Weather

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.


Believe it or Not: An Insurance Company with Empathy

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Kudos to Progressive Insurance for reaching out to Kentucky ice storm victims via email. In addition to offering help in reporting and tracking claims, Progressive asks clients to call if they need extra time to make a payment in the wake of the storm.

In addition to sending emails, Progressive utilizes a special catastrophe web site that their customers can access for information about their policy, their claim, and other FAQs.

We applaud Progressive for this response, and our thoughts go out to midwesterners dealing with the ice storm. We’ve had our share here in Maine, and we know that this is a very challenging time. Stay safe!

 

A Cold Forecast Means Frozen Pipes, Ice Dams

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The arctic cold returns this weekend, according to the NWS forecast. Our phones have been busy this week with two kinds of claims: frozen pipes and ice dams. Local plumbers, water extraction contractors and heating technicians expect lots of overtime this weekend. We are ready to handle an influx of claims if necessary. 

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One of the companies we represent, OneBeacon Insurance has issued a bulletin with some useful instructions for how to safely thaw frozen water pipes. Their website also has a good winter safety checklist that addresses topics like preventing damage from heavy snow,  frozen pipes and ice dams. 

Speaking of ice dams, the University of Minnesota Extension Service has an excellent article explaining what they are, what causes them and how to prevent them. 

As always, Noyes Hall & Allen clients can contact us in a claim emergency any time, night or day. Stay warm and stay safe!

Heating Giveaway Warms 11 Families

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Good news! Eleven of our clients were winners in Concord Group's A Warm Hand heat lottery. That's $1,100 worth of oil, gas or other heating fuel assistance, courtesy of Concord Group. We worked hard to notify all of our Concord Group homeowners clients about the lottery, including post cards, blog posts and web site links. I think that played a part in so many of our clients being winners in the first round. 

More good news! It's not too late to sign up! Concord will draw more names on the 15th of January, February and March. If your homeowners policy was provided by Concord Group on October 31, whether you're a client of our agency or not, you're eligible. Sign up today! 

Good luck!

Ice Storm Damage: Another Opinion

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In case you didn't believe our recent posts about ice storm damage, here's corroboration from the State of NH Insurance Department and more from the Maine Emergency Management Agency. See, we wouldn't lie to you!

Remember, you may have purchased coverage that covers some damage that a standard policy does not. Be sure to check with your agent. Whether you had damage or not, now's an excellent time to think about buying such coverage if you haven't yet. 

Ice Storm Damage: Tips for Prevention and Response

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Our last post responded to the most common issues clients called us about following last weekend's ice storm, and whether most insurance policies provided coverage or not. 

Now that the last storm has past, it's time to get ready for the next one (which hopefully isn't any time soon!). Here are a few tips to reduce your chance of an ice storm damaging your property. 

  1. Consider buying a generator. It can take awhile for utility crews to restore your power in times of widespread damage, especially if you live in a rural area. Having a generator to run your furnace, sump pump and refrigerator can be the difference between a minor inconvenience and a nasty loss. Make sure that your generator hookup is done by an electrician; there were cases of improper use of generators causing house fires during this ice storm. It costs about $1,000 for an electrician to rig your house for the generator hookup. The cost of the generator itself varies by size and capacity. This cost can be minimal compared to the time, expense and stress of property damage. 
  2. Keep your trees pruned and healthy. Although several of our clients believed that the trees that fell on their houses, cars, etc. were healthy, some clients admitted that they'd procrastinated on pruning or felling dead limbs or trees. Even healthy tree limbs can succumb to the weight of an ice storm. Reduce the risk of damage by removing limbs that overhang your home, fences or driveway. 
  3.  If you are on well water, fill your bathtub with water in preparation of the storm.  
  4. Keep your chimney clean.  This is good advice for everyone, but especially for those who don't regularly burn wood. Many wood-burners know to have their chimney cleaned at least once a year. Those who only use their fireplaces or wood stoves sporadically often postpone doing that. There were cases of house fires during this ice storm from dirty chimneys. 

In case of an extended power outage:

  1. Keep your refrigerator and freezer closed. Food will last surprisingly long in a closed appliance, especially if the house is cold because the furnace isn't working. If you notice that the temperature of the food is dropping too much, consider storing it in coolers, or even outside. Take advantage of winter temperatures!
  2. Remove items from your basement floor. If your sump pump fails, water can back up quickly – more quickly than you thought possible. Plan ahead by lifting things off the floor.
  3. NEVER run a generator in the house! Carbon monoxide, a deadly odorless, colorless gas, is a byproduct of internal combustion engines. These units should never be run in enclosed living spaces. 
  4. Open kitchen cabinets to allow the warmer air in the house to reach your water pipes. Pipes are often against cold outside walls – even colder when the house has no heat, electricity or hot water running through the pipes. 

We hope you find these tips helpful as you think about the next winter storm.  
  

Is Ice Storm Damage Covered by Maine Homeowners Insurance?

