Prevent Water Damage Caused By Winter Ice Dams

What is an Ice Dam?

In the winter a warm attic can melt snow on the roof causing water to run down and re-freeze at the edge of the roof where its colder.  If ice builds up it becomes an ‘ice dam’ that blocks water from draining, so the water is forced under the roof covering and into the attic or down inside the walls causing water damage.

How to prevent Ice Dams?

The best way to prevent ice dams is to maintain a cold roof.  Use sufficient insulation in the attic to keep the inside warm air from getting into the attic and warming the roof.  Also, maintain a cool, well –ventilated attic space that will not allow the roof to warm up.

Is there coverage ? 

To obtain coverage for this kind of leakage, not directly the result of damage to the roof by wind or the weight of snow, you would need an all-risks-not-excluded type of policy.  It is often referred to as an HO-3 or special form.

What to do if you get an ice dam?

First, take immediate steps to prevent further damage and contact our agency.  We will verify your coverage and give you instructions for preparing your claim.
Generally, you’ll be asked for repair estimates for structural damage and a list of items that will need repair or replacement.  Depending on the amount of damage, an appraiser from your insurance company may need to see the damage.  As with any insurance claim, keep all receipts.
Using a long handled snow puller, pull the snow from the roof, back just a few feet from the edge of the eaves before ice has a chance to form.  By simply removing the snow along the edge of the roof, you will give melting water a chance to drain from the eaves and prevent the formation of ice dams that  may damage your roof.
DO NOT GET ON THE ROOF TO REMOVE SNOW BUILDUP.  This is dangerous and you could easily damage the roofing material, resulting in leaks when it rains.

Please contact us, on the web or at one of our three locations, if you would like to know if you have this coverage on your existing homeowner policy - even if you are not a current customer we are happy to provide FREE insurance reviews.

This information is reliable and accurate, but we can not guarantee prevention or that the corrective measures will alleviate damages.  Always consult an experienced contractor or other expert to determine the best preventative and corrective action.

Teens Behind The Wheel

Tanner Insurance Agency, Inc. cares about you and your family.  With a new teenage driver in the household, we would like you to consider some important facts so you can help your teenager become a safe driver.

The Statistics:

Young drivers, in the age group 16-20, have one of the highest fatality rates of all drivers.  In fact, motor vehicle related injuries are by far the leading public health problem among teenager today.  In 2005 in the US 5,288 teenagers died from crash related injuries, and 61% of teenage passenger deaths occurred in crashes which another teen was driving.

Five Principal Reasons Contributing to Teen Driving Problems:

1. Distraction
2. Speeding
3. Drinking
4. Seat Belts
5. Weather

What’s A Parent To Do?

• Choose vehicles for safety,  not image.  Ensure the car has airbags and anti-lock brakes

• Provide new drivers with plenty of supervised driving practice, even after they have their license. Including night driving and hazardous road conditions

• Mandate safety belt usage

• Restrict number of passengers.  Crash rates increase sharply when a teen has passengers especially other teens.

• Emphasize that safe driving requires your teen’s full attention. Distractions like text messaging will greatly increase their risk of motor vehicle related injury

• Discuss and reinforce responsible driving behavior with teenagers.

Download our FREE Parent - Teen Driving Contract - Click Here

Visit us at www.tiains.com  or contact us at one of our three locations.

Want to Save Money on Gas?

Gas is expected to reach $5 per gallon by next summer.  Wow!!! Here are some tips that might come in handy.

4 Tips on Pumping Gas

Our source for this article is an individual with about 31 years experience in the petroleum industry.  He was kind enough to share some actions to take that will help you get more out of your money.

1. It is wise to buy gas or fill up your vehicle as early in the morning as possible, or when ground temperatures are still cool. Be advised that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below the surface.  The cooler the ground the more dense the gasoline.   When it gets warmer liquid expands.  As a result, buying in the afternoon or in the evening is not recommended.  A gallon might not actually be a gallon.
   
