2019 Fall Maintenance Tips

Before the cold of Winter settles in, Autumn is best time to take quick look around your house to identify any potential problems. We collected the top most suggested tips to help you protect your home through the winter.

14 tips for keeping your house in tip-top shape, inside and out.

EXTERIOR

Stow your mower
Store hoses & Turn off outdoor water
Drain and turn off sprinkler system
Clean Gutters and downspouts
Visually Inspect your roof
Trim dead trees, plant limbs, and perennials
Aerate the lawn

INTERIOR

Have Fireplace Inspected and cleaned
Install weather stripping around windows & repair any cracks
Have your HVAC unit serviced
Replace your furnace filter
Insulate exposed water pipes
Clean your dryer vents
Check your fire extinguishers & smoke detectors

Home Maintenance Tips for the Winter

Preparing your home for winter is an important annual ritual for homeowners. For instance, did you know that adding insulation in your attic before winter arrives can help prevent ice dams this winter? And do not forget that tuning up your heating system now can help prevent more costly emergency repairs at the height of a storm, when it can be difficult to find supplies and licensed contractors. The following winter maintenance tips can help you prepare your home to withstand another cold season.

Download the Winter Home Maintenance Checklist >

Your Heating System

Before you give your heating system a workout this winter, take the time for preventive maintenance. It may help extend the life of your system and identify potential problems

Before winter:

Have your furnace or boiler checked and serviced by a licensed contractor at least once a year, preferably before the heating season begins.
Clean or replace the furnace filter on forced hot air systems.
Have your chimney checked and serviced by a licensed contractor at least once a year. Pay particular attention to having creosote buildup removed from chimneys servicing woodstoves and fireplaces.

During winter:

Have your fuel tanks filled and keep an eye on levels throughout the winter.
Set your heat no lower than 55 degrees as the temperature inside the walls where water piping is located is colder than the living spaces; open doors to unoccupied rooms to keep an even temperature throughout the house.
Maintain your wood-burning or pellet stoves according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Your Insulation

Is your insulation prepared to protect you from the cold? As an important line of defense from winter’s gusty winds and freezing temperatures, it is worth taking time to inspect and upgrade insulation and weather stripping before the season starts.

Add extra insulation in the attic to help guard against ice dams. If too much heat escapes into the attic, it can warm the ice and snow on the roof. When it refreezes, it can cause an ice dam, which can lead to water damage inside your home or possibly even a roof collapse.
Add weather stripping around doors and caulk windows to guard against drafts and heat loss.
Remove screens from windows and install storm windows, if appropriate.

Your Utilities

Freezing temperatures can be especially damaging to your home’s water piping. Make sure your pipes are adequately prepared to withstand a cold snap and remember to take extra precautions if you are going to be leaving your home, including shutting off your water.

Check for water leaks and fix problems immediately; wrap water piping in UL-Listed heat tape and insulate if it is exposed in unheated areas such as garages, crawl spaces or attics. Use only thermostatically-controlled heat tape if your water piping is plastic, and follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
Learn how to shut off your water and know where your pipes are located in case they do freeze; you may be able to prevent water damage.

Your Winter Safety Measures

As you prepare for winter, following are some further safety measures that are especially important during the cold season.

Trim trees and remove dead branches so they do not damage your home or injure someone if they fall because of ice, snow or wind.
Keep gutters clear of leaves, sticks and other debris to help ensure melting snow can drain properly. Make sure downspouts direct water away from the foundation.
Repair steps and handrails to make them safer in the ice and snow.
Check smoke detectors, fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace batteries to ensure they are operating properly.

Your Key Supplies and Equipment

The first storm of the year can come sooner than you think. Stock up early and get key equipment, like snow blowers and generators, in good working condition long before you need them, so you can be prepared to enjoy what the season has to offer.

Make sure you have snow shovels and a roof rake on hand. Stock your ice melting compound to melt ice on walkways.
Have your snow blower and generator serviced and any necessary repairs made.
Keep fuel for snow blowers and generators in approved safety containers and away from heat or flame-producing devices. Do not store fuel in your basement.

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*Content provided by Travelers Insurance

Holiday Fire Safety Tips

The holiday season offers opportunities to literally “deck the halls” with festive lights and other decorations while entertaining friends and family. But these popular traditions may also increase the risk of accidental fires as candles, Christmas trees and the bustle of holiday cooking contribute to the most common incidents. Know what to do to help avoid the common fire mishaps.