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Northern New England was clobbered by an ice storm December 12 that closed schools and businesses (including ours) and knocked out power for over 200,000 Mainers. It brought back memories of Ice Storm ’98, the effects of which are still evident in Maine’s woods and the psyches of its residents.

 

Like the ’98 storm, this one left many people without electricity for several days – some are still without power 3 days later. Fortunately, this storm wasn’t followed by the bitter cold of a decade ago, which seems to have spared many from the misery of frozen pipes. Nevertheless, our office has been busy fielding insurance claims and stories of misfortune.

 

Here are some of the most common situations we’ve seen, and how most insurance policies respond. Of course, this is general information and NOT to be taken to indicate coverage (or lack of coverage) for any individual. To find out if you have coverage, refer to your own insurance policy, agent and company. Also, remember that your property deductible (often $500 or $1,000) applies.

 

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  • Tree falling on your house. Most homeowners policies pay the cost to remove a tree that damages a covered structure (including sheds, etc.), and the cost to repair the damage itself.
  • Tree falling on your car.  Your home policy doesn’t cover this – but your auto policy might. The key is whether you have “comprehensive” (your policy probably calls it “other than collision”) coverage on the vehicle. If so, do a happy dance.
  • Water in your basement. We’re talking about water backing up through a sump hole, usually because the sump pump stopped working when the power died. This one’s far less certain. Homeowners policies don’t cover this unless you buy extra coverage. Companies call the endorsements by different names, but if you’ve bought it, you’ll probably see something like “Water Backup” or “Backup of Sewers and Drains”. We’ve regularly recommended this coverage through newsletters, mailings and blog posts.
  •   Frozen Pipes. The water damage from frozen pipes is covered by most homeowners policies. The cost to repair the pipes themselves is not.
  • Food Spoilage. This usually is covered only if you bought a special endorsement (it’s often packaged with water backup coverage). Even with the extra coverage, it’s usually limited to $500 or so.
  • Cost to rent or buy a generator. Sorry, this one’s not generally covered. Even though you’re getting the generator to keep you from having one of the other claims listed above, it’s considered to be preventative (like having a smoke detector or fire extinguisher to prevent fire claims).

These are just a few scenarios we’ve seen since Friday’s storm. If you have questions about your individual insurance, refer to your policy or consult your agent (preferably, both). In a future post, we’ll talk about how to prepare for some of these disasters, and what action you should take if it happens to you.

Wind, Rain, Loss of Power Threaten Area

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Today’s forecast calls for high winds in the Greater Portland area, along with 1.5 to 2 inches of rain. The west side of South Portland lost electrical power this morning, forcing school officials to dismiss students early. 

The combination of heavy rain and no electricity is a recipe for flooded basements, as sump pumps are literally powerless to remove groundwater that may back up through basement drains. This type of damage is NOT covered by most Maine homeowners insurance policies, unless you buy a separate endorsement. Although it may be too late for you today, check your policy and talk to an agent about adding this coverage. Also, general flooding is not covered by homeowners policies. Coverage is available via separate flood policy. Talk to an insurance agent for details. 
Our Maine insurance agency is ready to respond to any insurance claims caused by today’s storm. Contact Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance at 207-799-5541.

A Warm Hand

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Concord Group Insurance just announced a fuel assistance lottery for its Maine homeowners insurance policyholders. The company expects to donate $500,000 in fuel assistance during the one-time program, over $200,000 of it in Maine alone.  

Anyone who had a Concord Group homeowners policy in force as of October 31 can register for a chance at a $100.00 fuel payment. A drawing will be held each month from December through March. For more information, check Concord Group’s public web site,  or register here. 
The State of Maine has enthusiastically welcomed Concord’s generous program. “We appreciate the significant effort being made by The Concord Group to assist policyholders in meeting their home heating expenses this winter,” Governor John Baldacci said. “This unique initiative will help many Mainers remain safe and warm as the weather grows colder.”
Kudos to Concord Group for extending A Warm Hand!

Don’t Fall into an Accident this Autumn

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The leaves are turning, and many of us have begrudgingly turned up the thermostat for the first time since April or May. Every Fall, our Maine insurance agency sees an increase in car accidents. Many of those are caused by the angle of the early morning and late afternoon sun, which coincide with commuting hours this time of year. 

Avoid “Driving Blind” by:
  • Slowing down and increasing your following distance; 
  • Wearing polarized sunglasses to reduce glare;
  • Keeping your windshield and wiper blades clean, and your washer fluid full;
  • Lowering your visor to help block reflected light;
  • Keeping your headlights on to make your vehicle more visible to others;
  • Taking an alternate route or delaying your trip to avoid driving into the sun;
  • Looking carefully for pedestrians and bicyclists in the roadway.

Keep in mind that other drivers may not see you when the sun’s angle is low. Be extra careful when pulling out of side streets or taking off from a stop sign. Drive safely!

If you have questions about your car insurance, or would like a Maine auto insurance quote online, contact Noyes Hall & Allen at 207-799-5541.