How to Check for a Winterized Home this Season:

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Instructions Things You'll Need * Lighter * Incense Suggest Edits 1.

* 1 Look outside first. Check to see whether the gutters are clean. Inspect all windows to see whether storm windows have been installed.

* 2 Walk inside and proceed to the attic area of the home. There should be an extra layer of insulation added to existing insulation to keep the heat in the house during the winter.

* 3 Light a stick of incense in the attic to check for drafts and leaky areas. Hold the incense near attic windows, then proceed to each floor of the home. If a breeze is present, the smoke from the incense will swirl and move. Any leaks or drafts should be fixed during the winterizing process.

* 4 Look in the fireplace, if the house has one, and look up the chimney. The fireplace and chimney should be clear of any debris in preparation for use during winter months.

* 5 Turn on the ceiling fans. In winter, the fans should turn clockwise, which moves warm air from the ceiling to the floor. Change the batteries in all smoke detectors before moving to the basement or heating area.

* 6 Review the furnace, ducts and pipes in the home. The furnace needs to be turned on to make sure it works. The ducts need to be cleared before winter to avoid blocking moving warm air. The pipes should be wrapped to prevent freezing, especially those that bring water into the home from the outside.

Prevent Ice Dams This Winter

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How to Prevent Ice Dams This Winter

Ice dams – they create those long, glistening icicles that look gorgeous but can cause extensive damage to your home.

Take these steps now to prevent ice dams, before the first big winter storm of the year:

Ice dams form when…

• Heat from your home warms the roof and melts the snow.
• The melting snow re-freezes on the cold edges of the roof, accumulates and forms an ice dam.
• As the snow melts, water backs up behind the ice dam, flows under the shingles, and leaks into your house.

Seal it up

• If you haven’t already done so, get a free energy audit from your utility company. They can help you detect the trouble spots around your home that can cause ice dams.
• Insulate as much as you can. Insulating will help keep the surface of your roof cold so that the snow doesn’t melt and cause ice dams.
• Seal up any air leaking from the warm parts of your home, and improve ventilation in your attic with fans. Your utility company or your electrician can help you figure out what’s best for your home.

If you plan to replace your roof, install a water barrier under the shingles (sometimes called ice and water shield) so that even if an ice dam forms, the backed-up water cannot get into your house.

What you can do after an ice dam forms:

• Rake the snow off the roof – Rake as much snow off your roof as you can while standing safely on the ground. Use a long-handled aluminum roof rake with wheels, so you won't harm your roof. If you can’t reach the snow from the ground, or don’t have the right equipment (or just don’t want to do it yourself), call a professional roofing contractor.
• Blow in cold air - If you spot water leaking into your home, aim a box fan at the underside of the roof where the leak is. This targeted dose of cold air will freeze the water and temporarily stop the leak while you deal with the snow and ice dams on the roof.

Stay safe

Please stay safe and don’t get on the roof to attack an ice dam. You could cause even more damage to your roof, and you could slip and fall off the roof and seriously hurt yourself.

Making sure your gutters & downspouts are clear of debris/obstructions is also helpful.

Are you getting this with your Massachusetts Auto Insurance??

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Ever get Too tired to drive? Too distracted? Had Too much fun?

Well, Sometimes it’s better to ride than drive. Take advantage of Get Home Safe, an auto insurance policy benefit at no additional charge. This is for some Auto Insurance Massachusetts customers. We will get you a lift when you need one. Better safe than sorry. We’ll cover your one time, one way cab fare home, up to $50 per insurance policy year when you find yourself in a situation where it might be unsafe for you to drive (excluding mechanical breakdown). Visit our website or call us for details. Auto insurance, Home insurance, Cheep Insurance.. They are not all the same! WE are more than just insurance!!

www.savinjones.com

(800) 550-INSURE

Auto Insurance Rental Insurance while on Vacation???

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Should you buy "Rental Insurance" while on Vacation??

** I would to avoid loopholes in coverage:

Going on vacation (in the U.S.) and plan to rent a car. Do I you need to purchase protection from the car rental company?
Assuming that you have a Massachusetts Personal Auto Policy, the answer is ... maybe.

1. All of your coverages go with you when are driving the rental car with permission (that means you are listed as an operator with the rental company). So, if you hit a tree, your auto policy will pay for the damage to the rented car, less your $$ deductible. Please note that you are subject to getting a surcharge for an at-fault accident.

2. If you purchase the LDW (limited damage waiver) from the rental company, they will, subject to the limitations of the LDW, waive your responsibility for the damage to the rented car.

3. Your credit card may provide some limited damage coverage. In many cases, it interfaces with your own auto policy, paying only your policy deductible (often
What happens if you wreck the car and the rental company wants you to pay $45 per day to compensate them for their lost rental income while the car is being repaired?

1. Your auto policy will not pay for this loss.
2. The LDW you purchased will cover this loss.
3. Very few credit cards will cover this loss - call your credit card company and ask.

$$ deductible. If you want to be sure - call your credit card company and ask them.


Going on vacation (outside the U.S.) and plan to rent a car. Do I need to purchase protection from the car rental company?

Assuming that you have a Massachusetts Personal Auto Policy, the answer is ... yes!
Your Massachusetts policy covers you only while driving in the US, territories, possessions, Puerto Rico and Canada. So, when traveling to Mexico or any other foreign country, be sure to arrange liability and physical damage (collision and comprehensive) coverages from the rental company. A few credit cards provide coverage overseas - none provide coverage in every country. Call your credit card company to be sure. If you have an Umbrella Policy, it may cover you. But, since all Umbrella Policies are different, you should call us for details

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