Is it covered? I've got water in my basement!

After a summer of above average rainfall in Massachusetts, with after effects from Elsa, Fred, Henri, and now Ida it seems like everything around us is wet and swampy. After each major storm, we’ve gotten a lot of questions about water and what is covered under a homeowners policy.

Water damage is sometimes covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy, but not always. It depends on what the cause is: sudden or accidental, internal water damage is covered, while damage due to lack of maintenance or neglect, as well as flood-related damages, are not.

So when does a homeowners policy cover water damage?

A standard home insurance policy will cover water damage if it is sudden/accidental and internal, with the requirement that the water has never touched the outside ground. This means the water damage must be the result of one of the 16 perils covered by homeowners insurance, such as sudden and accidental tearing, cracking, burning or bulging of a steam, heating, AC or automatic fire protection system.

When water damage is covered by homeowners insurance:

• Rain or snow storm

• Plumbing: burst pipes, frozen plumbing, faulty plumbing, accidental overflow

• Water damage from extinguishing a fire

• Leaking roof (coverage would apply only to the home interior, not the roof itself)

• Accidental overflow of an appliance or fixture (toilet, washing machine, bathtub)

When water damage is NOT covered by homeowners insurance:

Water damage isn’t always covered by your home insurance if it’s not the result of an accident or sudden, unexpected occurrence. Neglect or lack of maintenance resulting in water damage means you’re personally on the hook for the cost of repairs.

Certain situations where homeowners insurance does not cover water damage are:

• Ground seepage

• Water or sewer pipe backups (unless additional water back up coverage has been purchased and added by endorsement)

• Flooding

• Poorly-maintained pipes leading to leaks

Standard policies don’t cover water damage resulting from a flood, either. For that, you’ll need to purchase flood insurance, especially if you reside in a high-risk area prone to flooding. Many mortgage holders will require you to purchase flood insurance if you are in a flood area.

What should you do if you think you may need to file a claim due to water damage?

• Call our office as soon as possible. We can assist you with filing a claim.

• Take pictures of the affected area, where the water came from, and any damage that you are aware of.

• Do what is necessary to prevent further damage to the home, keep all receipts!

If you have questions about filing a claim, water damage, or other questions about your policy, please reach out to our office and our team will be happy to help.

P.S. While we’re talking about flooding… remember, never drive into flooded roadways! It can be extremely dangerous and the water may be deeper than it appears. Stay safe!

Holiday Fire Safety

The holidays are upon us and with less families traveling this season due to the pandemic, it seems that record amounts of decorations have gone up with excitement. As we prepare for some much needed holiday cheer, and as we brighten our homes with colorful and twinkling lights, we must also be aware of the increased risk of accidental fire.

Here are some important safety tips to help you avoid electrical fires, overloaded circuits and other holiday hazards inside and outside of your home this season.

Outside lights

• Always buy lights and electrical decorations bearing the name of an independent testing lab, and follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation and maintenance.

• Never use seasonal lighting outside your home unless it is specifically labeled for outdoor use.

• Connect outside lighting to a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupting (GFCI) outlet. If you don't have a GFCI outlet, contact a qualified electrician for proper installation.

• Never secure the wiring of outdoor lighting with staples or nails – or place lights on sharp hooks or nails.

• Do not close doors or windows on extension cords, or mount lights in any way that can damage the cord's wire insulation.

• Carefully inspect new and previously used light strings and replace damaged items before plugging lights in. Never overload extension cords.

Inside lights

• Keep kids and pets away from light strings and electrical decorations.

• Unplug all holiday lighting before leaving the house or when going to bed.

• Make sure the lamps do not rest on the supply cord or on any wire.

• Avoid covering lights with cloth, paper or any material that is not part of the lighting.

• Throw away any lighting that shows cut, damaged or frayed wire insulation or cords. Also discard lights with cracks in lamp holders, loose connections or exposed copper wire.

• Virtually all holiday lighting is provided with overload fuse protection. A blown fuse indicates an overload or short-circuit situation. When this occurs, unplug lights from the outlet immediately and replace the blown fuse.

• If the replacement fuse blows, a short circuit may be present. Either throw the light string away – or return it to the retailer if new.

• Take the lights down when the holidays are over. Seasonal lighting is not intended for permanent installation or use.

Christmas tree safety

• When lights are placed on a live tree, be sure your tree is fresh and well maintained. Never purchase a tree with dry or dropping needles.

• Keep live trees as moist as possible by giving them plenty of water every day.

• Choose a sturdy tree stand designed not to tip over. Make sure the tree stand is well secured and stable before putting on the lights.

• Always use safe tree lights that have been tested by an independent testing laboratory.

• Inspect lights carefully. If a string of lights has worn, frayed or broken cords, or loose bulb connections it should not be used.

• Place the tree at least three feet away from any heat source. Try to position it near an outlet so cords don't have to run long distances.

• Do not position the Christmas tree where it may block exits.

• Never use electric lights on a metal tree.

• Buy artificial trees only if they are labeled as fire-retardant.

• Make sure larger tree lights have some type of reflector rather than a bare bulb.

• Keep an eye on children when they are near the tree and do not let them play with the wiring or lights.

• Store matches and lighters up high, out of the reach of children.

• Safely dispose of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Don't keep dried out trees in your home or garage, as they are highly flammable.

