Homeowners Insurance | Boizelle Insurance Partnership - Page 10

What You Should Know About Common Household Poisons

Every year, over two million poisonings are reported to poison control centers across the United States. According to the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration, more than 90% of those poisonings occur at home.

Being aware of common household poisons is essential for maintaining a safe environment, especially if you have children or pets. Here’s what you should know about common household poisons.

1. Types of household poisons: Common household poisons can include cleaning products, medications (prescription and over-the-counter), pesticides, plants, and certain foods.
2. Symptoms: Symptoms of poisoning can vary widely depending on the substance ingested or exposed to, but may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, dizziness, confusion, seizures, and unconsciousness.
3. Store household poisons out of reach of children and pets, preferably in locked cabinets or areas. Keep products in their original containers with child-resistant caps. Never transfer substances to food containers, as this can lead to confusion.
4. Labeling: Ensure that all containers are clearly labeled with their contents, and follow the instructions for use and storage provided by the manufacturer.
5. Dispose properly: Dispose of unused or expired medications properly. Many communities have medication take-back programs or provide guidelines for safe disposal.
6. First Aid: In case of poisoning, call you local poison control center or emergency services immediately. Follow their instructions and provide as much information as possible about the substance involved.
7. Carbon Monoxide: Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced by appliances such as gas stoves, furnaces, and water heaters. Install CO detectors in your home and ensure proper ventilation of these appliances.
8. Lead: Older homes may have lead-based paint, which can be a source of lead poisoning, especially for children. If you suspect lead paint in your home, consult with professionals for safe removal.
9. Safe Use of Chemicals: When using household cleaning products, pesticides, or other chemicals, always follow safety instructions, use gloves and protective clothing if necessary, and ensure proper ventilation.
10. Plants: Some common houseplants can be toxic if ingested. Research plants before bringing them into your home, especially if you have pets or small children.
11. Training: Educate yourself, your family members, and caregivers about the potential hazards of household poisons and how to respond in case of an emergency.
12. Storage of food: Store food properly to prevent contamination or accidental ingestion of harmful substances. Keep toxic substances away from food preparation areas.

By being proactive and informed about common household poisons, you can help prevent accidents and ensure the safety of your household.

Firewood Safety Tips

Choosing the proper wood for your fireplace is essential to ensure that you have a pleasant, safe experience when cozying up to the fire. Here are some key suggestions to think about:

1. Seasoning: Use seasoned firewood. This means that you have given the wood the time it needs in order to dry properly. Green or wood that has just been freshly cut contains a lot of moisture, which can cause excessive smoke, difficulty lighting, and inefficient burning. Seasoned wood burns much more cleanly and efficiently.

2. Storage: Make sure you store your firewood in a dry area that is well-ventilated and is away from your home or other structures. This will help prevent mold growth and greatly reduces the risk of pests. If you are stacking your firewood, make sure it is elevated off the ground on pallets or racks to promote air circulation and to prevent moisture buildup.

3. Species: Not all wood burns the same. Hardwoods like oak, maple, and birch tend to burn longer and produce more heat than softwoods like pine or spruce. Choosing the right type of wood for your specific needs is important to ensure it’s appropriate for your fireplace or wood stove.

4. Size: Be sure to cut your firewood into manageable sizes that fit easily into your fireplace or stove. Pieces that are too big can be difficult to handle and may not burn efficiently. In an ideal situation, pieces will be around 16-18 inches in length.

5. Safety precautions: When handling firewood, be sure to wear appropriate protective gear such as gloves and eye protection in order to prevent splinters and debris from entering your eyes. Be careful when chopping or splitting wood to avoid injuries.

6. Check for pests: Before you bring your firewood indoors, be sure to inspect it for signs of pests such as termites, ants, or beetles. These insects could infest your home and cause damage that could lead to a home claim on your insurance policy.

7. Proper disposal: Dispose of ashes safely by allowing them to cool completely before removing them from your fireplace or stove. Be ssure to place ashes in a metal container with a secure lid and store it away from combustible materials until they can be properly disposed of.

8. Fire safety: Never leave a fire unattended, and and always make sure it is completely extinguished before leaving the area or going to bed. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case of emergencies. Additionally, make sure to have properly functioning smoke detectors installed in your home.

