For most of us.....our homes are the largest single investment we make in our lives.  Protect your investment, and your family.

Following are a few simple tips to protect your investment, as well as increase your family's safety:

Clean gutters/eavespouts in the spring and fall.

• Excessive debris may cause water in your gutters to spill over the sides, into the soil near your foundation of your home.  This may eventually cause your foundation walls to settle, basement walls to bulge and crack, and water to soak in by hydrostatic pressure.  This would cause a disasterous mold issue later on. 
• In freezing temperatures the water that is unable to drain may freeze,  damaging the gutters themselves, and sometimes may cause the roof to actually separate from the fascia.
• Upon cleaning your gutters, remember to scoop the majority of debri out by hand.  Flushing out these debris with a water hose may lead to the downspouts clogging also.
• When cleaning it is always a good idea to make sure the eaves are firmly fastened to the house.  Make any necessary repairs at this time.  
• Place a couple feet of tile or concrete at the bottom of the downspouts.  This allows the water to drain further away from your foundation.
• Above all, please be careful when on your roof!

Clothes dryer......dangerous??

• You bet it is.  On average, the United States has around 24,000 clothes dryer fires each year, which account for close to 96 million dollars in property loss.
• The leading cause of dryer fires is lack of maintenance and/or cleaning.  The most important thing we as consumers can do, is to clean and inspect the back side of our dryers and duct work twice a year.  A build-up of lint anywhere in the venting system will greatly reduce a dryer's airflow.  Reduced airflow hurts the efficiency of a dryer by increasing the operating temperature of the machine.  This "overheating" is notorious for igniting lint and starting fires. 
• Look for these warning signs:  A)  Towels and jeans take a very long time to dry.  B)  Clothes are hotter than usual at the end of the cycle.  C)  The "flapper" on the vent hood doesn't open when the dryer is on.  Any one of these signs indicate a restriction in the system.
• Try to take the following precautionary measures: A)  Clean the lint trap often.  B)  Do not place nylon stockings or bug screens over the vent hood.  C)  Do not use soft flexible duct made of plastic films or foils over wire coils.  D)  Do not kink or crush vent pipe to accomodate available space behind dryer.  E)  Do not vent dryer into attics, crawlspaces, or basements.  (Vent only to the outside.)  F)  Do not put items that have been soaked in flammable products in your dryer.  G)  If you are going to leave the house for a little while, shut the dryer off  Not only is it a safe habit to have, but it also reduces the amount of electricity or gas consumed.  This being that clothes are usually dry well before the cycle is "done".

Dogs

• Dogs are a wonderful pet to own when kept in responsible conditions.  Great care should be taken to protect the well-being of your pet and others that may come into contact with it.  Every year over 4 billion people are bitten by dogs.  Over 300,000 of these are critical cases.  Most house insurance policies will cover your liability in these cases, but do not take this for granted.  A dog bite claim is a very good way to get your policy non-renewed, and make it difficult to aquire insurance elsewhere.  Try to follow these tips to keep everyone safe and happy:
• Try to provide an area for your dog to comfortably relax without any interruptions.
• When outdoors and unsupervised keep your dog on a leash, or fenced in.  This prevents your dog from running out on to the road and causing auto accidents, as well as limiting opportunities to bite.
• Make it very clear to children that roughhousing, and teasing your dog is not allowed. 
• Try to teach you dog social skills by taking him/her by leash on long walks near playgrounds, parks, and other busy areas.  This gets them familiar with sudden and unexpected sounds and movements.
• Even though all breeds of dogs can and will bite under the right circumstances, avoid having dogs with genetically aggressive behaviors.  These include Pit Bulls, German Shepards, Mastiffs, Rottweilers, Akitas, and many others.  Most insurance companies will not insure your house if you own one of these breeds.  If you are planning to purchase a dog, you may want to ask your agent if that particular breed is considered dangerous by your company.  Owning one of these breeds could cause your insurance to non-renew, or even denial of a claim in the event of a dog related incident.

Keep those trees trimmed

• Most house insurance policies will not cover the cost of removing a tree that has fallen if it has not struck or damaged any structures on your property.  If a fallen tree does cause damage, most policies will pay for the removal of the fallen tree, as well as the damage to your house.  But do you really want to be inconvenienced by a large hole in your roof?  Here are some easy steps to keep your trees standing tall and healthy:
• Have a professional inspect your trees every couple of years.
• Every 5 to 8 years thoroughly trim dead and damaged branches to relieve unnecessary weight and load.
• Inspect new trees closely after a year or two.  Sometimes it is a good idea to cut the tops off, so that the roots may catch up with the rest of the growth.
• Avoid planting small trees within ten feet of your house or outbuildings, and 20 feet for all larger trees.  Also avoid planting "hybrids" close to structures.  The hybrids grow too fast, are weak, and tend to die as fast as they grew.
• Consult with a professional to choose the best trees for your land.

Bicycles

• Kids will be kids, and sadly some children (as well as some adults) like to illegally "aquire" the property of their peers.  Annually, approximately 9 million bikes are stolen causing insurance companies to dish out a whopping 600 million dollars each year.  Your premium dollars help pay for these losses.  The following precautions may discourage a thief from riding away with your or your child's bike.
• Buy a quality lock. 
• Use a chain that is long enough to wrap around both wheels, the frame, and the object it is being chained to.
• Register your bike with the authorities.  Bicycle "licenses" are available at most local police stations.
• A receipt and a photo will aid you in the claim process if necessary.