores and private homes, southern Mainers seem to be having trouble keeping their balance.

It’s possible that today’s higher unemployment rates have left fewer people with medical insurance available to pay for their emergency room visits and doctors’ treatments. With last winter’s heavy snow and this spring’s constant rain, surfaces have been especially slippery. Combine those factors with the power of suggestive advertising by plaintiff attorneys telling the public that “someone has GOT to pay”, and it may be logical that we have seen more slip-and-fall claims.

What can you do to protect your guests, yourself and your assets?

  • Maintain your property
  • Carry adequate liability insurance limits: equal to your net worth, or $500,000 for individuals and $1,000,000 for businesses – whichever is higher.
  • Report any injuries or incidents to your insurance agent.

For more information, call Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance.

Watch for Moose!

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The Maine Department of Transportation recently issued a reminder to motorists to watch for moose on the road. Out-of-state visitors often chuckle when they see “moose crossing” signs, but colliding with a moose is no laughing matter.

Maine averages more than 600 crashes a year between moose and vehicles, killing 22 drivers over the past decade. Nearly 90% of crashes occur between dusk and dawn, with about 80% in darkness.

Moose are dark brown, and therefore difficult to see at night. They are so tall that their eyes do not reflect oncoming headlights. They tend to move in groups; if you see one, they may well be another. Because of their height, the animal is often thrown into the windshield when struck, causing injury and significant vehicle damage.


While many Mainers know that deeer are on the move during November breeding season, many don’t know that moose are more active during their summer mating season.

The DOT has produced a helpful brochure with safety hints, offering advice ranging from driving safely in known moose-crossing areas (operating “within your headlights”) to what to do if you see a moose in the roadway (stay in your vehicle, and don’t try to drive around it), to what to do if a crash is unavoidable (let up on the brakes just before impact).

Southern Maine drivers, especially in urban and suburban areas, tend to think that they’re out of the danger zone. But moose collisions have occurred in heavily populated neighborhoods in Portland, Lewiston-Auburn and Bangor.

Buckle up, slow down, drive carefully and live!


Burglaries on the Increase?

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An article in today’s Sunday Telegram cites evidence that home burglaries are on the rise in Cumberland County. The county Sheriff’s Department says they investigated 54 burglaries from December to February, double that of last year.

While we haven’t yet seen an increase in burglary claims this year, it’s always a good idea to be vigilant and to take measures to keep your home safe.

Here are some suggestions from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.

  • Be sure your outdoor lighting illuminates all entrances to your home.
  • Cut back shrubbery to discourage burglars from hiding near window and doors.
  • Keep windows and doors locked at all times. Make certain your garage door is closed and locked.
  • Install a peephole in your front door.
  • Windows and sliding glass doors should be secured with auxiliary locks. Special door pins, available at home improvement stores, can prevent your sliding doors from being lifted from their tracks during a burglary attempt.
  • Deadbolt locks should be used on all exterior doors (single or double cylinder with a minimum one inch throw is recommended).
  • Never hide or store keys or tools outside.

The Sheriff’s Department also offers these hints if you’re planning to be away from home for an extended period:

  • Let trusted friends and neighbors know that you’ll be away.
  • Make your home appear occupied. Attach timers to lights and television sets and set them to turn on and off at different times.
  • Have your newspaper and mail held, or picked up by a friend or neighbor.
  • Disconnect automatic garage door openers.
  • Open some of the drapes or blinds on your windows. During daytime hours, it gives the appearance that someone is home, and during the evening, lights inside the house are more visible.


Myth Buster: “Most Ticketed Vehicle List” Full of Surprises

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If you had to guess what kind of vehicle is most likely to tickets, what would you choose? A flashy sports car like Ford’s Mustang or the Porsche 911? A “pocket rocket” like the VW GTI that attracts a younger buyer? Guess again.