If you follow these tips, you’ll be able to enjoy the comfort, warmth, and ambiance of a wood-burning fire while also minimizing the risk of accidents or injuries.

How to Prevent Your Pipes From Freezing

When temperatures drop during winter, you run the risk of having your pipes freeze. To prevent this from happening and having a costly insurance claim on your hands, take a proactive approach to home maintenance. Here’s how:

1. Insulate pipes: Make sure that you insulate exposed pipes, especially those in unheated areas such as crawl spaces, attics, and exterior walls. Use pipe insulatation sleeves or wrapping materials like foam to give your pipes some added protection from the elements of nature.

2. Seal cracks and openings. Seal any gaps or cracks in walls, floors, or around windows and doors in order to prevent cold air from entering or reaching your pipes.

3. Keep the temperature inside your home consistent. Maintain a consistent temperature in your home, especially during cold spells. Even if you’re away, don’t shut off the heat entirely. Keep the temperature set to least 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Open your cabinet doors. Allow warm air to circulate around pipes that are underneath sinks and in cabinets by keeping the cabinet doors open during extremely cold weather.

5. Maintain a slight drip in your faucets. Allow faucets that are connected to vulnerable pipes to drip slowly. This will help relieve pressure in the pipes, thus reducing the risk of having them freeze. Even a small drip can make a huge difference.

6. Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses. Disconnect garden hoses and drain the water from outdoor faucets and irrigation systems before the first freeze.

7. Insulate outdoor faucets. Use faucet covers or wrap your faucets with towels, foam, or other insulating materials so that they are protected from frigid temperatures.

8. Heat tape or cables. Install electrical heat tape or cables on vulnerable pipes, especially those located in extremely cold areas. Be sure to follow manufacturing instructions carefully.

9. Monitor your pipes. Make sure you’re keeping an eye on pipes that are prone to freezing, especially during extremely cold temperatures. If you notice reduced water flow or suspect freezing, take action immediately.

10. Use a space heater. In areas where pipes are susceptible to freezing, use a portable space heater to provide additional warmth Be cautious with space heaters and follow safety guidelines.

11. Shut off your exterior water. If you have a shut-ff valve for outdoor faucets, close it and drain the water from the pipes leading to those faucets.

By taking these precautions, you can greatly decrease the chance of having your pipes freeze and experiencing the horrible consequences that come with damaged pipes.

Do I Need to Insure My Engagement Ring?

Getting engagement is one of the many great milestones of life. Your engagement ring serves as a symbol of that milestone and that you’ve found the person that you want to build a life with.

As with any big financial investment, having insurance for such an investment is a smart decision to make. We all know how life can throw us curveballs when we least expect it. You could be doing something as simple as washing dishes in the kitchen sink when your ring suddenly slips off of your finger and down the kitchen sink drain.

Do not fret because there are ways to protect yourself should such an unfortunate occurrence come to pass.

A more common reason for filing an insurance claim is physically losing the ring or having one of the stones fall out from the setting. Having routine inspections of your ring may be a way to prevent this from happening.

Loose prongs are a leading cause for the loss of gemstones. Sometimes, a ring may become caught on an article of clothing which can bend the metal that holds the gem in its place. Again, routine inspections can help prevent this from becoming a major problem.

Losing a piece of jewelry at the gym is common.

Whether for sentimental reasons or practical ones, some of us may be reluctant to remove our jewelry before a workout.

You shouldn’t have to choose to between losing weight or losing your jewelry. Be proactive and set yourself a reminder to remove your jewelry and store it in a familiar, secure place before your complete your workout.

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you can’t keep your jewelry at home i.e. if you go to the gym after work, store it in a secure locker.

In most cases, a typical homeowners insurance policy can cover an engagement ring, but it does depend on how much the engagement ring is worth. Considering the fact that – as of 2022 – the average couple spent $6,000 on an engagement ring, it’s probably a smarter decision to have that engagement ring insurance by itself. To do that, you schedule that piece of jewelry. This means that you are insuring the ring based on its appraised value, rather than limiting coverage to the sublimit that is associated with a homeowners or renters policy.

Typically, insurance for rings costs $1 to $2 per every $100 that your ring is worth. So, if your ring is valued at $5,000, the cost to insurance it might range somewhere between $50 and $100 per year.