• NEVER attempt to burn a dried out tree in your home's fireplace. It may burst into hard-to-control flame instantly.

Candle fire

• NEVER use candles to decorate your Christmas tree!

• Keep candles away from decorations and other combustible materials.

• Extinguish all candles when leaving the room or going to sleep.

• Don't place candles in windows, where blinds and curtains can close over them.

• Use sturdy candle holders that won't tip over easily and are large enough to collect dripping wax.

• Remember, a candle is an open flame and can easily ignite nearby combustible materials – such as clothing, books, paper or any flammable liquid.

• Keep candlewicks trimmed to one quarter inch and extinguish taper and pillar candles when they are within two inches of the holder. Votive candles should be put out before the last half-inch of wax starts to melt.

• Candles and children

• Keep candles up high and out of reach of children.

• Do not use candles in places where they could be knocked over by children.

• Never leave a young child unattended in a room with a lighted candle.

• Don't allow children or teens to have candles in their bedrooms.

• Store candles, matches and lighters up high – out of children's sight and reach.

Cybersecurity - Are you covered?

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM), hosted each year to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity across our Nation, ensuring that all Americans have the resources they need to be safer and more secure online.

As technology becomes more and more integrated into our everyday lives, the risk that sensitive data could be compromised will continue to rise. The theft of personal data can have financial consequences, with cybercrimes affecting individuals costing them over $4,000 on average. A recent report by the White House Council of Economic Advisers reported that the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received almost 300,000 individual complaints of cybercrimes, with a total estimated cost of $1.3 billion in 2016.

Through your homeowners (or renters or condo) insurance policy, you may add Home Cyber Protection coverage, which is a comprehensive insurance coverage that protects today's individuals and families from a range of personal cyber risks. Cyber insurance is available for exposures including: Cyber Attack, Cyber Extortion, Online Fraud, Data Breach and Cyberbullying. Such coverage would apply to losses such as compromised data on personal computers or mobile devices, and other connected home technology.

What can you do to help avoid the damage of a cyber attack or other type online breach?

• Watching out for phishing attempts: Phishing is a form of fraud in which the attacker tries to obtain personal information by masquerading as a reputable entity. Phishing emails almost always tell you to click a link that takes you to a site where you are asked to provide information like account numbers or login credentials, or social security numbers. Legitimate organizations would never request this information from you via an email.

• Activate automatic updates for your computer’s operating system and all applications. Next, make sure that you have an antivirus software installed.

• Use caution when clicking emails or links that are unknown to you or when using public WiFi networks.

• Backup valuable data on an external device or in the cloud. If you’re using an external hard drive, it is advisable that you unplug it from your computer when it is not in use so that it will not be impacted if your computer ever becomes infected.

• Protect yourself financially by adding cyber protection to your homeowners insurance policy. Learn more by contacting our office today.

Have questions about your homeowners coverage and whether or not you need cybersecurity protection? Reach out to our office today!

September is National Preparedness Month

A disaster won’t wait! Severe weather or other unforeseen circumstances can result in a loss of property when you least expect it. September is National Preparedness Month and in addition to creating an emergency plan for your family and building an emergency kit, now is a good time to review your home inventory checklist!

What’s a home inventory checklist and why do I need one?

A home inventory checklist is a thorough list and proof of ownership of many of the items in your home. In the event of a homeowners claim, this list can make the claims process faster and more efficient. If you already have a home inventory checklist, it’s a good idea to update the document from time to time to ensure that it is as up to date as possible.

If you don’t already have a checklist, use this guide from Arbella Mutual for tips and a template to create your own home inventory checklist.

Make sure to store your checklist somewhere safe and not in your home, so you have access to it in the event of an emergency. If you have questions or need further advice on compiling your checklist, contact our office today.

Keeping your home cool in the heat

Here we are, another heat wave!

Rising and sustained temperatures along with stifling humidity can bring on the summertime struggles. During peak times of sweating in the heat, you want your house to be a cool, comfortable retreat, not a sweltering prison.

On days like these, a good air conditioner can save the day. So here are several tips to make sure your air conditioning unit is working efficiently and effectively:

• Be sure your air conditioner is properly sized for your home.

• Avoid air conditioning unused rooms.

• Ensure that your air ducts are properly sealed and insulated.

• Clean your air conditioner's air filter at least once a month to increase the air flow.

A well-functioning air conditioner is great for surviving the summer heat. But constantly keeping one running uses a lot of energy and raises monthly electric bills. To cut down on energy usage, it's a good idea to have a few alternatives for beating the heat. Here are a few ideas for staying cool in your home during the summer without air conditioning:

1. Cook your meals outside on a grill instead of preparing food with an indoor stove or oven.

2. Open the windows and let the cooler nighttime air in before you go to bed.

3. Turn on bathroom fans after you take a shower and turn on the exhaust fan in your kitchen after you cook. This will blow away the hot air that is created by both activities.

4. Unplug your electronics when they are not in use. Even if they are turned off, your gadgets will produce heat when they are plugged in.

5. Refrain from using appliances like dishwashers until cooler parts of the day.

6. Be creative and experiment with fans. Try facing box fans out the windows so they push away hot air, or make a DIY air conditioner by placing a pan or bowl of ice in front of a fan.

7. Turn off the lights as often as you can. Light bulbs give off heat, so try to use them minimally and take advantage of summer's longer daylight hours.

Stay cool and try and beat the heat!