   
   
2. When you're filling up your car, you should not squeezed the trigger of the pump to a fast mode. Triggers have 3 speeds (low, medium, and high).  He advised that one should be pumping on the low mode,  thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while pumping gas.  All hoses at the pump have a vapor return.  If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes back to your tank can become steam.  Those vapors are being sucked up and back into storage tanks, so in retrospect., you are getting "bang for your buck".
   
   
   
3. One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank in HALF FULL.  The reason for this is the more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space.  Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine.  Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof.  This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation.  Unlike service stations, petroleum stations make sure that every truck that is loaded is temperature compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount.
   
   
   
4. Finally, never fill up your vehicle when there is a gasoline truck filling up the storage tanks.  When the tanks are filled up, the bottom is being stirred up.  You will pick up some of the gunk that was lying quietly at the bottom.
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   Visit us on the web or contact us at one of  our three locations maybe we can save you some money on your auto insurance too!
   
   
   
   

How Safe Is Your Heating?

The right way to use alternative heating sources when fending off old man winter….

The best defense may be maintenance of your home’s heating system. But, if you decide to give alternative heating a try, make safety a top priority.  The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) suggests: 

• Look for products tested by Underwriters Laboratory (UL).
• Buy models with automatic shut-off features and heat element guards
• Maintain a 36-inch clearance between the heater and combustible materials, such as bedding, furniture, wall coverings or other flammable items. 
• Do not leave a heater unattended.
• Check every electrical cord for fraying and cracking.  If one looks worn, replace it before using.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors in several parts of the house.
• Replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at least twice a year and make sure to test them as well.

Other safety suggestions:

•  Never use a kerosene heater indoors.
• Never use electric or gas stoves (ovens) to heat the home.  They are not intended for that purpose and can cause fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
• If using a wood fireplace, have inspected annually by a professional chimney sweep 
• When using a gas fireplace, keep the glowing embers and logs clean; inspect and clean the air circulation passages and fan; avoid obstructing the vents.

Visit us online at www.tiains.com or contact us at one of our three locations for more information.

Snowmobile Registration & Insurance

It’s almost that time of year again! Time for snowmobiling.  Here is some helpful information from the NYS Office of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Display of Registration:

Registration numbers are permanently assigned to a snowmobile when it is registered for the first time.  These numbers stay with the machine from owner to owner until it is destroyed or permanently removed from the state.  DMV provided registration number decals must be displayed on both sides of the cowling of the sled at all times.  The cowling is defined as the forward portion of the sled surrounding the engine and clutch assembly.  Any display position behind the sled cowling (tunnel or seat area) or on the windshield is illegal and could result in an expensive citation for violation of the registration law.

Insurance Requirements:

All snowmobiles operated on any part of a roadway or shoulder of a highway in NYS must be covered by minimum liability insurance.  NYS Parks law requires snowmobilers to carry liability coverage in the minimum amount of $25,000 for an accident involving one person, 50,000 for an accident involving two or more persons, and $10,000 property damage from one accident.  These are bare minimum limits of insurance and are not recommended .   Proof of Insurance must be carried by the snowmobiler and must be displayed upon request of any magistrate, law enforcement officer, or anyone who has suffered personal injury or property damage as a result of the snowmobilers actions.

Trailers and Trailer Registration:

Trailers manufactured specifically for snowmobiles are usually the best choices.  Your tow vehicle should be big enough and have enough power to handle the trailer easily or you will put yourself and your snowmobiles in a very dangerous situation.  All trailers operated on NYS public highways must be registered, inspected and display a license plate with an annual validation tag.  The vehicle used to tow the trailer must be insured.  You must provide the DMV with all required items to receive a valid registration and license plate for your trailer.  Custom built trailers must meet all equipment requirements of section 375 of the vehicle and traffic law and must be assigned a VIN number by the DMV.  Contact your county’s weights and measures office for local weighing stations.