According to ISO’s Quality Planning Corporation‘ s recent study, The Hummer H2/H3 actually leads the pack. Why? That’s the subject of great debate. Is it that Hummers attract a buyer who’s independent and “type A”? Does the stance of the vehicle itself change the way drivers interact with traffic and roads? Who knows. But Hummers are over 450% more likely to be ticketed than the average vehicle.

Rounding out the top 10 are three Scion models, the Toyota Solara and Matrix, all of which appeal primarily to younger drivers, and a couple of the higher powered Mercedes models. Another surprise is the Subaru Outback Station Wagon, over 2.5 times more likely to be ticketed than the average vehicle.

So which vehicles are the least likely to be ticketed? Well, some are not surprising: three Buicks and an Olds make the bottom 10. Interestingly, some other SUVs and a few pickups make the “least ticketed” list: Chevy’s Suburban, Tahoe and CK pickup, and the GMC Sierra. Each of these is less than half as likely to get a ticket as the average vehicle. The absolute least likely: another surprise – theJaguar XJ sedan.

The study compared a vehicle’s violation count per 100,000 miles driven for a one year period from 2007 to 2008.


EVERY Property is in a “Flood Zone”

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Many people fail to purchase flood insurance when they buy a property. Some believe that their Maine homeowners insurance will cover flood damage. It won’t. Others think that because their lender hasn’t required them to buy flood insurance, they’re not in a “flood zone“.

Every Property Can Sustain Flood Damage
Some properties are more flood-prone than others, of course. Ocean- or river-front property is more likely to flood than homes located on higher ground. The good news is that it’s relatively inexpensive to buy flood insurance if you live in a low risk area.

What is a Flood?
The word “flood” conjures up images of rising rivers and streams, or ocean storm surges. Those are floods of course, but so are: snowmelt runoff; dam breaches; heavy rains; and flash floods. All of those things can and do occur in Maine. Here’s a list of past flood disasters in Maine, which doesn’t include some notable recent events.

Remember the heavy rains of August, 2008 that flooded several southern Maine areas? Many property owners in the affected areas had never experienced flooding before.

Mandatory 30 Day Waiting Period
Let’s say you’ve heard weather forecasts of heavy runoff from snowmelt. Concerned about your property, you call to buy flood insurance to protect your home. The government knows that many people who would buy such coverage may be in imminent danger. That’s why they require a 30 day waiting period for coverage to take effect – unless you’re buying property and coverage is required by your lender.

That means now is the time to think about buying flood coverage – not when the river’s rising.

Flood insurance is only available through the National Flood Insurance Program, a government program managed by FEMA, and available through virtually any Maine insurance agency. Contact Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance for a quote. For more myths and facts about flood insurance, download this brochure.


Outdoor Oil Tanks and Homeowners Insurance

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Maine’s DEP recently issued a statement warning homeowners who have outside oil tanks to take steps to prevent leaks. During a recent Channel 6 news piece, Peter Blanchard from the Maine DEP explained that snow and ice dropping from the roof can cause the nipple to break between the oil filter and the tank.

Approximately 80% of Mainers heat their homes with oil. It is unknown how many of these oil tanks are outdoors. The DEP recommends installing a shield over the filter to protect it from damage. They’ve even produced a video about it. This is more than a good idea; homeowners with outside oil tanks are required by code to have a protective shield.


Blanchard points out that his department responds to almost 500 oil spills every year. Cleanup costs can run from $10,000 to over $100,000. By contrast, oil tank covers cost about $75.00.

What if the worst happens? Does your homeowners policy cover you? Our agency has not had such a claim, so we don’t have any “real world” experience to report. However, most homeowners policies exclude pollution damage unless it’s caused by one of 16 named perils. “Weight of ice and snow” is only a covered peril for property located INSIDE a building. That doesn’t sound promising. “Falling objects” is another covered peril. Would an insurance company consider snow dropping from a roof to be a “falling object”? Who knows for sure. The New York Insurance Department is equally unsure. So, we agree with the DEP’s advice: $75.00 worth of prevention is worth $100,000 of cure.

For more information, call the DEP at 1-800-482-0777.