Safe Winter Driving Tips

Be prepared before a storm hits:

Have a mechanic check your car’s battery, brakes, fluid levels (antifreeze, windshield washer fluid and oil), as well as the heating and exhaust systems to ensure that your car is in good, safe working condition.
Try to keep your gas tank full during the winter months. Don’t allow the gas to go below half a tank. Not only will this prevent damage from freezing, you’ll avoid running out of gas if you’re stuck in a traffic jam during the dead of winter.
Install snow tires or all-weather radials with adequate treads.
An adequate supply of windshield washing liquid is critical to wash away the mud and melted snow that can severely limit visibility.
Prepare for an emergency. Keep blankets, flares, a sack of sand for traction, shovel, windshield scraper and brush, tool kit, towrope, booster cables and a flashlight with extra batteries in your trunk. You should also stock your car with material for survival, such as waterproof matches to melt snow for drinking water, a first aid kit, dry clothing and a brightly colored cloth (to tie to the antenna).
When driving under adverse winter conditions:

Take care pulling out of streets blocked by mountains of snow. It’s often difficult to see who or what is coming.
Back your car into the driveway so you have better vision when pulling out.
Be aware of joggers on the street. Often sidewalks are impassable and die-hard joggers venture onto the street for a clearer path. Unfortunately, they may not see icy spots or other hazards hidden below the slush.
When waiting to make a left-hand turn, keep wheels pointed straight ahead. If wheels are turned to the left in anticipation of making the turn and you’re rear-ended, your car will be pushed into the path of oncoming traffic, which could result in a head-on collision.
If your car does not have anti-lock brakes and you start skidding on the ice, try not to slam on your brakes. Gently pump your brakes to maintain better control and prevent your wheels from locking.
If your car does have anti-lock brakes, slam on your brakes when skidding on the ice. Pumping your brakes prevents the anti-lock system from taking over.
If you must travel during a severe storm:

Don’t travel alone. Notify someone of your estimated time of arrival as well as your primary and alternate travel routes.

If stuck, stay in the car and wait for help. Run the engine and heater sparingly. Also make sure your exhaust pipe is clear of snow and ventilate your car so that carbon monoxide fumes won’t poison you.
Keep your energy. Eat food that provides the body with energy for producing its own heat. Replenish your body with fluids to prevent dehydration. Don’t eat snow; it will lower your body temperature. Melt it first.

Online Identity Theft Prevention

Going online has become part of everyday life, whether it is for everyday activities such as shopping, sending email or paying bills, and managing your accounts. But data breaches, in all their forms, can potentially expose the personal information that we share online, putting consumers at risk of identity theft.

According to the 2017 Travelers Consumer Risk Index, 57% of Americans worry about online identity theft. Fortunately, there are steps that consumers can take, including not opening unsolicited emails and avoiding unsecure websites, to protect their personal information while online.

The following tips can help you learn how to help stay safe online:

Online Shopping

Research potential retailers to make sure they are reputable and have a secure network and website. Try to avoid buying from a site that does not have a secure socket layer (SSL) encryption installed. In order to do this, look for the ‘s’ at the beginning of a URL – HTTPS:// instead of HTTP:// – to help determine if a site is SSL secured.
Read the site’s privacy policy to learn how the personal information you provide will be used.
Use only one credit card for online purchases. Be sure to read statements when received to check for fraudulent or unknown charges or activity.
If you receive an email regarding sales or discounts from a particular retailer, log on directly to the official website for the business. Avoid linking to it from an unsolicited email.

Emails and Attachments

Do not send personal information in email or instant messages. Emails are out of your control once sent, and can be easily intercepted.
Do not click on links you receive by email or encounter online that are suspicious or from unknown sources. Only accept and click if it:
- Comes from someone you know.
- Comes from someone you have received mail from before.
- Is something you were expecting.
- Does not look odd with unusual spellings or characters.
- Passes your anti-virus program test.
Be cautious of emails you receive regarding your financial accounts. If you are not sure of the email’s validity, contact your financial institution directly.