Snowmobile  insurance is generally fairly inexpensive and something we can do quickly.  Visit us on the web or give us a call at one of our three offices for a quote!

For more information about what is needed to register your sled visit : http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/

What's Your Insurance IQ?

Think you know all you need to know about Insurance?  According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) the majority of Americans believe they are smart about insurance, but a deeper look at the issue tells a different story.  How insurance savvy are you?

Test your knowledge with these questions :

1. Auto rates are the same in every state.

A. True                 B.   False

2. What factors can affect your auto insurance?

A. Your age and marital status

B. Where you live and how you use your vehicle

C. Your accident history and safety features on your car

D. Your credit based insurance score

E. All of the above can affect your policy, depending on the type of coverage and the state in which you live

3. If you have personal auto insurance, will it always cover a rental car?

A. Yes B.  No

4. If you let a friend drive your car and he or she is at fault in an accident, does your personal auto policy cover damage to the other vehicle?

A. Yes, coverage typically extends to the permitted user of the car.

B. No, my friends insurance covers it.

5. What kind of insurance provides coverage if a person is injured in an accident and decides to file a lawsuit?

A. Liability coverage associated with auto and homeowners insurance

B. An Umbrella Policy

C. A personal Catastrophe Liability Policy

D. All of the above

6. What type of life insurance is less expensive, but only lasts a particular length of time?

A. Term life B.   Whole Life

C.    Universal life D.  All of the above

7. In general,, how much life insurance should I have?

A. Half your annual salary B. Two times your annual salary

B. 5-7 times your annual salary D.  10 times your annual salary

8. If you operate a small business out of your home, will your homeowners policy automatically cover any damage to your equipment (computer, supplies, etc.) and any liability exposure associated with the business?

A. Yes B.     No C.     It may provide limited coverage

9.    A flood has recently left several inches of water in your house.  Does your homeowners insurance cover the damages?

A. Yes B.    No

10. Can your insurance help if someone has stolen your identity of your credit card?

A. Yes B.  No C.   Maybe

Answers:  1-b, 2-e, 3-b,4-a,5-d,6-a,7-c,8-c,9-b,10-c  

Want to know more visit us on the web or contact us at one of our three locations.

CARS & DRIVING TRIVIA

I came across these facts about cars and driving and thought it was very interesting to say the least!  I hope you enjoy reading them also.

• On average there is about 3,000 feet of electrical wiring in every car.
• If you drove at 100mph for four years you would still not cover every stretch of road in the USA.
• Car airbags explode at 200 miles per hour.
• On average a human being spends two weeks of their entire lives waiting for traffic lights to change.
• The first person to be killed in an auto accident in the United States was Henry H. Bliss, a 68-year old real estate broker.  On September 14, 1899, in New York City, Mr. Bliss stepped from a streetcar, turned to assist a woman passenger, and was  hit by a cab.
• The 1st automobile racetrack in the US was the Indianapolis Motor Speedway which consists of 3 million cobblestones.
• In 1916, 55 percent of the cars in the world were Model T Fords, a record that has never been beaten.
• In 2003, 17,013 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in the United States.  This amounts to one death almost every half-hour.
• The city with the most Rolls Royce’s per capita is Hong Kong.
• The first product Motorola started to develop was record player for automobiles.  At the time, the most known player on the market was the Victrola, so they called themselves Motorola.
• Since the 1970’s microchips have doubled in power and halved in price.  If the same thing happened to cars than a Rolls Royce would do 100,000 miles to the gallon and would only cost you $41.00 for a brand new one.
•  Petroleum companies report profits of $1500 per second, $90,000 per minute, $5,400,000 per hour, $129,600,000 per day, for a grand total of 11.68 billion in income during the second quarter of 2008.

      At Tanner Insurance Agency, Inc. we have been in business for 29 years, we specialize in business insurance but also write auto, home and life insurance.  Check us out on the web or contact us at any one of our three locations.