General Online Safety

Try to limit the personal information you put on the Internet. Social media sites can be good for networking, but identity thieves can use the information you share.
Remember to keep your Web browser up to date. This can help ensure the latest security features are installed.
Avoid storing personal information, account numbers and personal identification numbers on your computer.
Install firewall and anti-virus software. This can help protect you from exposure to malicious cyber attacks.
Choose strong passwords and keep them private.

Employing the Right Coverage: 5 Industries that Need EPLI

Statistically, it’s three times more likely to happen than a fire. But like a devastating blaze, it could destroy your business. It’s an employee lawsuit.

If you own a small business, the risk of being sued by an employee is very real. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), employees of businesses big and small filed over 90,000 employment-related claims in 2016 alone.

EPLI: Shielding Businesses from Costly Claims

Offered on a stand-alone basis or combined with an existing policy, EPLI helps safeguard businesses against employee claims and lawsuits alleging inappropriate or unfair acts. Even when done unknowingly, violating an employee’s (or contractor’s) rights can have devastating consequences. Common employer missteps include:

Wrongful discipline, demotion, or termination
Failure to hire or promote
Sexual harassment
Discrimination, from age to sexual orientation
Libel, slander, defamation of character, or Invasion of privacy
Wrongful infliction of emotional distress

EPLI can help protect you and your business from potentially costly claims. Increasingly popular, EPLI coverage includes legal defense fees and settlement costs or damages – up to your policy’s limit – whether you win, settle, or lose a case

Five Great Fits for EPLI

The following five industries are prime candidates for EPLI coverage:

Retail

Whether selling clothes, cell phones or sporting goods, most retailers have a workforce that spans the age spectrum, from teens to seniors. Therefore, retail storeowners must face a number of potential employee claims, including age discrimination, harassment, failure to promote, and wrongful termination.

Profile: Game Day Gabby

Gabby, a high school senior, worked part time at an independently owned sporting goods store in her hometown. On a couple of occasions, Gabby was the target of some inappropriate comments made by two of her male coworkers. After each incident, Gabby discreetly shared her concerns with the store manager, who relayed Gabby’s concerns to the store’s owner.

Despite Gabby’s efforts to address the situation, the two employees continued to harass Gabby. After a third incident, Gabby quit her job at the store and explained her reason to her parents. Gabby’s parents filed a harassment suit on her behalf against the owner of the sporting goods store.

Restaurant

Gender discrimination, retaliation, harassment and unfair wage practices can occur in a food service environment. Denying an employee an advancement opportunity and failing to accommodate employees or customers with disabilities are actions that would be grounds for a lawsuit.

Profile: Pepperoni Pete

Pete, a college student, works at a family-owned Italian restaurant near campus. After starting as a kitchen prep worker, Pete quickly advanced to assistant chef. An accounting major, Pete offered to help the owners create a new operating budget for their business. Soon, sales grew and so did the business.

Six months later, the owners posted an assistant management opportunity in the local paper and online. Pete applied for the role, but wasn’t considered. When he asked the owners why, they told Pete they thought he was too young to assume such a role. Pete filed an age discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission the next day.

Professional Services

Most white-collar employees have high career aspirations. Their expectations of their employer are usually equally as high. Being denied an advancement opportunity – or experiencing unfair treatment of any kind – won’t sit well with today’s professionals, especially millennials, according to the Insurance Journal. Harassment, gender and age discrimination, failure to promote, and wrongful termination are all common claims in this industry.

Profile: Molly Millennial

Molly, a 25-year-old junior account manager, worked for a small ad agency. After just three months on the job, Molly approached her boss about the opportunity to work on some of the agency’s larger accounts. Molly’s boss told Molly that her work spoke for itself, and he would do his best to oblige. A few weeks later, the agency hired Joe, another junior account manager, who, like Molly, is in his mid-20s.

Two months later, Joe was promoted to account manager and given some of the agency’s biggest accounts. Molly requested a private meeting with her boss to revisit her request to expand her role. Molly’s boss explained that he had a good feeling about Joe and believed Joe would be better suited to manage the agency’s blue-chip accounts. Molly then met with an agency partner and was let go a few weeks later. She immediately sued for wrongful termination and gender discrimination.

Manufacturing

From apparel makers to industrial equipment producers, businesses with employees of different ages, genders and ethnicities must respect their employees’ rights or face potentially damaging claims.

Profile: Jenna Gemstone

Jenna works for a small jewelry-making studio as a production artist. A full-time employee, Jenna has worked for her employer for three years. She is expecting her first child in the spring. Three months before her due date, Jenna notified the company’s owner that she would be taking a six-week unpaid leave of absence when the baby is born. To her disbelief, Jenna was let go. Jenna immediately filed pregnancy discrimination and wrongful termination claims against her employer.

Healthcare

Medical, dental and chiropractic care practices need protection from discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination claims.

Profile: Samantha Pearl

Samantha, a dental assistant, works for a family dental practice in her hometown. Despite being a loyal and talented employee, Samantha is regularly on the receiving end of verbal abuse from one of the senior dentists. The dentist likes to poke fun at Samantha for not finishing her college degree and would often belittle her for being “just an assistant.”

To make matters worse, the dentist likes to tell jokes around the office that are not only insensitive, but also offensive to women. Samantha expressed her concerns with another one of the dentists, but was told that the dentist’s comments and jokes are harmless. Samantha filed a lawsuit, claiming harassment and emotional distress.

The bottom line of small business owners: If you have employees, you need EPLI coverage. No matter the size or specialty of your business, your past, present, and prospective employees can file an employment claim against you. Contact us today to learn more about how EPLI can protect you and your business.

Source: Amtrust Financial Services, Inc*

This material does not amend, or otherwise affect, the provisions or coverages of any insurance policy or bond. It is not a representation that coverage does or does not exist for any particular claim or loss under any such policy or bond. Coverage depends on the facts and circumstances involved in the claim or loss, all applicable policy or bond provisions, and any applicable law. Availability of coverage referenced in this document can depend on underwriting qualifications and state regulations.

4 Ways Cyber Insurance Helps Protect Your Business

Any business that uses technology or collects data is at risk of a cyber attack, and the results can be catastrophic—one study suggests the average cost to rectify a data breach is now $7 million*. Without securing a dedicated cyber policy, most businesses likely do not have adequate insurance coverage following a data breach.

Cyber insurance can be essential in helping your company recover after a data breach, with costs that can include business disruption, revenue loss, equipment damages, legal fees, public relations expenses, forensic analysis and costs associated with legally mandated notifications. A lesser-known benefit of cyber insurance is the role it can play in protecting your company long before a breach occurs.

“At Travelers, we want to help you avoid a data breach in the first place,” explains Tim Francis, Travelers’ Enterprise Cyber Lead. “While that’s not always possible, by connecting companies to cyber resources to help learn about cyber risks, data security best practices and incident response planning, we can help companies prepare themselves to better respond to and withstand a data breach.”

Companies should create, implement and test a business continuity plan and an incident response plan. Also, companies should consider having a secondary system available for online access and ensure this system is tested regularly for functionality. Implementing an intrusion detection system on your network can help companies respond to attacks sooner.

Following are some ways that cyber insurance can provide coverage:

Lost Data

Companies are responsible for their online data, no matter where it is stored. Whether it is stored on your property, in an offsite data warehouse or in a third-party technology company cloud, you may be held liable if any personally identifiable information (PII) or protected health information (PHI) gets exposed.

To help protect your company’s data, cyber professionals recommend you understand where all of your private or confidential information is stored. Create and test policies and procedures concerning the collection and storage of data, and have a document retention procedure in place to ensure you avoid keeping data you do not need.

If a breach does occur, a cyber policy can cover breach notifications and remediation expenses, subject to the applicable retention. It also can cover defense expenses such as responding to and cooperating with regulatory investigators.

Lost Devices

Today’s mobile workforce means that laptops and other mobile devices often leave the workplace premises and may be stolen or compromised, potentially exposing private or confidential data. While you cannot completely prevent theft or loss, your organization can take steps to protect and limit the amount of data on each device, such as implementing procedures for using effective passwords and mandating periodic changes. Avoid storing any private or confidential data on laptops. Or, if necessary, store only encrypted data or access it via a secure connection to a server.

If a breach does occur, a cyber policy can include Network and Information Security Liability coverage, which provides protection for failure to prevent unauthorized access to, or use of, data containing private or confidential information of others. The costs for a single lost laptop can include more than just the cost of the device, such as legal costs, investigation and miscellaneous expenses.

Notification Requirements

Notifying customers of a breach and other post-breach responses, which is mandated by law, can add up, averaging $1.72 million according to one survey of U.S. businesses.* As part of the a cyber policy, the carrier would refer the customer to a law firm to serve as counsel and breach coach and help reimburse those costs, subject to the applicable retention. An incident breach response vendor would also be recommended to handle customer notifications, in keeping with state laws when personal information is compromised.

Forensics

Computer forensics teams can determine the extent of a breach and whether private customer information may have been compromised. A cyber liability policy would reimburse the insured, subject to applicable retention, for computer forensic experts. The policy also could provide coverage for potential business loss and extra expenses that may occur during the period of business restoration.

Many carriers offer access to risk management services, cyber security experts and other resources to help prevent a data breach. Having cyber insurance can help prepare your company to respond effectively in the critical hours and days following a data breach. Contact us today to discuss how cyber liability coverage can protect your business.

Source: Ponemon Institute 2016 Cost of Data Breach Study, The Travelers Indemnity Company.*

4 Social Media Tips for 2017

The Internet and social media in particular have made it easy to share more of our personal lives with our friends. But, it’s also become easier to share with people we don’t even know.

Online privacy isn’t just about protecting your personal information (name, address and birthdate) to help prevent identity theft. It’s also about protecting you and your family from public embarrassment, from private conversations going public, and from stalking and bullying.

If you’re unsure whether you and your family are exposed or protected online, take a look at these four social media tips and adopt the ones that make sense for you. And, make this year more secure than last.

Review the privacy and security settings on your social media accounts.

Take an hour or so to evaluate and update the privacy settings on all the social sites you use. Facebook will probably require the most attention, because there are so many ways to share personal information (maybe more than you’re aware of) and so many options for limiting access to your info. You can control who sees your posts, who posts to your timeline, who contacts you, who looks you up and whether search engines can link to your timeline.Review the privacy settings on your other social media accounts, too, from LinkedIn down to Twitter, Snapchat and Pinterest.If you only use a site to connect with a small circle of friends, then you can probably select the most restrictive privacy settings for the greatest protection. For help, try these social media privacy setting tips from the Center for Identity at the University of Texas at Austin.

Think twice about what you share online.

Sharing information about yourself is the whole point of social media. But, once you’ve shared online, it’s very hard to un-share. Certain information may always be available to someone who knows where to look. And, even if your accounts are private, someone in your network may share what you’ve posted with their own network. You can truly never know how far your posts may travel, so think twice before posting:

Your full birthdate. Share the month and day, if you like, but leave out the year you were born.
Photos with geotag information that may allow strangers to identify where they were taken and thus where you live or where your kids go to school. Check your smartphone camera settings to turn off geotagging ask Google for instructions, if needed.
The address or other identifying factors of your home, office or child’s school. Even a photo showing the license plate number of your new car could reveal too much.
Photos of other children unless you have their parents permission.
Your travel plans. Posting about your trip before you leave or while you’re gone lets others know your home is unoccupied.
Anything you wouldn’t want someone outside your network to read, such as a rant about your job or sensitive information about your work. Such posts have led to people getting fired.

Do not allow strangers or untrustworthy people into your social networks

may be flattered by a pretty stranger’s interest, or blinded by your pursuit to reach 1,000 friends. But, it’s simply not safe until you know who they are and why they want to get closer to you.In a similar category are the casual acquaintances you just made at all those holiday parties. Let the relationships ripen before you give them access to your personal information. And, be careful about your real-life friends who connect with anyone and everyone via social media; your secrets may be available to strangers through them.

Monitor your youngest children’s social media use and make the risks clear to your older children.

Children of all ages can be naïve or just careless about the impacts of online sharing. It’s hard for them to grasp that something they share online today could impact their college or job opportunities long after the post was made. Plus, they could be putting their personal safety at risk by sharing too much with the wrong person.Even once you allow them freer access online, it’s wise to monitor them until you feel confident in their decision making. Discuss frankly the risks that come from sharing too much, and the practices that reduce those risks. By staying involved, you can have an impact on how your teens use social media even when you’re not looking over their shoulder.

The Internet is a big place, and, while our own social networks may feel familiar and secure, they sometimes aren’t. So, connect and post with care, and adjust your privacy settings before sending that next Tweet.

Reposted with permission from the original author, Safeco Insurance.
Top image by Flickr user Jason Howie used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

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